Nutrition is essential for maintaining optimum health, and involves eating a balanced diet made up of a variety of foods. This gives your body the right amount of essential nutrients to maintain essential processes and your immune system. Some foods can trigger allergies, including asthma, so be sure to consult a qualified nutritionist if you are in doubt.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a condition that affects the lungs, specifically the small airways and passages (bronchi) of the lung which become inflamed and swollen. This restricts the sufferers ability to breathe, with coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath typically symptoms. If this is especially severe it is termed an asthma attack and needs treatment or medication immediately. Conventional treatment includes medications that dilate the bronchi, or prevent them from contracting.
What Causes Asthma?
Asthma is associated with allergies such as hay fever, which tend to run in, and affect certain families. It can be triggered by a number of factors, including the weather, stress, dust, tobacco smoke, pollen, mould spores and pet fur or hair.
Nutrition for Asthma
A balanced diet is comprised of a range of food groups, and can help your body fight allergies and the effects of debilitating conditions such as asthma. Try including the following foods or food groups in your diet:
- Plenty of water
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Wholegrain foods such as brown rice and brown bread
- Lean meats such as skinless chicken
- Dairy, including milk, cheese and yoghurt
- Legumes and pulses; and
- Oily and/or white fish
Items to avoid or limit in your diet include alcohol, salt, saturated fats and refined sugars. The importance of exercise should also not be underestimated; especially when one starts to age and metabolism slows. This makes it more difficult to burn off unwanted fat.
How Can Nutrition Help Asthma?
By avoiding certain foods which may trigger asthma or other allergies, and sticking to a healthy balanced diet you will be better placed to avoid the symptoms of asthma. It is also advisable to eat smaller portions more often, as opposed to larger portions at meal times. A full stomach places a strain on the diaphragm and will restrict your breathing even more.
Consult a qualified nutritionist to determine if your asthma is being triggered by elements of your diet.
Find out about other effective natural asthma treatments.
Originally published on May 27, 2010
