Boils, a common skin infection involving a hair follicle and its surrounding skin, are usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, notes MedlinePlus. Boils may form on any part of your body, although they most commonly develop on your face, neck, thighs and buttocks. These skin lesions may also develop in your armpit. To better understand the role of diet and nutrition in treating your boils, visit your primary care provider.
Boils
Boils range in size. These pink or red lesions can be as small as a pea or as large as a golf ball. Boils often grow rapidly and develop white centers, and they may extrude their contents, only to crust over. The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that boils may cause numerous symptoms, including malaise, fatigue, fever and skin discoloration around the boil. Some people may even notice itching prior to boil formation. Boils may become increasingly uncomfortable as pus accumulates within.
A Therapeutic Diet
Boils may respond to a therapeutic diet that includes garlic and foods that are rich in vitamins C and E and zinc, notes certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Vitamin C--rich foods include papaya, bell peppers, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, while foods that contain significant amounts of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, olives and spinach. Foods high in zinc include chicken, lobster, beef shanks and oysters. Onion poultices have long been used topically in treating boils.
Featured Food
Sunflower seeds may be helpful in treating your boil, due to their high vitamin E content. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and may help boost the function of your immune system. In addition to being rich in vitamin E, sunflower seeds contain significant amounts of the following nutrients: thiamin, magnesium, manganese, copper, selenium, phosphorus and folate. According to George Mateljan, a nutritionist, a biologist and the author of "The World's Healthiest Foods," sunflower seeds have traditionally been used in improving brain health and heart health.
Considerations
Boils are a relatively benign health problem, although they can lead to several serious health complications if not treated appropriately, including irreversible scarring, sepsis, endocarditis -- an infection that inflames the heart's inner layer -- and brain infection. If you develop the common signs and symptoms of a boil, do not delay in seeking care from your family physician. Your doctor can tell you about the advantages, disadvantages and limitations of certain dietary practices in treating this ailment. A larger body of scientific research evidence may be required to determine the true efficacy of foods traditionally used in treating boils.
References
- MedlinePlus: Boils
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Boils
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
- "The World's Healthiest Foods"; George Mateljan; 2007
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