While it's important to follow your asthma action plan
and take your medications as directed, if you get the
okay from your doctor first, you can also try adding
some key foods and supplements into your diet in order
to
help keep your asthma in check. The five simple steps
below can bring about some important benefits and may
even lessen your reliance on conventional medicines:
1. Load up on fruits and vegetables. It's long been
recognized that the antioxidants contained in fresh fruits
and vegetables are good for your health. Researchers
studied a group of people following the Mediterranean
diet
(an eating plan that emphasizes fresh fruits, vegetables,
legumes, nuts, and healthy fat) and found that these
participants had better asthma control than their
counterparts. One possible explanation is that the fresh
fruits
and vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties that
can help reduce swelling and inflammation in the lungs.
In addition, fruits and vegetables are low calorie foods
that are filling, and they help you maintain a healthy
weight, which can help gain better control of asthma.
2. Use fish oil supplements for lung health. When you
supplement asthma control efforts with fish oil, you're
adding a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids that
are good for your health and lungs. A study published in
the Chest Journal revealed that people with exercise-
induced asthma who added fish oil into their menus
were
able to reduce airway constriction and as a result, used
less of their asthma medications. This finding is
important on two levels, since it means that fish oil can
help manage asthma and can also be a strategy to
reduce the risk of side effects from asthma medications.
3. Eat an apple to keep your asthma at bay. You know
that apples are good for your health, but did you also
know that they can reduce your risk of experiencing an
asthma attack? The benefit comes from the powerful
antioxidants that are contained in the fruit's peel
(especially in red apples) and provide a natural
antihistamine
and inflammatory effect that can help allergies and
asthma. A study included in the American Journal of
Respiratory Critical Care Medicine found that
participants who ate apples twice a week had as much
as a third
lower risk of developing asthma.
4. Go heavy on milk, eggs, and fish to get more vitamin
D. People with more serious forms of asthma seem to
be weak on vitamin D, so choosing foods high in this
vitamin may provide real benefits. Another easy way to
boost your vitamin D levels is by spending a few
minutes soaking up the sun's rays without using
sunscreen.
(Just be sure to keep your unprotected sun time brief
so you don't trade in one health problem for another
one.)
5. Add more spice to your life. The vitamin C contained
in hot chili peppers can be good for your health and
asthma, too, since it serves as an antioxidant and also
fights inflammation. Eating spicy foods for respiratory
health may also help clear mucus caused by allergies
and asthma. Other sources of vitamin C include the
following:
Dark leafy greens
Guavas
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Kiwi
Oranges
Strawberries
You might also take vitamin C supplements for lung
health if you don't get enough from the foods you eat.
Some researchers believe this can help keep the airways
working well and may even help minimize wheezing,
but more studies are needed to confirm these benefits.https://m.facebook.com/Medipharmac-Medical-Centre-816261791727356/?refid=17&ref=opera_speed_dial&_ft_=top_level_post_id.844073385612863%3Atl_objid.844073385612863%3Athid.816261791727356%3A306061129499414%3A2%3A1388563200%3A1420099199%3A-2285392348337784175&__tn__=C
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