Mediterranean Diet For Kids With Asthma

Asthma is a respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of your airways, making it difficult to breathe. Other symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness and pain. Exposure to certain substances in foods and the environment can trigger asthma symptoms. The Mediterranean diet might reduce your risk of asthma and associated symptoms. Consult your doctor about the benefits of a Mediterranean diet in the prevention and treatment of asthma.

Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes that you eat whole foods that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts and olive oil, with low to moderate amounts of low-fat yogurt and dairy, fish and wine and small amounts of meat. The diet also does not include processed foods or foods with unhealthy fats or high amounts of sodium. The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional Greek diet from the island of Crete, where the population had longer life expectancy and lower rates of heart disease and cancer than neighboring countries, according to research by scientists at the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health in Washington, D.C., and published in the "Journal of Nutrition" in 2001.

Prevention

Consuming a Mediterranean diet might prevent the incidence of asthma. Research by scientists at the University of Edinburgh Medical School in England and published in the "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" in 2010 discovered that epidemiological studies support the association between a Mediterranean diet and the prevention of asthma. The research evaluated 62 studies that together demonstrated adherence to a Mediterranean diet is protective for persistent wheeze and that eating fruits and vegetables is beneficial in preventing asthma.

Dietary Treatment

If your children have asthma, feeding them more foods from the Mediterranean diet might help reduce the symptoms. Research by scientists at the University of Crete in Heraklion, Greece, and published in "Thorax" in 2007 discovered that strict adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, during childhood has beneficial effects on symptoms of asthma. Research by scientists at the University of Porto and Hospital of S. Joao in Portugal and published in "Allergy" in 2008 found that strict adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet increases the likelihood of asthma being under control. More specifically, increasing fruit intake improves asthma symptoms.

Considerations

Feeding your children more whole foods might help reduce occurrence of symptoms of asthma, but you need to be equally attentive to avoid the consumption of foods that might increase symptoms. Foods preserved with sulfites might increase the risk of asthma symptoms.

Mediterranean Diet for Kids with Asthma