Neutropenia is a condition where the body has a low count of infection-fighting white blood cells, making it vulnerable to infections. A neutropenia diet should avoid foods that may contain bacteria or fungi, and it is best to avoid eating at restaurants and handling raw food. Neutropenia can be caused by medical conditions or treatments, and a carefully planned diet can help reduce the risk of infection.
Neutropenia is a condition in which an illness or other medical problem drastically reduces the number of infection-fighting white blood cells known as neutrophils within your body, making you especially susceptible to infections. To reduce the risk of getting a serious infection, it is important that you follow a diet suitable for neutropenia. When designing a neutropenia diet, you should select foods that are unlikely to contain bacteria or fungi, or foods that may have come in contact with these infectious agents. It may be safer to avoid eating at restaurants, and you should also remember that handling raw food can put you at risk of infection.
Like all white blood cells, the bone marrow produces neutrophils. Neutropenia typically occurs when the bone marrow’s ability to make neutrophils is compromised by a medical condition, such as cancer, certain viral infections, or bone marrow disorders, or as a side effect of medical treatment, such as chemotherapy. If you develop neutropenia, your body’s ability to fight bacterial and fungal infections is reduced, putting you at risk of serious illness. Planning your diet carefully can help reduce the risk of getting an infection during an episode of neutropenia.
Many foods naturally contain small amounts of bacteria, fungi, or both. Normally, your neutrophils protect you from getting an infection from these substances, but when your neutrophil count is low, your susceptibility to infection increases. Therefore, the main goal of a neutropenia diet should be to limit your exposure to foods that are likely to contain bacteria and fungi.
When it comes to dairy, you should avoid any food that is not pasteurized. Raw or undercooked meat and fish should also be avoided, and all deli meats should be pre-packaged. Most doctors also recommend avoiding raw vegetables and fruits unless the item in question has a very thick, removable skin. It may also be safer to choose prepackaged breads, pastas, rice, cereals, desserts, and condiments rather than buying them in bulk containers or from bakeries.
When designing your diet for neutropenia, you should keep in mind that even “safe” foods can be contaminated by exposure to bacteria and fungi. Consequently, you may want to avoid eating in restaurants while your neutrophil count is low, since food prepared in commercial kitchens can easily come into contact with infectious substances. It is also important to understand that you can get an infection by touching raw or unwashed food. Therefore, it may be best to allow a healthy family member or friend to prepare your food until your white blood cell levels return to normal.
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