Emphysema is a variety of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where the lungs develop a diminished capacity to take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. The consumption of a healthy diet can help maintain good lung function and equip the body to fight this illness. According to Drugs.com, your diet should consist of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with protein from chicken, fish and beans.
Protein and Fat
Patients with emphysema can experience body wasting due to an inadequate protein intake. Most healthy diets advise you to obtain this nutrient from fish, poultry, lean meat and beans. Since these patients need more calories, they can benefit from incorporating foods with a higher-than-average fat content into their diets. Choose healthy fat sources such as olive oil, nuts and fatty fish.
Nutrient Guidelines
Foods containing antioxidants are very beneficial for healthy lungs. Best sources of this nutrient are fresh, deep green and yellow orange fruits and vegetables. Selenium is a helpful mineral for emphysema patients, which you may obtain through fish, nuts, whole grains, chicken and garlic.
"The New York Times" cites a study that compared a Mediterranean diet that features fruits, vegetables and whole grains to a Western diet, featuring red meat and simple carbohydrates. Researchers found the Western diet very significantly raised the risk of COPD.
Considerations
Limit your intake of caffeinated beverages, as these can cause a problem with some medications. Avoid foods that form gas if you have a problem with bloating. Drink 6 to 8 cups of water every day to maintain moisture in air passages. Don't drink alcohol because it can thicken the mucous in your lungs and make it more difficult to clear your air passages through coughing. If you are underweight, eat frequent meals and snacks with a high-caloric content.
The Fruit Factor
Studies indicate a beneficial relationship between vegetable and, more emphatically, fruit consumption and COPD risk, Linus Pauling Institute reports. These European investigations found that patients who consumed more fruit, particularly apples, scored higher on lung function tests. Participants who ate five apples a week displayed a much slower deterioration in lung function than those who did not eat apples during a five-year period. Another European study found that each 3.5 oz. increase in daily fruit intake, correlated with a 24 percent reduction in COPD death risk.
