Fight Asthma with Food

Asthma is a respiratory disease that can sideline children and adults. It is connected to the incidences of allergies that many suffer.

Asthma constricts air passages can cause labored breathing, wheezing and coughing. The asthmatic can pass out if symptoms are not controlled. After passing out the patient can suffocate, which can lead to death.

Children have a 70% chance of having asthma if both of their parents have asthma. Asthma is not contagious but it is becoming alarmingly common. There are about 10 million Americans with Asthma. Between the years of 1982 and 1992 the asthma rate rose by 42%.

Healthy foods can help to relieve symptoms, reduce the occurrence of attacks and can bring relief from anxiety due to the patient worrying about when the next asthma attack will happen. Doing something active to help your body fight asthma gives you a sense of power, a feeling of well-being because you are able to do something about your disease.

It is important to follow your healthcare providers instructions concerning activity level, and any medications prescribed. It is also important to see your healthcare provider on a regular basis so you and your provider can monitor your symptoms.

Adult asthma cannot be cured, it can however, be well-controlled with the use of medications, avoiding allergy triggers and eating food that can help you relieve symptoms.

Asthma Triggers

Asthma triggers can be allergic reactions to irritants in the air on our skin or in our food sources, breathing heavily, cold air, exercise, and also pollutants in outside and inside air, and in our fabrics.

In order to take control of our asthma, we need to control these triggers. One way is to control the food we consume. How the food is grown, processed and prepared.

Avoid processed foods (boxed or canned foods) and buy and consume fresher foods from farm markets, farm stands, and from our grocery produce aisles.

Here are some food tips that may help in your fight to control your asthma:

Give organically grown fruits and vegetables a try. These foods are grown without pesticides that can seep through the skin of the fruits and vegetables.

Cold water fish such as cod, salmon, mackerel, herring and halibut contain fish oil that has been shown to be protective against many diseases including asthma.

Extra virgin olive oil can be substituted in cooking.

Use flax seeds to flavor food.

Rosemary, ginger and turmeric will also give value and are seasonings for food.

Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Always wash your hands after picking fresh fruits and vegetables and before eating.

Optimal lung health can be achieved by making sure your diet or supplements contains these nutrients:

Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, quercetin and vitamins B6 and C.

Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids are: salmon, tuna and trout

Foods that contain magnesium are: almonds, avocados, barley, buckwheat, brazil nuts, chocolate, pumpkins seeds and sunflower seeds.

Foods that contain quercetin are apples, cranberries, grapes, green cabbage, kale, onions, pears and spinach.

Foods that contain vitamins B6 and C are: avocados, bananas, barley, bok choy, brown rice, chick-peas, chicken, kiwi fruit, mangoes, oranges, pork, potatoes, red bell peppers, red cabbage, salmon, strawberries and also tuna.