What Food Helps Symptoms of Asthma?
Asthma is a lung condition that causes sufferers to have difficulty breathing. Chemicals, additives, and certain foods have been fingered as causes. A number of foods and vitamins have helped many asthma sufferers deal with this condition without any other treatment.
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You Are What You Eat
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The exact cause of asthma is unknown. It is thought to be both genetic and environmental. There is no cure for asthma but there are many treatments. Avoidance of triggers is key. Many asthma patients have had dramatic and lifelong results by adding or eliminating certain foods, vitamins, and minerals.
Foods That Help Control Asthma
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Some foods may reduce or even arrest the inflammation of air passages that bring on an asthmatic attack by controlling and/or thinning mucus in the lungs. Onions contain a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that has been shown to decrease histamine, a chemical known to bring on asthma attacks. Foods rich in Vitamin C have been shown effective in dealing with asthma. Spicy foods that contain mucus-moving capabilities also help. These include peppers, garlic and mustards. Coffee drinkers have close to a 30 percent lower chance of having asthma than non-coffee drinkers. Fruits and vegetables are also recommended.
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Vitamins and Minerals
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Increase your intake of vitamin E, found in cooking oil, wheat germ and enriched breads. Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, mackerel and tuna are recommended. Selenium is also believed to help reduce inflammation and can be found in Brazil nuts, chicken and seafood. Magnesium-rich foods such as oysters, mackerel, spinach and halibut can also be helpful.
Foods to Avoid
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Eat less meat or none at all, and reduce your dairy intake. Avoid foods that induce phlegm such as rice, sugar, bananas and papayas. Limit fried foods as well. Sulfites, used as a preservative, are also considered an asthma trigger.
Trial and Error
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What works for one asthma patient might not work for another. Any and all dietary changes should be discussed with a doctor. A carefully constructed diet plan can help prevent asthma attacks and will become not merely a diet plan but a lifestyle change.
Fact
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Every day in America, 40,000 people miss school or work because of asthma; 30,000 people have an asthma attack; 5,000 people visit the emergency room because of an asthma attack; 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital because of asthma; and 11 people die from asthma.
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