Recommended Diet for the people suffering from Asthma

Intro

In case you are asthmatic, then you must be curious to know which kind of foods you should consume to manage your condition in a healthy way. Though there is no evidence as to which kind of diet plan you should follow to lower the chances of asthma attacks, still consuming some kind of food items are helpful in dealing with asthma while some others are not appropriate for you to consume. You can consume fresh and nutritious foods which in turn will improve your overall health and will improve your asthma symptoms as well.

As per the research, a shift from eating fresh foods like fruits and vegetables to consuming processed foods also increases the chances of asthma cases and people who have start consuming processed food items have witnessed a downfall in their health in the past. There is no single food or nutrient that all together helps in improving asthma symptoms on its own, and patients dealing with Asthma need to take care of their health along with consuming right kind of food needed by their body. If people suffering from with asthma start taking a well-rounded diet which includes fresh fruits and vegetables instead of depending on processed food items, they can have better heath and can lead a normal life.

Sometimes consuming allergic food by the patients suffering from Asthma results in impacting their health in a negative way. Food allergies and food intolerances mostly occur in those people who have poor immune system and are allergic to some kind of food items.

Asthma and obesity

According to the American Thoracic Society (ATS), obesity is one of the most common factor which results in developing asthma among people. Also the chances of cure among the people who are overweight get negatively affected due to their gaining weight, which makes the treatment of Asthma much more difficult as compared to other cases. Therefore taking a balanced diet and healthy duet is important to maintain healthy weight so that in case you suffer from Asthma, curing it can become easier.

Food to include and exclude in your diet when suffering from Asthma

Vitamin D

Taking enough of vitamin D is important as it helps in lowering the chances of asthma attacks especially among the children of age group, 6 – 15. Some of the food items that are rich in Vitamin D include Salmon, milk and fortified milk, orange juice, eggs and much more. In case you are allergic to milk and eggs, then you need to avoid consuming these food items and rather can focus on consuming other similar food source which can lower the cases of asthma attacks.

Though there is no specific asthma diet which can help you to get rid of your asthma troubles, but taking care of your diet and selection of right kind of food items will help you to manage the situation easily. Fruits and veggies are certainly the best way to start your diet plan as they have plenty of chemicals called antioxidants like beta carotene and vitamins E and C.

Nuts and seeds

You can add nuts and seeds in your diet as they are good for asthma people. Nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, raw seeds etc are good sources of nutrients needed by your body. Also, Vitamin E has tocopherol which is a kind of chemical helpful in curing asthma.

Avoid dried fruits

Though consuming fresh fruits like oranges and apples are healthy and help in controlling your asthma. But consuming dried fruit will worsen the condition among the people. Food items such as alcohol (especially red wine), shrimp, pickled vegetables etc have higher sulphites which are harmful for the patients.

Vitamin A

According to a study conducted in the past, it was revealed that children who have asthma have lower levels of vitamin A in their blood as compared to children who don’t have asthma. In your children are Asthmatic then you need to make sure that they have higher level of vitamin A so that their lung can function in a better way. Some of the food items which are high in vitamin A include carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, leafy greens, broccoli, Apples among many others. It is correct saying that an apple a day keep a doctor away, similarly eating an apple in day will help you to take care of your condition in a more may keep asthma away. Apples are linked with lower risk of asthma along with helping the lungs to function in a better way.

Consume tomatoes

You can consume plenty of tomatoes, especially if you are suffering from asthma. Scientists believed that lycopene help a lot and it also helps in keeping breathing better with the passage of time.

Bananas

Consuming bananas also decreases the chances of asthma attacks among people along with decrease the wheezing in children with asthma. The reason to this is fruit’s antioxidant and potassium content in Bananas which in turn improve the functioning as well.

Magnesium

As per a study it is found that children who are aged between 11 to 19 have low magnesium levels, which can be improved in case you start giving magnesium-rich foods to them. Some of the food items that are rich in magnesium include spinach, pumpkin seeds, Swiss chard, dark chocolate, salmon, Inhaling magnesium (through a nebulizer) is another good way to treat asthma attacks.

Some other food items which you must avoid:

• Sulfites which are present in wine and dried fruits
• Avoid consuming food items that can cause gas which include beans, cabbage, and onions
• Avoid consuming food having chemical preservatives or other kind of flavorings that are harmful for you

There are many food items which can increase the chances of asthma attacks and you need to avoid. You need to consult your doctor at the earliest before add or remove any kind of food item from your diet.

Sulfites

Sulfites are those kinds of preservative which can worsen the condition of asthma among the patients. Some of the items in which Sulfites are found and you should avoid consuming it include wine, dried fruits, pickled food, maraschino cherries, shrimp, bottled lemon and lime juice among others.

Foods that cause gastric problems

You need to avoid consuming those food items that cause gas and make the condition more stressful. Try to avoid eating large meals or foods which results in gas as it will put pressure on your diaphragm and can result in chest tightness and will also increase the chances of asthma attack. Some of the food items that can cause gas include beans, cabbage, carbonated drinks, garlic etc. Also, try to avoid consuming fried foods as it can also worsen the situation. In case you love Beans then you can soak them in water for few hours and change the water a couple, so that it affect can lessen and you can drink them.

Salicylates

Though not very common, patients with asthma are sensitive to salicylates which is present in food items including coffee, tea besides being found in herbs and spices as well. Salicylates are naturally occurring chemical compounds and in some cases are found in different kind of food items and antidepressants as well.

Artificial ingredients

Chemical preservatives, flavorings or any kind of colorings added to the food items also result in worsening the health condition. Some people who have asthma are allergic to these kinds of artificial ingredients which are found in various kinds of food items. Some of the common allergens which are found in food items include dairy products, shellfish, wheat, nuts etc.

Add Mediterranean Diet

You can start consuming Mediterranean diet by including fish and chicken in your diet plan. You can eat them at least twice a week though make sure that you are limiting consuming red meat. Also, instead of butter, try to prepare the meals in olive or canola oil and you can add flavor by using herbs rather than salt. People who start taking a healthy food diet have lower chances of asthma attacks and the chances of worsening the situation will also reduce greatly. You can also eat Fish which is high in omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming fatty fishes like salmon, herring, tuna etc will give you maximum health benefits as they will help in lowering the amount of IgE which your body makes. IgE is an antibody which results in breathing problems among the people who have breathing problems.

Try to make a note on the food items which hurt you and trigger the symptoms of Asthma. Typical triggers food items include nuts, dairy, wheat, shellfish among many others, though the situation varies from person to person.

Cure for asthma

The doctors advises patients to take care of their health so that the situation don’t get worsen with time. The doctors advise patients to follow a healthy lifestyle so that they can manage their health condition in a better way. Also, along with eating a healthy diet, people should exercise regularly so that they can have a healthy mind and body as well. Adopting healthy duet and healthy lifestyle will work together towards the betterment of asthmatic patients.

The patients are advised to stop using prescribed asthma medications without referring to the doctors, even if they feel better post consuming them.

Traditional asthma treatments include:

• Inhaled corticosteroids
• long-acting beta antagonists (LABAs)
• Inhalers that comprised of corticosteroids and a LABA
• allergy medications
• allergy shots
• bronchial thermoplasty which is kind of surgery used to cure patients suffering from asthma, especially the one who don’t respond well to the medication

Prevention of asthma

When it comes to taking steps to control asthma, it is important that you consider the below mentioned points that help in preventing the cases of asthma. Asthma can be life-threatening and chances of its growth will increase in case are not taking steps initially to cure it.

Habit of consuming tobacco can become life threatening in case you have asthma, in case you smoke, try to change your habit. You can talk to your doctor who will help you in quitting smoking. If someone close to you smokes, talk to them about the harsh consequences of consuming tobacco and help them to quit this habit.

Some other ways through which you can prevent asthma attacks are mentioned underneath:

• Prepare an asthma action plan by consulting your doctor and follow the plan strictly.
• Get pneumonia and flu shot every year so that the chances of illnesses which could worsen the situation can be avoided.
• Take your medications of asthma on prescribed time as advised by your doctor.
• Keep a close track on asthma and monitor your breathing. Doing this will help you to know the early warning signs which can help in avoiding the situation in the future.
• You can use an air conditioner to lower the exposure to dust mites and other kind of pollutants which enter from outside.
• You can use dust covers on your bed and pillows so that you can have lesser dust exposure to dust.
• Reduce pet dander and make sure that you are regularly grooming and bathing your pets.
• Cover your nose and mouth in case you are spending time outside in the cold
• You can use a humidifier or dehumidifier which helps in keeping the humidity level inside your home at optimal.
• Make sure to clean your home so that the growth of mold spores and other indoor allergens can be avoided greatly.

Conclusion

On top of it, adopting a healthier and balanced diet is important as it helps in improving the overall asthma symptoms. The way you take care of your health and how dedicated you are towards taking your medicine, lowers the risk of triggering asthma. People who adopt a healthier diet and exercise regularly will witness improved energy levels within a shorter period of time. By adopting a healthier and balanced diet, you can also get other benefits like:

• weight loss
• lower blood pressure
• lower cholesterol
• improved digestion and much more

Though there is no single magical rule that can cure asthma, you need to take a wide range of nutrients and vitamins in order to stay healthy and to get rid of your breathing problem. Don’t forget to talk to your doctor in case some kind of food item is troubling you a lot.