Asthma Explained

Asthma

Elimination Diet
Unrecognized food allergy can aggravate asthma. Try an elimination diet to uncover potential problem foods. A healthcare professional must supervise this test because it is possibile to trigger a severe asthma attack during the reintroduction.
Elimination Diet
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Although most people with asthma do not suffer from food allergies,¹²⁸ unrecognized food allergy can be an exacerbating factor.¹²⁹ A medically supervised “allergy elimination diet,” followed by reintroduction of the eliminated foods, often helps identify problematic foods. A healthcare professional must supervise this allergy test because of the possibility of triggering a severe asthma attack during the reintroduction.¹³⁰

Low-Salt Diet
Too much salt may aggravate asthma symptoms, particularly in men. Cutting back may help keep airways clear.
Low-Salt Diet
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Studies suggest that high salt intake may have an adverse effect on asthma, particularly in men. In a small, preliminary trial, doubling salt intake for one month led to a small increase in airway reactivity (indicating a worsening of asthma) in men with asthma, as well as in non-asthmatics.¹³¹ Several double-blind trials have provided limited evidence of clinical improvement following a period of sodium restriction.¹³²^,133^,134^,135 It is difficult to compare the results of these studies because they used different amounts of sodium restriction. However, they consistently suggest that increased dietary sodium may aggravate asthma symptoms, especially in men.¹³⁶

Vegan Diet
A vegan diet in conjunction with other dietary changes—such as avoiding caffeine, sugar, salt, and chlorinated tap water—can lead to improvements.
Vegan Diet
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A vegan (pure vegetarian) diet given for one year in conjunction with many specific dietary changes (such as avoidance of caffeine, sugar, salt, and chlorinated tap water) and combined with a variety of herbs and supplements led to significant improvement in one group of asthmatics.¹³⁷ Although 16 out of 24 people who continued the intervention for the full year were much better and one person was actually cured, it remains unclear how much of the action was purely a result of the dietary changes compared with the many other therapies employed.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that may protect against asthma. Children with asthma have been shown to wheeze significantly less if they eat lots of vitamin C–rich fruit, such as citrus fruit, strawberries, and currants.
Vitamin C
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Vitamin C, an antioxidant present in fruits and vegetables, is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This anti-inflammatory activity may influence the development of asthma symptoms. A large preliminary study has shown that young children with asthma experience significantly less wheezing if they eat a diet high in fruits rich in vitamin C.¹³⁸

Additive
Some asthmatics react to food additives and chemicals. A doctor or an allergist can help determine if you are chemically sensitive.
Additive
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Some asthmatics react to food additives, such as sulfites, tartrazine (yellow dye #5), and sodium benzoate, as well as natural salicylates (aspirin-like substances found in many foods).¹³⁹^,140 A doctor or an allergist can help determine whether chemical sensitivities are present.