Asthma

Reduce airway swelling, improve breathing and lung health with nutrients that fight inflammation

Recommended For

Adult onset asthma, Allergy related asthma, Asthma, Cough variant asthma, Exercise induced asthma, Nighttime asthma, Non-allergic asthma, Occupational asthma, Seasonal asthma.

Diet Goals

Decrease sugar, fat; learn triggers

  • Maintain healthy body weight
  • Anti-inflammatory, plant based foods
  • Avoid sulfites, allergy triggering foods
Asthma is chronic inflammation of the airways; the nutrients in fruits, vegetables and whole grains help calm your airways down.

Food Recommendations

Foods to Eat

Poultry: Chicken, turkey, duck, goose
Veggies, Leafy greens: Lettuce, kale, spinach, romaine, arugula
Low carb foods: Meats, eggs, vegetables, nuts, seeds
Fatty fish, Omega-3s: Salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, trout
Nuts, Seeds: Chia seeds, flax, pepitas, almonds, walnuts
Low fat dairy: Skim, 1% milk, yogurt, cheeses, buttermilk

Foods to Avoid

Allergies: Peanuts, gluten, eggs, nuts, shellfish, wheat
Fatty foods: Chocolate, fast foods, chips, pastry, pies
Food allergies: Skin test for food allergies to avoid
Sulfite containing: Dried fruit, juices, chips, jams, beer, wine, tea
Processed foods: Fast or fried foods, packaged foods, frozen dinners, cakes
High sodium: Deli meat, soup, cheese, pizza, salty nuts & snacks

Diet Rules

Additional Information

Research

Studies show rates of asthma have risen. High fat intake and dairy from Western diet, can cause airway inflammation.
Up to 70% of all people with asthma also have GERD (reflux of stomach acid), which can make asthma more difficult to control.
Research shows increasing fruits, veggies & reducing animal meat consumption may be protective and reduce asthma symptoms.

Caveats

~45% lower risk for asthma in children and adults who consume the most fruits and vegetables.
Vegetarian/vegan diets report lower incident of asthma; potential triggers are dairy and eggs.
Alcohol contains histamines and sulfites - known triggers for asthma; eliminate and assess symptoms.
The majority of allergic reactions are caused by tree nuts, wheat, soy, peanuts, eggs, fish, shellfish and cow's milk.

References

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