Being diagnosed with a chronic condition such as asthma can be life-changing for many people. As well as learning how to manage the disease, sufferers also have to examine their lifestyle to figure out if changes could benefit their health in the long term.
Diet is often the first thing to be reconsidered – what we eat can have a profound effect on our health. And the symptoms of a condition such as asthma, which is an inflammation of the airways leading to and from the lungs, can often be triggered or exacerbated by certain food products.
Eliminating the possibility of food allergies can be of tremendous benefit to asthma sufferers. You may already be aware of a reaction from some foods, often trigger the symptoms of an attack – food preservatives are particularly known for their effect on asthma sufferers. Common products linked with allergies include dairy, soy, wheat, peanuts and shellfish.
Talk to your doctor about your concerns if you believe you have a food allergy or an intolerance to certain items. Skin tests can be done quickly to establish what products you may be allergic to. You can also try eliminating suspect products from your diet one by one to check if they are responsible for bringing on asthma symptoms.
Histamine, a chemical occurring naturally in certain foods, is also released in the body as part of an allergic reaction – this is what will cause the typing symptoms of allergy such as itching, sneezing, wheezing and swelling. But histamine intolerance is also common and when present, can exacerbate the symptoms of asthma. Foods high in histamine include cheese, mushrooms, tinned vegetables, pickled foods, champagne, wine and beer.
To check if you have a histamine intolerance, get a list of food and drinks high in histamine and again eliminate them one by one from your diet.
As asthma is an inflammatory condition, it helps to include foods that are natural anti-inflammatories in your diet and cut out those known to aggravate inflammation. “Good” foods include those rich in omega 3 fatty acids, whole grains and fruit and vegetables. “Bad” foods include those containing saturated and trans fat and ones high in omega 6 fatty acids.
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