Modifying Diet May Control Asthma in Women
Researchers think specific nutrients may play an important role in helping you breathe. Studies show that women who have more of these nutrients in their diets tend to have asthma that is less severe.
Eat Lots of Nutrient-Rich Foods
To be sure you get enough nutrients, eat a healthy diet that includes the following:
Lots of fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants and minerals that can help keep lung tissue flexible. Especially important: vitamins C and E and magnesium. Vitamin C and E can lessen lung airways’ sensitivity to smoke and air pollution. Magnesium acts to open airways.
At least two servings a week of fatty fish—such as salmon—for omega-3 fatty acids to fight lung inflammation.
Caffeine also can aid lung function for up to two hours after you drink it. Too much salt may have the opposite effect, though—particularly in women who have exercise-induced asthma.
Maintaining a healthy weight can help control asthma, too. Being more fit makes physical activity easier on your lungs.
Watch Out for Food Allergies
In some women with asthma, allergies to specific foods can cause wheezing and coughing. Food-induced allergic asthma generally occurs within minutes to an hour of eating the food. But sometimes, food allergies go unrecognized.
Think you’re wheezing as a result of something you regularly eat? Ask your doctor about an allergy-elimination diet to help you identify the trigger. If you suspect a specific food, stop eating that food for two weeks to see if your asthma gets better. Then try the food again. Be sure to read labels on packaged foods to make sure you’re really eliminating that food from your diet. The treatment? Avoid food that causes the problem.
Usually, only one food is the troublemaker. Some common trigger foods include peanuts, tree nuts, fish, citrus fruits, shellfish, and eggs. Some women also may be allergic to food additives, such as:
monosodium glutamate (MSG)
sulfites—found in wine, beer, processed potatoes, shrimp, and dried fruit
food colorings.
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