How to Manage Nutrition When Dealing with COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is an inflammatory respiratory lung condition. This condition cannot be cured but it can be managed with the right treatment. COPD causes include long term exposure to irritants due to smoking, air pollution, chemical fumes, dust, etc., which damage your lungs and airways.

How Does Food Help In Breathing?

More energy (around 10 times more) is required to breathe by people suffering from COPD compared to people without COPD. The right mix of nutrients in the diet can help a person with COPD breathe easier.

Metabolism of carbohydrates produces more carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used, as compared to fat metabolism. Thus, some people with COPD should include fewer carbohydrates and more fats in their diet.

It is also necessary to maintain healthy body weight. Extra weight will demand more oxygen while being underweight can make a person weak, tired and more likely to get an infection.

Mentioned below are some tips for a healthy COPD diet:

• A person suffering from COPD can benefit by drinking plenty (about 6-8 glasses) of water in a day. In case someone with COPD also has heart problems he or she must consult the doctor and limit the intake of fluids.
• Fibre helps to control blood glucose levels and move the food along the digestive tract. It also helps to control cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Potassium deficiency can cause difficulty in breathing. Potassium-rich foods include beets, tomatoes, potatoes and dark leafy vegetables.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of minerals and vitamins that are required for the health of the body of the individual.
• Healthy fat helps to increase good cholesterol, which works towards preventing abnormal heart rhythms and helps to avoid a stroke or other diseases.

What to Avoid In A COPD Diet?

Below are few key recommendations of what you should avoid -

• Too much salt can cause the body to keep or retain too much water, making it more difficult for a person to breathe. Using unsalted herbs or spices can be an alternative to salt in food.
• Avoid some fruits such as apples, or stone fruits like peach, apricots and melons as it can cause gas and bloating that may affect a person’s breathing.
• Vegetables and legumes such as beans, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions, peas, etc, can cause gas and bloating and must be avoided.
• For some people dairy products may cause thickening of phlegm, therefore it is better for them to avoid dairy products.
• Fried foods can cause indigestion and spicy food can bring discomfort to breathing, therefore it’s better to avoid them.
• Limit or avoid caffeine because it can affect the medicines that are being taken to manage COPD symptoms.
• Avoid foods with additives or preservatives as that can cause irritation. Nitrates are an additive present in cold cuts and cured meats to increase the shelf life but are not good for you, especially in large quantities.

People with COPD must have 4 to 6 small meals in a day. This helps the diaphragm to move freely and lets the lungs fill with air easily. Planning a healthy diet for COPD that ensures higher fat intake can help in managing the symptoms better and minimize its complications. COPD may be incurable but by incorporating the foods mentioned above in their day-to-day diet, the individual will be in a better position to fight off the worst of the condition.