If you find your asthma worsening after eating, consider changes to your diet. Certain foods can trigger asthma attacks or cause respiratory distress. This might happen even if you have no other symptoms, so it's easy to miss an allergic reaction unless you're paying close attention.
Food Additives
According to MayoClinic.com, food additives might trigger or worsen asthma symptoms in certain people. Sulfites and benzoates are the main culprits. These are present in a number of foods, including wine, processed meats, berries, canned beans and canned pasta, salad dressing and some yogurts.
Fatty Foods
A 2010 study from the Hunter Medical Research Institute in Australia showed that high-fat foods can cause inflammation in the airways. In people with asthma, this inflammation can lead to difficulty breathing and reduced lung function. During the study, people who ate high-fat meals also experienced little improvement even after using their inhaler. Fast foods such as hash browns and burgers were used during the experiment. If you eat lots of fast food or high-fat snacks, these might worsen your asthma symptoms.
Other Food Sensitivities
Even if you don't have a diagnosed dairy allergy, you might be sensitive enough to it that it affects your respiratory system. Other foods that can affect your asthma include fish, moldy cheese, soy and eggs. Some people have a reaction after eating foods that contain yeast, such as bread.
Keep a Food Diary
Keep a food journal for at least a week. Write down everything you eat and drink and any symptoms you experience after the meal. According to the UCB Institute of Allergy, some people develop symptoms just minutes after eating an allergen; others don't feel anything for hours. In some cases, it might take up to 24 hours for symptoms to appear. Keep track of your symptoms and their severity. This might help you identify patterns and pick out the foods that trigger respiratory problems.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Can Foods I Eat Affect my Asthma Symptoms?
- ABC Local: Fatty Foods Found to Worsen Asthma Symptoms
- Women Fitness: Asthma & Diet
- The UCB Institute of Allergy: How Quickly Do the Symptoms Develop After Eating the Allergenic Food?
- University of London: Diet Free of Cinnamon and Benzoates
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: High-Fat Meal May Trigger Asthma
