Asthma is a condition that causes your airways to narrow and become inflamed. This results in wheezing and difficulty catching your breath. An asthma attack may be induced by different factors, and symptoms range from mild in some individuals to life-threatening in others. Although there is no cure for this disease, you can manage your symptoms with the help of your health care provider. A healthy diet can help keep you from developing other health issues that will worsen your asthma.
Eat Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables should make up a large part of any healthy diet. With asthma, the antioxidants and phytochemicals in these foods may help decrease inflammation in your lungs by preventing the action of free radicals. The action of free radicals is often exacerbated by secondhand cigarette smoke and environmental pollutants such as smog. Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants found in plentiful amounts in fruits and vegetables. For the greatest variety of antioxidants, eat fruits and vegetables in a variety of types and colors.
The Mayo Clinic indicates that, although the best sources of vitamins and antioxidants are whole foods, you may benefit from taking a daily multivitamin to ensure that you do not miss any nutrients.
Know Your Triggers
Most people with asthma have triggers that will cause acute asthma attacks or escalate them once they occur. Asthma can be triggered by exercise, secondhand smoke or allergens, but foods or food additives can also trigger attacks. Learn to recognize those things that aggravate your condition so you can avoid them. According to Oregon Health and Science University, foods that commonly trigger asthma include milk, eggs, nuts, soy, wheat and fish.
You may need to visit a specialist to undergo testing for food allergies. If you think a certain food worsens your asthma symptoms, see your health care provider for advice on how to proceed.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
The Mayo Clinic indicates that carrying extra weight may exacerbate asthma symptoms. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology states that, although there is a connection between asthma and obesity, it is difficult to determine if obesity causes asthma or if asthma contributes to obesity. No matter which comes first, eating a healthy diet and participating in exercise several times per week can help reduce your symptoms and improve your overall health, according to the AAAI. Choose exercises such as swimming, volleyball or golf to reduce the risk of exercise-induced asthma, and be sure to include a warm-up and cool-down.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Can Foods I Eat Affect my Asthma Symptoms
- MayoClinic.com: Asthma
- Oregon Health and Science University: Avoiding Asthma Triggers
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Food Allergy
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Staying Fit with Exercise-Induced Asthma
