Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.
Elimination Diet
Chronic bronchitis has been linked to food allergies in many reports. An elimination diet can help you uncover problematic foods.Elimination DietChronic bronchitis has been linked to allergies in many reports.40,41,42 In a preliminary trial, long-term reduction of some COPD symptoms occurred when people with COPD avoided allergenic foods and, in some cases, were also desensitized to pollen.43 People with COPD interested in testing the effects of a food allergy elimination program should talk with a doctor.
Fruit
Eating lots of fruit and eliminating refined sugars from your diet may improve symptoms.FruitMalnutrition is common in people with COPD and may further compromise lung function and the overall health of those with this disease.44 However, evidence of malnutrition may occur despite adequate dietary intake of nutrients.45 Researchers have found that increasing dietary carbohydrates increases carbon dioxide production, which leads to reduced exercise tolerance and increased breathlessness in people with COPD.46 On the other hand, men with a higher intake of fruit (which is high in carbohydrates) over a 25-year period were at lower risk of developing lung diseases.47 People with COPD should, therefore, consider eliminating most sources of refined sugars, but not fruits, from their diet.