An Anti-Asthma Diet

Overview

Although it's not known exactly what causes asthma, when people switch from a diet high in nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables and fish to one with processed "junk" foods, the rates of asthma tend to increase. Many studies are beginning to show that if you choose a healthy diet, you may be able to treat and even prevent the disease.

Identification

Asthma occurs when the smooth muscle cells in your lungs malfunction, contracting and tightening around the air passages, and close them off. This causes another type of cell, the endothelial cells, to start producing a very thick and sticky type of mucus that traps air inside your lungs. Symptoms of asthma can include shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, difficulty speaking, exhaustion and in rare cases, collapse and death, according to the Whole Foods website.

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Significance

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, with 250,000 annual deaths attributed to the disease. Between 1980 and 1994, asthma rates increased 75 percent overall; however, the rate among children under the age of 5 increased 160 percent. Changes in dietary habits are believed to be the reason behind these dramatic increases, which include consuming more omega-6 fatty acids found in farm-raised meats, vegetable oils and margarine, as well as more salty foods and artificial food additives and preservatives.

Expert Insight

In a study published in March 2007 in the journal "Thorax," led by S. Willers, it was found that women who ate apples and fish while pregnant had children who were 53 percent less likely to have asthma. A study by C. Tabak et al., published in "Thorax" in December 2006, linked children ages 8 to 13 who ate more whole grains and fish to a 54 percent decrease in asthma rates. Children in Crete who consumed a typical Mediterranean diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in saturated fats had almost no rates of respiratory allergies or asthma, according to an article in the 2004 edition of "The American Thoracic Society." Other studies such as one by T.C. Medici, published in 1993 in the journal "Chest," and another conducted by the National Institutes of Health in 2009, linked a high-salt diet and vitamin D deficiencies, respectively, to higher asthma rates.

Recommendations

You should aim for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily, preferably organic and unprocessed and eaten raw or lightly steamed or stir-fried. Apples in particular have been shown to improve lung function. Avoid red meats, pork and processed luncheon and breakfast meats and instead use eggs and nuts, and fish like salmon, cod, halibut, mackerel, tuna, sardines and herring for your protein sources. Stay away from heavily refined vegetable oils like corn or safflower and opt for canola or pure extra-virgin olive oil; season your food with fresh herbs instead of reaching for the salt shaker. Researchers from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood in Auckland, New Zealand, recommend calcium-rich dairy products for children to ease asthma symptoms.

Warning

Because asthma is a potentially serious and even fatal condition, you shouldn't try to cure it via diet alone if you or your child suffers from a severe form of the disease. A diet may help reduce your symptoms, but you will need to continue using asthma medications and seeking regular medical advice from your doctor. If you suffer from food allergies, your diet may have to be adjusted to eliminate any foods, even otherwise healthy ones, that cause allergic reactions and may also contribute to asthma.