asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects millions of people around the world it's a
condition that's characterized by wheezing shortness of breath inflammation and chest
tightness it causes the Airways to become narrow which results in difficulty breathing there are
several variables that influence the prevalence of asthma within the population including both
genetic and environmental factors with that said one factor that people often forget about is their
diet in the foods they put into their bodies unfortunately there are several foods that can
actually make asthma symptoms worse however there are also foods that can reduce air inflammation
to make it easier to breathe and that's the topic of this video keep watching until the end because
there's one that I think will surprise you so if you're ready let's get into it now you may be
wondering what is the best diet for someone with asthma in general scientists believe that there
are actually two diets that may benefit those who suffer from asthma symptoms the Mediterranean diet
and a plant-based diet first let's talk about the Mediterranean diet studies began to focus on
the benefits of the so-called Mediterranean diet more than 50 years ago in places such as Greece
and Italy the combination of fruits vegetables omega-3 fatty acids from fish and whole grains
was found to contribute to the Region's lower rate of coronary heart disease that's because
the Mediterranean diet focuses on foods such as fruits nuts legumes vegetables and olive oil
this is vastly different than the typical American diet which consists of high fat fast food dishes
that are frequently made from heavily processed food items and preservatives the foods of the
Mediterranean diet are often locally harvested seasonally fresh and undergo minimal processing
not to mention these diets also include fewer dairy products and red meat instead olive oil
serves as the primary source of supplemental fat for most Mediterranean dishes olive oil contains
a long list of antioxidants such as Vitamin E and phenolic acid which helps to lower inflammation
making it easier to breathe furthermore the Mediterranean diet has lower levels of trans fats
and omega-6 fatty acids which tend to increase or exacerbate the frequency of asthma episodes
but aside from the Mediterranean diet scientists found that a plant-based diet may also be
beneficial for those with asthma plant-based diets low in saturated fat focus on fruits
vegetables and legumes which can also provide anti-inflammatory effects this diet is typically
high in fiber which is thought to improve lung function and the gut microbiome reducing the
potential for aggravated Airway diseases even those who suffered from asthma in the past have
experienced less frequent and less severe asthma symptoms by embracing a plant-based diet however
I realize that it's not for everyone therefore if you're not willing to go fully plant-based just
yet at least try to avoid processed meat and red meats that are high in fat and cholesterol
so now that you're familiar with the two general diets that may benefit those with asthma let's
take a closer look at some of the individual foods that you can consider adding to your diet
as previously mentioned there are several foods with anti-inflammatory properties
that may help reduce the effects of asthma this includes fruits and vegetables apples
citrus fruits leafy greens Tomatoes beans legumes turmeric ginger salmon and flax seeds
there are several reasons why these foods can help asthma symptoms but it's generally thanks
to the vitamins minerals antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties they contain
for example Ginger and turmeric are flavorful spices rich in bioactive compounds and properties
that can reduce oxidative damage and provide many positive health benefits for the human body this
includes improving the body's antibody response or reducing inflammation in the Airways of the lungs
not to mention foods like tomatoes are loaded with lycopene which is a carotenoid antioxidant
that has been associated with improved respiratory Health this may be especially beneficial in those
with asthma and COPD again it's no coincidence that the Foods on this list are precisely what
make up the diets recommended by scientists which we already discussed so if you have asthma and
are looking to optimize your food choices you can consider including more of these Foods in
your diet while there are many healthy foods that may help to prevent or alleviate asthma symptoms
there are also foods that can make symptoms worse unfortunately many of these foods are
very common in the average diet again residents of the United States and many developed Nations
tend to eat fewer vegetables fruits legumes and whole grains than they did in earlier Generations
instead they tend to eat more saturated fat and processed foods which explains why
the prevalence of asthma tends to increase in cultures that embrace the Western diet
some of the types of foods that people with asthma should avoid include fast food trans fats
omega-6 fatty acids foods high in sulfites dried fruits and vegetables pickled
fruits and vegetables shellfish alcoholic beverages processed meats and dairy products
these often have higher levels of sugar sodium omega-6 fats and saturated fat
they also contain lower levels of antioxidants micronutrients phytochemicals flavonoids fiber and
omega-3 fatty acids this combination of low fiber intake and higher amounts of bad fats tends to
increase Airway inflammation negatively impact lung function and increase the potential for
frequent asthma episodes again it all boils down to inflammation asthma is a chronic obstructive
respiratory condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airway in the lungs
this leads to recurring episodes of wheezing and difficulty breathing inflammation is the body's
natural response to protect itself from infections injuries and irritation however if this response
persists it becomes chronic inflammation which can damage healthy tissue and lead to various
health problems including respiratory infections difficulty breathing and bronchoconstriction
as previously mentioned the causes of asthma involve a combination of genetic and environmental
factors some examples of the most common asthma triggers include pollen dust grass animal fur
cold air exercise stress cigarette smoke and respiratory infections each patient is
different therefore each patient may experience an asthma episode due to different triggers
but the long-term management of asthma symptoms is important in order to prevent acute exacerbations
and improve your quality of life this involves eliminating or minimizing the triggers that can
cause an asthma attack and the management of asthma often requires the use of controller
medications such as beta agonists and inhaled corticosteroids however as previously mentioned
research has shown that your diet and the foods that enter your body can also play a major role
so do your lungs and entire respiratory system a favor by eliminating unhealthy food choices while
including more of the anti-inflammatory foods mentioned earlier in this video if you want to
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be some other helpful videos popping up on your screen right about now that I think you'll enjoy
and just a quick reminder we are not doctors this video is for informational purposes only
thank you so much for watching have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend