Asthma Diet As a Naturist Treatment

Asthma means your immune system is pro-inflammatory and your lungs are hyperreactive. Whenever your body has contact with an asthma trigger, your immune system will overreact by releasing abundant inflammatory chemicals and causing your bronchioles (small tubes in the lungs) to swell. Accordingly, your breathing passageways become narrower, and you feel like you are inhaling through a straw. You don't have to live that way or always have to rely on a bunch of drugs, though. Some smart changes in your diet can noticeably improve your asthma symptoms.

Go for antioxidant-rich foods

An apple a day can really keep asthma away. Cornell University researchers found that people who consume a lot of antioxidant-rich foods have significantly better lung function than those who don't. Antioxidants can reduce the risk of bronchial damage, and may help asthma medications work more effectively in some individuals and therefore lower the need for higher doses. Some antioxidant-rich foods are vegetables and fruits that are dark green, yellow, red or orange as well as lean meat, cereals and Brazil nuts.

Eat the right fats

Poly-unsaturated vegetable oils, margarine and vegetable shortening are pro-inflammatory. So try to avoid them. Extra-virgin olive oil is the best option for people with asthma. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish are also beneficial for asthma patients, as they can provide an anti-inflammatory effect. In Australia, researchers have found that asthma rates are lower in children who regularly eat oily fish. Similar research done in 10 European countries also discovered that asthma is most prevalent in teens who consume a lot of trans fats from processed food.

E is key

Foods rich in vitamin E are good for asthma patients in two ways. They improve your antioxidant status. And they decrease the level of immunoglobulin E (IgE), which is a type of antibody that releases inflammatory chemicals when triggered by allergens. Great sources of vitamin E include wheat germ, vegetable oils, green vegetables, eggs and sunflower seeds.

Coffee can make you healthy

It's controversial whether caffeine is good for us or not. A recent study by Indiana University researchers, however, found that coffee drinkers have about 25 percent fewer asthma attacks than those who are not caffeine consumers. The researchers believe that caffeine may help relax the muscles in the bronchial tubes and accordingly alleviate breathing. You should consult with your doctor how much coffee you should drink each day, as some asthma medications you take may be stimulants and should not be taken with caffeine.