Osteomyelitis Diet Ideas

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, which may or may not have spread from surrounding soft tissue. The usual treatments for osteomyelitis are antibiotics and, on occasion, surgery. While there is no diet that can prevent or cure osteomyelitis, the type of diet you choose can help you recover more quickly.

Eating Healthily

• When your body is fighting off an infection, you need to provide optimal fuel. This means eating a healthy diet of lean protein, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy and healthy fats. Your antibiotics may or may not need to be taken with food or milk; follow your doctor's directions. You may tolerate your antibiotics better if you eat several smaller meals throughout the day; this may also help you keep your energy levels up. Avoid alcohol, junk food and sugary foods and beverages. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to help your body flush the byproducts of infection from your system.

Boost Your Immune System

• A number of foods can help boost your immune system. You can increase the number of white-blood cells your body produces to fight infection by making sure you get enough vitamin C. Good food sources of vitamin C include strawberries, guava, papaya, kiwi, cantaloupe and oranges. Vitamin E helps stimulate the production of natural killer cells. Food sources of vitamin E include wheat-germ oil, sunflower seeds, dry-roasted almonds and corn oil. Beta carotene also will help your body fight infection. Eating orange and green fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, broccoli, spinach and kale will ensure your diet is rich in beta carotene. Zinc will also help your body produce more infection-fighting white-blood cells. Oysters are the best dietary source of zinc, but you also get zinc from beef, crab and fortified cereals.

Probiotics

• Antibiotics cannot discriminate between harmful bacteria and the bacteria that help us stay healthy. If you are on a long course of strong antibiotics, as you may be when you have osteomyelitis, take probiotics to help maintain the healthy flora of your intestinal system. Taking probiotics may help prevent vaginal yeast infections in women who are taking antibiotics. A good source of dietary probiotics is yogurt with active cultures. You can also drink milk with acidophilis added. Do not eat your probiotic foods at the same time you take your antibiotics.