Macrobiotic Diet & COPD
COPD, which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a lung disease usually caused from smoking. While there is presently no cure for COPD, individuals living with COPD can take certain measures, such as adopting a macrobiotic diet and engaging in respiratory exercises, to keep the disease from getting worse and to help relieve some of the symptoms.
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Macrobiotic Diet
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A macrobiotic diet is a dietary regimen centered on eating whole, unrefined foods. The diet is largely vegan except that it allows for the consumption of fish, such as salmon. A macrobiotic diet consists mostly of whole grains, with vegetables, beans, fish and nuts eaten to a lesser extent. On the diet, 50 to 60 percent of consumed foods should be whole grains such as barley, spelt and brown rice. Vegetables account for 25 to 30 percent, with beans, sea vegetables and miso accounting for the rest. All other permitted foods such as fish and nuts are allowed once per week. Highly processed or refined foods along with chocolate, dairy products, eggs and fruits are strictly avoided on a macrobiotic diet.
COPD
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COPD is a lung disease characterized by limited air flow and difficulty breathing. There are two main types of COPD: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, frequent respiratory illness and swelling in the feet, legs and ankles. The most common cause for COPD is smoking.
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Treatment
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Proponents of the macrobiotic diet, such as George Ohsawa, Japanese philosopher and founder of the macrobiotic diet, believe all diseases, including cancer, can be treated and prevented through a macrobiotic diet. This belief is based on the theory that the correct balance of foods and minerals in body in connection with increased consumption of phytoestrogens, a compound found in plants and soy products, can cure and prevent disease in the body. According to the American Cancer Society, there have been no randomized clinical studies that show a macrobiotic diet can be used to cure or prevent cancer and diseases at this time. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has funded a study to determine whether a macrobiotic diet may prevent cancer.
Soy Milk
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Soy milk and other soy products such as tofu are permitted as part of a macrobiotic diet. A 2009 study by the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute revealed that regular consumption of soy milk may help prevent COPD. More specifically, participants who consumed at least 50 grams of soy products per day had a reduced risk of developing COPD. At the end of the study, the researchers concluded that long-term soy consumption was positively related to improved lung function and a reduced risk of developing COPD.
Other Considerations
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In addition to adopting a healthy diet, individuals with COPD should also quit smoking, talk with their doctor about the use of medications that may help open the airway and prevent respiratory infections, engage in regular breathing treatments and rehabilitation exercises and avoid cold air whenever possible.
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