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Asthma and Diet

DEFINITION

The aim of the diet for Asthma is to maintain good nutritional health and to eliminate foods or additives which are known to trigger allergic or sensitivity reactions.

DESCRIPTION

For some Asthma sufferers, foods can trigger Asthma attacks either from allergy to the food itself or to a chemical within the food(1). These reactions can cause medical emergencies in some patients, but can often be avoided by Asthma sufferers undergoing allergy testing procedures to establish what foods they must avoid. Foods which have been found to cause Asthma attacks include nuts (particularly peanuts), shellfish, milk, eggs and seeds and grains(2).

The food additives metabisulphite and sulphur dioxide are the only common Asthma triggers in this group of chemicals(3). These food additives are found in many fast foods. Although MSG (monosodium glutamate) is not a common Asthma trigger, it can cause severe allergic reactions in a small number of Asthma sufferers.

Please refer to the topic Asthma and Food Triggers for more information.

DIET HINTS

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet from a wide variety of food groups.

  1. Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods.
  2. Eat plenty of breads and cereals (preferably wholegrain), vegetables (including legumes such as those found in the peas and bean families) and fruits.
  3. Eat a diet low in fat and, in particular, low in saturated fat.
  4. If you drink alcohol, limit your intake.
  5. Eat only a moderate amount of sugars and foods containing added sugars.
  6. Choose low salt foods and use salt sparingly.

There is some evidence to suggest that omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, may improve symptoms of Asthma that are caused by inflammation of the airways(4).

Unless Asthma sufferers have specific allergies to dairy products, there is absolutely no need to avoid them in the diet. Milk and other dairy products provide vital dietary nutrients and nutritional deficiency may result if these products are unecessarily removed from the diet. There is no evidence that dairy foods cause excess mucus production that could worsen Asthma symptoms(5).

NOTES

In some Asthma sufferers, attacks can be triggered by very cold food or drink (which is thought to be related to a sudden drop in body temperature) and occasionally by overeating. It is thus wise to avoid these situations(6).

REMEMBER

  1. Eat a well-balanced diet, including fish for omega-3 fatty acids and include dairy foods as long as there are no allergies to dairy products.
  2. Check for individual allergic reactions (delayed) or food sensitivities (quicker). Avoid offending foods and seek advice on appropriate substitutes.