For example, deficiency in an amino acid called lysine can also cause vitamin B3 deficiency, thus indirectly resulting into pellagra. Pellagra can also result from a disease or disorder that prevents the absorption of niacin in the body. This is known as secondary pellagra. In the initial stages, the affected person shows symptoms like loss of weight, general weakness in the body, pain in the joints and muscles. Rashes may develop on the skin without any reason.
A very significant symptom of pellagra is the patient’s sensitivity to sunlight. Exposure to sun causes the exposed area to turn red and inflamed. As the disease progresses, the patient tends to lose hair from the scalp. In extreme vitamin B3 deficiency conditions, the arms and legs become stiff, making the person almost immobile. Certain lifestyle changes and a healthy diet can help prevent the development of this skin condition, if implemented at an early stage. Listed here are some home remedies that are beneficial in treating pellagra.
Various Home Remedies For Pellagra
Consume Ginger
Ginger is an essential part of every household’s kitchen. It possesses many beneficial properties due to which it is such a popular home remedy for a variety of ailments.
Pellagra patients often have symptoms like abdominal cramps, loss of appetite and digestion problems. They benefit tremendously by consuming ginger regularly as it aids digestion and improves appetite.
Eat Spinach
Spinach is rich in iron, folic acids and calcium, which help to compensate for the vitamins, a lack of which causes pellagra. Eat spinach everyday in order to treat pellagra. You can add it to the dishes or have spinach juice. Other green, leafy vegetables like green cabbage and turnips should also be eaten regularly.
Milk And Milk Products
Milk should be an essential part of your daily diet. It is rich in vitamin B complex and contains very high amounts of niacin.
Have milk and milk products regularly in order to get a good supply of proteins that have high amounts of tryptophans. These help in the formation of niacin in our body, which helps keep pellagra at bay.
Eat Meat
Meat contains high quantities of proteins which help in the formation of niacin in the body. If you have symptoms of pellagra, eating plenty of meat will help you bring the niacin levels to normal in the body. Just don’t use too much oil in the cooking, instead go for other options like baking and microwaving.
Eggs
Eggs are a rich source of B complex vitamins and contain proteins that help in niacin formation in your body. Including eggs in your daily diet will provide the body with the right amounts of niacin and help prevent pellagra. You can eat them in whatever form you like – boiled, poached, fried or as an omelette!
Soft Or Liquid Diet
Soft or liquid diet is recommended for patients with extreme symptoms of pellagra. Since they have difficulty in chewing and swallowing, this kind of diet provides them with the right nutrition which is easy on the digestive system. Include porridge, milk, fruit juices and vegetable juices in the diet.
Drink
Pellagra in patients causes a red, dry and inflamed skin. Drinking plenty of water helps flush out the toxins produced in the body due to the infection.
Water also keeps the body and skin tissues well hydrated, reducing the itchiness and dryness of the skin. Your digestive system works well, resulting in an overall good feeling.
Get Plenty Of Rest
Pellagra patients are often overstressed and depressed. It is not an easy health condition to manage. Therefore, it is important that you get plenty of rest and avoid stress completely.
Good rest and a relaxed mind will help bring down the severity of the symptoms of pellagra. On the contrary, stress increases the itching and discomfort due to the dry skin.
Avoid Harsh Sunlight
The skin becomes very sensitive and exposure to harsh sunlight worsens the skin problems. The skin turns redder and blisters may form all over the exposed areas. The already dry skin gets further robbed-off its moisture content, becoming more dry and flaky. Avoid harsh sunlight completely until the pellagra is fully treated.