There is no particular kind of diet that can cure asthma. In fact, there is no known cure for it except the ones for controlling its symptoms. However, there are some foods that you may refrain from having if you want to keep an attack at bay. It is said that some of the worst asthma attacks experienced by sufferers are the ones triggered by the consumption of foods that have inflammatory components in them, causing the spasms of the bronchi.
Whether or not you have known food allergies, it is of utmost importance to be mindful of what you eat if you have asthma. Since different people have different triggers, you should identify which foods trigger an attack in you. The following is a quick list of foods that are known to cause an asthma attack in many:
Dairy Products
Cheese, milk, butter, ice cream, yogurt — these and other dairy products are on the top of the list of foods that can trigger an asthma attack. Luckily, there are plenty of non-dairy substitutes for these products, perfect for an asthma sufferer like you. For instance, you may use soy milk for your cereals or coconut milk for making homemade ice cream and smoothies.
Soy
As earlier mentioned, soy milk may be used as a milk substitute. It is an entirely different story, however, if experience had taught you that soy is in fact your personal asthma trigger. Needless to say, you should steer clear of soybeans and other food products that are soy-based such as tofu and soybean oil.
Eggs
There are instances when the smell of eggs being cooked is enough to cause asthma to strike! When shopping, it is very important to read labels. That’s because eggs tend to be hidden in so many food products these days, from breads to hotdogs. When eating out, don’t be too shy to ask if the ones on the menu that you wish to try contain eggs.
Wheat / Gluten
Gluten, a type of protein found in wheat, is known to trigger an asthma attack. It’s not enough that you refrain from eating products that contain wheat — you should also dodge breathing in wheat because that’s enough to trigger asthma. Luckily, there are plenty of gluten-free products available for asthma sufferers as well as those who are allergic to gluten.
Sulfites
Certain preservatives used in processing food are known to trigger an asthma attack, such as sulfites. Sulfites are commonly found in canned goods as well as cured or prepared meats such as bacon and hotdogs. It is a must for you to check out labels before buying anything because sulfites can be found in many products like wines and dried fruits and vegetables.
Fish
Fish is good for you but not if you are an asthma sufferer. Salmon, tuna, cod and others are known to cause an attack in many people with asthma. Definitely, you should also avoid shellfish. Some products on the market such as salad dressings and imitation crabs contain fish oil. You should certainly avoid any supplement that has fish oil in it.
Peanuts
This list of known asthma triggers won’t be complete without peanuts. It’s not just peanuts that you should refrain from having, but also anything that is derived from it. For instance, there are plenty of sweets that use peanut for flavoring. When eating out, remember to ask the waiter to give you a listing of dishes with peanuts, and peanut sauces and oils.
Tree Nuts
Practically any type of nut that you can think of may cause asthma to strike, so it’s best that you should include it together with peanuts in your list of foods to avoid. Walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, pecans, pine nuts, hazelnuts and cashews — these and more should be dodged. You should also avoid chocolate bars and trail mix containing them.
