Beriberi is caused by lack of vitamin B1 in the body. This vitamin also known as thiamine is very crucial for converting the carbohydrates into glucose. Insufficient amounts of thiamine leads to a shortage of glucose and this depletes the body of energy and hampers proper growth. The symptoms develop slowly therefore the disease may not be diagnosed in the beginning. The initial symptoms are excessive fatigue and lethargy.
Then numbness begins in the legs and there is loss of appetite. Other symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and anorexia also begin to develop. If the disease is not treated at this point then the condition worsens. Fluids begin to accumulate in the cells of the limbs and cause no amount of swelling, pain and tenderness.
The joints become stiff with pain and do not function properly. The muscles too lose their proper function and sometimes the mental capacity too begins to decrease visibly. Infants also can be easily affected by this disease if the mother’s milk and diet is deficient in thiamine.
Home Remedies For Beriberi
Almonds
Almonds are considered to be extremely healthy food because they contain all the key minerals and vitamins which are required by the body to keep healthy and strong and well functioning.They have exceptional amounts of thiamine and if eaten regularly, the deficiency will be removed within a very short time. Soak fifteen almonds overnight and in the morning blanche them. Chew them well and eat them slowly every morning.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds have innumerable healing and curative powers which cure a host of diseases and ailments because of their magnificent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.These seeds contain a wealth of compounds like selenium, tannins and omega 3 fatty acids and have large amounts of vitamin B1, B5, and B6. Sunflower seeds have a nutty taste and can be eaten as a snack. Eat one tablespoon of sunflower seeds daily.
Legumes
Legumes are full of healthy nourishment and are very cheap into the bargain. They provide the body with lots of proteins, calcium, minerals and lots of thiamine.They restore the health of the bones and muscles and enable the joints to function properly. They also protect the body against cancer and heart diseases. In order to supplement the body with thiamine naturally, eat two servings of legumes daily.
Potatoes
Potatoes are full of valuable nutrients which keep the body in excellent health. Its rich content of phytochemicals, iron, potassium, copper, vitamin C and vitamin B1 and B6 keep serious illnesses at bay and certainly help to cure beriberi by providing ample thiamine to the body.You should eat baked potatoes with the skin to gain optimum benefit of the nutrients. Eat one or two baked potatoes everyday.
Brown Rice
Brown rice, chiefly considered to be the staple food of the poor is far superior in nutrients to the white variety.Brown rice contains naturally occurring oils which are very beneficial to the body in every way and has large quantities of thiamine. Eat two servings of brown rice regularly.
