Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can develop because of cigarette smoking or regular inhalation of toxic fumes or particulates. Symptoms include mucus, coughing, shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest. COPD makes breathing increasingly labored over time, because the pulmonary tissue that conducts the gas exchange loses its consistency, thus decreasing its ability to receive oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. While diet cannot cure COPD, it can make living with the disease more manageable.
Fiber
Vegetables, whole grains and legumes all contain generous proportions of fiber. This form of carbohydrate is not digestible, but serves to conduct food along the digestive tract and regulate the entry of sugar into the bloodstream. Without the recommended daily allowance of at least 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily, COPD patients can suffer irregular bowel function and unstable blood sugar. Since these sufferers must consume more energy just to receive adequate oxygen, digestive upset and glucose instability are problems they can not afford. Fiber helps minimize such ailments, however.
Fat
Meats, dairy products and eggs are rich sources of fat. While taking care not to over-indulge, COPD patients benefit from some fat in their nutritional regimes. A 1993 study published in the pulmonary journal, “Chest,” found that fat consumption lowered carbon dioxide production, in turn reducing oxygen requirements. This provides needed relief to COPD sufferers. Though the study evaluated fat in the context of low carbohydrate intake, fat can in any case bring on satiety, thereby keeping overall calorie intake limited.
Protein
Many of the aforementioned sources of fat are also plentiful in protein. Other healthy protein choices include nuts and beans. Since the development of COPD is rooted in damaged tissue of the respiratory system, limiting further decay is essential. In view of this pathology, protein promotes tissue health and strengthens the muscles involved in breathing. One caveat with protein consumption, however, is the necessity of keeping sodium to a minimum. Sodium can cause edema and a rise in blood pressure. Thus, salted nuts and cured meats should be avoided.
Sugar
The American Lung Association estimates that COPD sufferers can expend up to 10 times as many calories on breathing than a person without the disease. Energy needs run high with COPD, and sugar is a carbohydrate that can quickly supply the bloodstream and cells with fuel. Yet sugar intake is also implicated in diabetes and insulin-related disorders, as well as weight gain. Still, this issue can be skirted by selecting fruits that are adequate in sugar content and also high in fiber. Apples, citrus, melons and pineapple are examples of this balance.
References
- National Institutes for Health; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; What Is COPD?
- The Cleveland Clinic; Diseases and Conditions; Nutritional Guidelines for People With COPD
- American Lung Association; Lung Disease; Living With COPD; Nutrition
- Great Valley Publishing Company, Inc.; “Today’s Dietician”, v.11; Nutrition and COPD – Dietary Considerations for Better Breathing; Ilaria St. Florian; 2/2009
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