Asthma is a condition in which a person is unable to breathe due to the narrowing of the airways or excessive mucus secretion in them. This condition must be managed on a regular basis so that one can lead a relatively normal and healthy life. While there is no specific diet that can prevent the occurrence of asthma symptoms, certain food habits can help in improving lung health and reduce the symptoms’ intensity.

The connection between food and asthma

Foods to add to your diet

1. Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are foods that are rich in nutrients that help in improving lung health. These nutrients may include vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like beta-carotene. These nutrients are useful in preventing the release of free radicals that may cause irritation and swelling the lungs and the airways.

2. Multi-vitamins
Vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D and other vitamins play a very important role in reducing asthma-related symptoms in people. Vitamin D helps improve our respiratory health by protecting the body from acute respiratory diseases and boosting the immune system to act effectively. Vitamin E, which is obtained from foods like almonds, raw seeds and kale, contains a compound called tocopherol, which is said to help reduce symptoms like coughing or wheezing that are prevalent in asthma patients. Moreover, consuming large amounts of foods like spinach, carrots, etc., that contain beta-carotenes can help in increasing your vitamin A intake, which can result in improved lung function.

3. Magnesium
Lower levels of magnesium in the body have been known to result in low lung flow and volume. Therefore, people suffering from asthma are often advised to increase the intake of magnesium-rich foods. Moreover, it has also been observed that inhaling magnesium through a nebulizer can be effective in treating asthma attacks in children as well as adults.

Foods to avoid in your diet

1. Sulfites
Sulfites are preservatives that are added to certain foods to make them have a longer shelf-life. These compounds are normally found in foods like apples, maraschino cherries, shrimp, or alcohol. Consuming large amounts of foods that are rich in such preservatives or sulfites can worsen lung function in asthma patients and can also trigger asthma attacks in some cases.

2. Allergens
If a person is allergic to certain foods or if they have an intolerance towards certain foods, it is recommended to refrain from consuming these ingredients if they can. Most common allergy-inducing ingredients include dairy products, tree nuts, shellfish or gluten. Consuming these allergens can result in worsening of asthma symptoms and may also result in an asthma attack.

3. Salicylates
Salicylates are naturally occurring compounds found in tea, coffee or some herbs and spices. It is also present in aspirin. In rare situations, a person may be intolerant or sensitive to the consumption of such salicylates. If they consume these foods, it may trigger asthma symptoms in them.