Do you know?
Asthma is a chronic disease that affected approximately 262 million people in 2019 and caused 4,55,000 deaths in India. -Says WHO
The phenomena of breathing start when the air enters the nose and passes through the windpipe, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. From here the oxygen is passed to the blood and carbon dioxide is returned through the same path. Asthma is an allergic condition, so when someone inhales the allergic air, the bronchioles get swelled resulting in less air to cross, causing breathlessness.
However, asthma cannot spread from one person to another but, it can happen at any age and with any gender. Affecting millions of people, it disturbs the airways in the lungs by making them inflamed narrow, and irritated. As a result, the individual undergoes severe episodes that can be frequently repeated. Coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness are some of Asthma symptoms.
Food and medicine play equal roles in controlling Asthma. One is incomplete with the other. There are some food items that help to manage the symptoms. Therefore, a healthy asthma diet includes numerous things that are discussed in the blog below. As the body reacts to what we eat, certain food items if added to the diet and certain if excluded, can reduce chronic asthma symptoms up to an extent.
There are asthma symptoms that impair the everyday life of the patient. These are:
- Tightening of chest
- Coughing at time of laughing loudly or sleeping
- Breathlessness
- Sleep disorders due to breathing issues
- Wheezing
Asthma patients suffer the most if they have a cold, flu, or any other respiratory disease. Air pollutants like strong perfumes, dust, and smoke trigger the symptoms of asthma.
List of 9 Beneficial Foods for Asthma
As said “Food is a medicine that fails every other medicine.”
To understand the power of food, let us understand what it does to our body. The millions of nutrients, minerals, and other substances work in our body and benefit every organ. The only thing that one needs to keep in mind before eating is:
- What is on the plate?
- What time is good to eat it?
Here are some of the food items that help in asthma treatment along with other medications:
1.Fruits- Apples and Oranges
Fresh fruits are always best for health. For asthma patients, fruits improve the condition as they contain antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Apples are rich in iron, Vitamin C, and fiber making it perfect for lowering asthma symptoms.
Moreover, oranges exhibit similar nutritional properties of Vitamin C, fiber, and folate. All these properties are seen to reduce inflammation and swelling in the lungs.
2.Beans
Beans represent the best food for asthma as it is a perfect combination of taste and nutrition. They are rich in fiber and good gut bacteria which is very important for digestion.
Asthma can be controlled as the gut bacteria help in reducing the inflammation and strengthening immune system. But beans must be consumed in moderate amount and in daytime as it may trigger gas and bloating.
3.Seeds and Nuts
Seeds and nuts have high nutritional values and, therefore are best to be consumed daily. An asthmatic patient can eat almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, etc.
These are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, and E which promote respiratory health and a strong immune system. The point to be noted before its consumption soak it for at least 6-8 hours to get its utmost benefits and for easy digestion.
4.Ginger
A compound 6-gingerol present in ginger reduces the risk of asthma attacks. Ginger has anti-swelling and antioxidants properties that help to relax the airways and improve respiratory health.
To consume ginger, one can make:
- tea by boiling some ginger in a cup of water and then adding some honey to taste.
- garnish the food with grated ginger.
- use in tempering
- add to vegetable soups
5.Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a store house of essential vitamins and nutrients. They also benefit the lungs by letting the asthmatic cells in the airways fight against allergic viruses. The relation between asthma and diet is interlinked. There are other positive effects of eating tomatoes as they enhance the digestive system, clear skin, eye vision, avoid blood clots, etc.
Moreover, they also promote low cholesterol, a strong immune system, and lower cancer risk. To consume tomatoes, one can add to soups, salads, curries, and pulses.
6.Turmeric
Turmeric has extraordinary benefits that help in all respiratory diseases. This herb is commonly found in the kitchen of every house.
They have numerous benefits like:
- Turmeric helps widen the airways and improves airflow
- It prevents oxidative damage to the lungs caused by free radicals
- It also breaks down and removes the excess mucus
With such anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects turmeric helps in managing asthma. Turmeric can be used in dishes, tea, and tempering.
7.Spinach
Due to iron, folate and other nutrients, spinach helps in improving the overall body health. Spinach supports lung function and reduces the asthma symptoms.
There is abundant spinach in the market in the winter season and one can use it to make curry and salads and mix it with other vegetables, soups, and juices to extract its maximum benefits.
8.Pomegranate
This bright red color fruit with juicy seeds has many benefits for the body. Pomegranates have iron, fiber, and other vitamins, minerals. They also help to reduce swelling in the body and protect from harmful oxidants, and unwanted bacteria. That's not all, they also help to improve the blood vessel functions in the body.
A glass of pomegranate juice in a day may help in controlling asthma triggers. You can also eat fresh pomegranate for breakfast or lunch.
9.Other vitamin-rich food items
The diet plan for asthma patients must cover all the important food items. With the above-mentioned food items, some others also contribute largely to slowing down the frequency of asthma attacks.
They are:
- Vitamin C- Present in bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc. are beneficial for lung infections.
- Vitamin E- Sunflower oil, avocados, red bell pepper, etc. are great sources of Vitamin E and must be included in diet.
- Vitamin A- Food items like carrots, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, etc. serve the purpose of controlling asthma attacks.
Conclusion
The blog represents various food items to be included in diet plan of everyday life for asthma patients. The asthma food eating must be carefully chosen to avoid chronic symptoms and attacks. The blog does not recommend compromising any ongoing medication and fully depending on this food or stopping any medical treatment. You can incorporate these food items into daily life with the clear permission and consultation of health experts. Moreover, if you follow Ayurveda, the time of saying goodbye to asthma is not far. For any further information or guidance on the Ayurvedic treatment of Ashtma, you can contact Dr. Sharda Ayuvreda. We will be grateful to help you with every health concern.
