Asthma diet: What you eat can affect asthma symptoms

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Can foods I eat affect my asthma symptoms?
Answer
from James T. Li, M.D.

More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between diet and asthma, but it appears that what you eat can have an effect on your symptoms. Unfortunately, there's no specific asthma diet that will eliminate all of your symptoms or cure your asthma. But eating certain foods — and avoiding others — may help reduce the airway reaction (inflammation) that leads to asthma symptoms. The best asthma diet involves eating foods that promote a healthy immune system and avoiding foods that seem to worsen your symptoms. When it comes to keeping asthma under control, no asthma diet is a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a doctor, but here are a few things that might help:

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These are a good source of antioxidants such as beta carotene and vitamins C and E as well as other nutrients that boost the immune system. While a multivitamin or supplement pill may help you get enough of these nutrients, the best source is a varied and healthy diet.

Get a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids. Found in fish, flaxseed and other foods, these healthy oils may reduce the inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms.

Avoid saturated fat. Saturated fats, such as found in red meats and butter, may cause an immune system response that leads to asthma symptoms.

Cut back on salt. High sodium levels may aggravate the immune response that causes asthma symptoms.