Having a long-standing or a severe, acute illness can be extremely exhausting and proper care over convalescence can dramatically improve recovery time. During a period of convalescence adequate rest and lack of stress are essential to allow the body to use its energy on repairing itself; this should be followed by gentle walking or swimming (if appropriate) that can be built up slowly to provide a good level of fitness on returning to normal life. Building the body up from a nutritional point of view is vital with emphasis on food that is easy to digest. White fish and meat provide a good source of much needed protein, as do well-cooked pulses with rice. Plenty of fresh, good quality fruit and vegetables are necessary, not only for their nutritional benefits but also for much needed soluble fibre for a healthy digestive system; these can be provided in abundance as freshly prepared soups, juices and smoothies. The saturated fats found in dairy produce can be useful for very undernourished and emaciated people. However, they can cause an excess of mucus production so should be avoided or kept to a minimum in some other cases. For those worried about the loss of dietary calcium found in milk, bio yogurt is generally well-tolerated, not producing the same allergic response as non-fermented dairy products, plus it also benefits the bowel flora. Other good sources of calcium include: watercress, canned sardines and calcium-fortified soya milk contain significant levels of calcium, as does tap water in hard-water areas. Goat’s milk, cheese and butter, now becoming widely available in supermarkets, does not seem to have the same mucus-forming effect as cow’s dairy products. Please see also our section on Operation Recovery.
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