Although there is no diet specifically for asthma, there is evidence that people who consume diets rich in vitamins C and E, magnesium, selenium and flavonoids have lower incidences of asthma, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. If you suffer from asthma, your body may benefit from a nutrient-rich diet to cope with this disease. Do not substitute these foods for your medication or take supplements without consulting your doctor.
Foods Containing Magnesium
A 2010 report in the "Journal of Asthma" reports that magnesium may improve asthma sufferers' ability to breathe. Foods containing magnesium include whole grains, green leafy vegetables, wheat bran, Brazil nuts, soybean flour, pumpkin and squash seeds, almonds, cashews, peanuts, beet greens, spinach, bran cereals, bananas, chocolate and agar seaweed. Spices containing magnesium include celery seed, sage, coriander, basil, cumin seed, tarragon and marjoram.
Foods Rich in Selenium
Asthma sufferers tend to have low levels of selenium in their bodies, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Selenium combines with proteins in the body to form selenoproteins, or antioxidant enzymes, that play a role in the immune system, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Although incorporating selenium-rich foods into your diet is not known to directly benefit asthma symptoms, these foods can benefit you in other ways, such as helping to fight free radicals that cause cell damage. Selenium is found in seafood and meat from animals that eat plants and grains grown on selenium-rich soil. It is also found in bread, walnuts, canned tuna, cod, turkey, eggs, beef, chicken breast, cottage cheese, Brazil nuts, rice and oatmeal.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
One preliminary study suggests that fresh vitamin C-rich fruits given to children with asthma may have lessened their asthmatic wheezing, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. As part of a healthy diet, eat fruits rich in vitamin C, including papayas, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, tangerines, mangoes and guavas -- or juices made from these fruits. Broccoli, cabbage greens, bell peppers, potatoes with skin and raw spinach are vegetables that contain high amounts of vitamin C.
Foods Containing Quercetin
Apples, dark berries, cherries, citrus fruits, parsley, onions, tea, red wine and olive oil contain quercetin, an antioxidant and a flavonoid that gives these foods their color. Quercetin is anti-inflammatory and acts as an antihistamine in the body, inhibiting cells from releasing histamines, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center; however, there is no scientific evidence as yet that quercetin can help reduce symptoms of asthma, but it is being studied as a treatment for asthma.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Asthma
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium
- Indiana University News Room: Vitamin C--A Nutritional Approach to Managing Exercise-Induced Asthma
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Quercetin
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Selenium
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Magnesium Supplements May Benefit People With Asthma
