Living with asthma may be difficult, particularly if it is not well-controlled. Diet and lifestyle changes are strategies to help you make it more manageable. The following article sheds light on asthma patient diet.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways of your lungs.
A normal airway is open with the muscles of the airway relaxed. In asthma, these airways become swollen with excess mucus and narrowed due to muscle spasms (bronchospasm).
Why Does Diet Matter for Asthma Patients?
Research has shown the link between asthma and the pathogenesis of asthma, particularly in patients who are obese.
Eating is not only important for survival but is also important to preserve our health.
An inflammatory diet has an influence on our body’s systemic inflammation, which in turn contributes to the chronic inflammation in asthma patients.
Therefore, it can be said that there is a role of a healthy diet in improving general health as well as in controlling asthma.
Foods to Eat for Asthma
The best food for asthma includes a well-balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains to give you all the vital nutrients you need and to boost your health.
Vitamin supplementation: Certain vitamins have been found to reduce symptoms of asthma, particularly Vitamin C and Vitamin D. Include them naturally in your diet or consider them in supplement form.
Fruits and vegetables: This helps control asthma in patients and should be encouraged for asthmatic patients. Include a wide variety of seasonal fruits in your diet.
Foods rich in Omega-3: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have antioxidant properties which help to boost immune functions. Cod liver oil, mackerel and salmon are all rich sources.
Foods to Avoid for Asthma
Foods to avoid for asthma in India include the Western diet, which is detrimental for asthma patients. This has been shown to worsen symptoms of asthma as well as breathlessness.
This includes:
- Salty foods: This includes fast food like pizzas, burgers, fries and salty snacks. These have been found to be inflammatory in nature.
- Excess sugar: Sugary foods such as desserts, candies, and chocolate increase the body’s oxidative stress, giving rise to more inflammation.
- High calorie foods: Obesity has a direct link to asthma. High-calorie foods include fast food, fried foods, and packaged foods.
- Highly fatty foods: Fatty foods increase the fatty acid levels in the body thus increasing the body’s inflammation. These include oils, butter, cheese and processed meats.
- Low-fibre foods: These contribute to systemic and airway inflammation. Foods that contain low fibre are refined flour, white rice, pasta and dairy products.
- Foods which contain preservatives or additives: It is important to exercise caution while buying packaged or readymade foods. These may contain various chemicals, artificial colours and other harmful ingredients which may exacerbate the asthma.
Worst Foods for Asthma Patients
There are some foods which should not be included at all in the diet as they are the worst food for asthma patients.
Foods that you are allergic to: Since allergies and asthma have similar immune responses, eating foods to which you are allergic will also activate the asthma symptoms.
Highly processed foods: Packaged foods like chips, biscuits and other snacks often contain ingredients like artificial colours and chemical preservatives, which may trigger asthma symptoms.
Foods containing artificial additives: Many ready-made and packaged foods also contain harmful ingredients like artificial sweeteners and MSG, which should not be consumed by asthma patients since they also have triggering properties.
Foods containing sulfites: Products such as cheese, wine and dried fruits often contain sulfite as an ingredient for preservation which is harmful for sensitive asthma patients.
7-Day Indian Diet Chart Plan for Asthma Patients
Asthma patient diet chart: Each day should include at least 4-5 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit everyday along with whole grain foods.
Here is a sample weekly diet plan for an asthma patient:
| Day | Breakfast | Midday snack | Lunch | Evening snack | Dinner |
| Sunday | Porridge/ Masala oats + 1 cup of apple juice | 1 serving of grapes | 3 chapati/1 cup of brown rice + vegetable curry | Green tea + 9-10 nuts | 2 chapati + 1 cup of dal soup |
| Monday | 1 vegetable sandwich + 1 cup orange juice | 1 serving of apple | 3 chapati + steamed vegetables + daal | 1 boiled egg | Avocado salad + toast |
| Tuesday | 1 fruit smoothie/ 1 cup of soy milk | 1 serving of orange | 3 chapati/1 cup of brown rice + vegetable curry | Ginger tea + vegetable sandwich | 2 boiled egg + lentil soup |
| Wednesday | Mixed vegetable sandwich + 1 cup of oat milk | 1 serving of apple | 3 chapati + steamed vegetables + daal | 1 banana | 2 chapati + vegetable soup |
| Friday | Steamed broccoli + toast + 1 cup of almond milk | 1 serving of watermelon | 3 chapati/1 cup of brown rice + vegetable curry | 1 apple | 2 chapati + sprouted moong salad |
| Saturday | Vegetable chilla + Orange juice | 1 serving of pineapple | Dal khichdi + 1 serving of steamed vegetables | Chickpea salad | 2 chapati + vegetable soup |
Lifestyle and Dietary Tips for Asthma
Modification of the diet as well as physical activity is the key to controlling asthma.
It is important to educate the asthma patient about the impact of diet on their health and asthma control. Asthma patient diet can control the asthma and reduce the troublesome symptoms like wheezing, tiredness and breathlessness.
Moreover, moderate physical activity has been shown to have benefits to health and the immune system. Physical activity can also curb obesity which is a major factor in asthma severity.
This can include walking, light jogging, swimming and other light sports. It is advisable to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise into your daily routine.
Remember to not exert yourself during physical activities. Take adequate rest and breaks, and keep yourself hydrated for physical activities.
Consulting a Doctor for an Asthma Patient’s Diet
There are several foods which need to be consumed in plenty and several foods which need to be avoided in an asthma patient’s diet. It is advisable to consult a doctor before adding or eliminating any foods from your diet. Your doctor, along with the dietician, can give you the best advice for your diet.
This way, you can get customised meal plans taking into account your symptoms, sensitivities, food preferences and weight to ensure you are consuming a balanced diet that is full of nutrition. It is important to remember that diet complements asthma treatment and does not replace medications. Consult your doctor regarding which medications to be taken along with the changes in diet.
Conclusion
Asthma is a long-term disease which needs adherence to lifestyle with a healthy asthma patient diet and moderate physical activity levels.
This can make living with asthma more manageable and can improve your quality of life.
FAQs
The best Asthma patient diet foods are fruits, vegetables and high-fibre foods because of their anti-inflammatory properties.
Yes, curd is good for asthma patients. Curd consumption improves microbial diversity in the gut and increases the beneficial bacteria in the gut. However, this shouldn’t be consumed in large amounts as it can also increase mucus production.
Light consumption of coffee is beneficial to reduce the risk of asthma-onset and may help improve airway function. Therefore, you can include black coffee (minimal dairy) in your diet.
Overweight and obese patients with asthma tend to have more asthma attacks and higher severity. Significant improvements in asthma control have been noted in asthma patients after weight loss.
References
Guilleminault L, Williams EJ, Scott HA, Berthon BS, Jensen M, Wood LG. Diet and Asthma: Is It Time to Adapt Our Message? Nutrients. 2017; 9(11):1227. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111227
Das M, Thajuddin N, Patra S, Pundir M. Ancient Indian Diet – A Balanced Diet for the Healthy Diversity of Gut Microbiota and Management of Asthma. Curr Res Nutr Food Sci 2024; 12(1). doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.12.1.29
Lin F, Zhu Y, Liang H, Li D, Jing D, Liu H, Pan P, Zhang Y. Association of Coffee and Tea Consumption with the Risk of Asthma: A Prospective Cohort Study from the UK Biobank. Nutrients. 2022; 14(19):4039. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194039