Asthma is a lung disease where inflammation and mucus causes obstruction of the airways. An allergy is an inappropriate response by the body's own immune system to a normally benign substance, resulting in symptoms such as wheezing, stuffy nose, coughing, hives and shortness of breath. Avoiding certain foods and emphasizing others may be beneficial to both diseases and especially beneficial to individuals who suffer from allergy-induced asthma attacks.
Identify and Eliminate Food Sensitivites
If you have asthma and allergies, The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, or CSNN, says it is important that you follow an allergy elimination diet. This diet involves eliminating the most commonly allergenic foods for four weeks and then reintroducing one food item per day and monitoring for a worsening of symptoms. These foods are bananas, beef products, citrus fruit, chocolate, corn, dairy, eggs, fish, nuts, oats, oranges, oysters, shellfish, strawberries, sugar, tomatoes and all highly processed and refined foods.
Rotate Your Food
According to Phyllis Balch in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," it is important that you rotate your food. Often, food sensitivities are the result of eating the same thing daily. To prevent this, Balch says to eat a different group of foods each day for four days, and then repeat the cycle. You can eat as many food items as you like on any given day, as long as you do not eat any of those food items again until at least four days later.
Foods to Reduce and Eliminate
Regardless of identifiable allergies, some food items should be drastically reduced. Animal products such as beef, dairy and butter fall into this category because they contain an inflammatory substance called arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid promotes the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, two substances that have been found to contribute significantly to the allergic reaction in asthma, says CSNN. Refined carbohydrates and simple sugars also promote inflammation and strain the immune system, and should be reduced as much as possible. Artificial food coloring, especially FD&C Yellow No.5, has been found to cause allergic symptoms in many individuals, and should be avoided. Other foods additives to avoid in include vanillin, benzaldehyde, eucalyptol, MSG, BHT, BHA, benzoates and annatto.
Consider a Fiber or Aloe Vera Juice Supplement
Eating a high fiber diet is important in order to encourage regular elimination and reduce the toxic load on the immune system. Balch says that taking an oat bran or guar gum fiber supplement daily in the morning may help to prevent allergenic substances from being absorbed, and thereby lessen allergy and asthma symptoms. Drinking aloe vera juice in the morning has been found to produce the same allergy-reducing effect.
Foods to Emphasize
CSNN says to eat a diet that is void of foods that you are sensitive to, and is high in fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, brown rice and cold water fish such as salmon, trout and mackerel. Baked or broiled chicken and turkey are considered less allergenic than other meats, and allowed in moderation, says Balch. Finally, onions and garlic help to reduce the inflammatory response that is associated with allergies, and Balch encourages consuming them regularly.
References
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis Balch; 2003
- "Pathology and Nutrition"; The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition; Lilieana Stradler Mitrea; 2008
