Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the lungs, where mucus causes an obstruction of the airways and is characterized by coughing, wheezing and a feeling of tightness in the chest. There are two forms of asthma, allergic and non allergic. Certain dietary modifications can be beneficial for both types.
Follow an Elimination Diet
Regardless of whether or not your asthma is considered to be allergic asthma, you may have intolerances or sensitivities to certain foods, and consuming these foods can worsen asthma symptoms. It can take up to 24 hours for reactions to occur from food sensitivities and the symptoms can vary from days to day, which makes food intolerance difficult to identify. The most effective way to identify possible food intolerance is to follow an elimination diet where you eliminate the most common food culprits for asthma sufferers. These foods include alfalfa, carrots, corn, chocolate, citrus fruit, dairy, eggs, fish, nuts, red meat, shellfish, soy, spinach, wheat, white flour, sugar, strawberries and all foods that contain food coloring. After eliminating these foods for four weeks, you reintroduce one food item per day and closely monitor your symptoms. If you notice a return or worsening of asthmatic symptoms then it is likely that you are intolerant to that food item and it should be permanently eliminated from your diet.
Consume a Low-Salt Diet
If you experience exercise-induced asthma attacks, salt may be the culprit. A study done on asthma sufferers showed that people with asthma who eat high-salt diets have more difficulty breathing while exercising and immediately afterward than those who consume low-salt diets. Regardless of exercise tolerance salt should be limited in all asthma sufferers, and the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition recommends restricting your salt intake to no more than 1.8 g daily.
Foods that May Worsen Asthma
Most animal products contain a substance called arachidonic acid. It is a substance that promotes the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are two substances that promote inflammation and contribute significantly to the allergic reaction in asthma. As such, all animal products may contribute to, or worsen, asthma and this includes meat, dairy and butter, as well as foods that contain these ingredients. Other foods that may promote inflammation and worsen asthma include trans and hydrogenated fats, fried and greasy foods, spicy foods, foods that contain food coloring and all highly processed foods.
Foods to Emphasize
CSNN recommends consuming a primarily plant-based diet and emphasizing soy and vegetable protein over animal meat. Your diet should consist mainly of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, oatmeal, brown rice and whole grains. Drink at least eight glasses of filtered water daily to help flush toxins out of the body that may otherwise contribute to mucus production.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch; 2003
- "Pathology and Nutrition"; The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition; Lilieana Stradler Mitrea; 2008
