Asthma can be triggered by a number of factors, from illness to stress to environment. When it comes to food, people with severe asthma may need to be mindful of their meal choices, especially if they have allergies or are susceptible to react to the things they eat or drink.
High-Allergen Foods
Certain foods don't directly trigger asthma, but can cause an allergic reaction that in turn can lead to difficulty breathing. If you have asthma, this can escalate into a full-blown asthma attack. If you haven't been tested for food allergies, it makes sense to talk to your doctor about the possible risky foods in your diet. Foods that commonly cause allergic reactions include peanuts, dairy products, wheat, seafood and soy. Some people are also allergic to eggs or royal jelly.
Food Chemicals
A number of preservatives, additives and colorants can trigger asthma attacks. Some people may have a reaction to just a few of these chemicals, while others may react to all or none. If you have an asthma attack after consuming a specific food, read the label to see what chemical was used to produce it. Common chemicals that cause problems include tartrazine (E102), which can be found in baked products, pastries and soft drinks, and monosodium glutamate (E261), better known as MSG, which is a common ingredient in Chinese food and packaged snacks such as potato chips. Other chemicals to watch out for include sulphites and sulphur dioxide (E220, 221, 222, 226, 227), common in canned foods.
Druglike Ingredients
Certain foods, such as mushrooms and chocolate, contain salicylates (the ingredient in aspirin), which can trigger asthma in susceptible people. Yeast extracts are also likely to contain these ingredients. A preservative related to aspirin that can also cause trouble is benzoic acid (also known as E210), which can be found in acidic products and foods. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in certain fruits such as berries and can be a problem for people with asthma.
