
9 Foods to Avoid with Asthma
There are certain foods to avoid with asthma. When you avoid these foods and focus on a healthy balanced diet, then you can prevent asthma symptoms, and it can help improve your overall health. It is crucial to remember that diet alone cannot cure asthma. Consuming the right foods can positively impact your asthma management.
Here are some of the foods that should be avoided if you have asthma.
- Salt
Studies show that if you consume a lot of salt, you can suffer from asthma symptoms. This is because salt causes fluid retention which in turn can cause airways inflammation making it difficult for you to breathe. Cutting down on salt consumption can prove to be helpful and you should avoid having foods that already have salt in them. - Shrimp
Sulfites are preservatives that are often used in frozen shrimp to ensure black spots don’t appear when they are stored. Eating prepared shrimp or frozen shrimp can cause your asthma symptoms to worsen and so it is best to avoid eating shrimp at home or when you go out to dine. - Peanuts
Peanuts are one of the foods to avoid with asthma. For some people, peanuts can cause severe symptoms due to an allergic reaction which can be fatal. In others, peanuts can lead to allergic asthma. You should be careful when eating peanuts if you have asthma. - Dried fruit
Dried fruit such as apricots and cherries generally include sulfites which are used for prolonging the shelf life. These can be written as sodium sulfite or potassium bisulfite in the dried fruit packages. They can cause your asthma symptoms to flare up. - Eggs
One of the most common allergies is egg allergy. Most people have it when they are children and then as they become adults, they don’t have egg allergy anymore. However, others might have it even after they become adults. Check if you are allergic to eggs. - Beer and wine
Two foods to avoid with asthma are beer and wine. If you feel like you are coughing after you drink beer or wine then chances are these are causing your symptoms to flare. Beer and wine contain sulfites and so they can be bad for you if you have asthma. - Pickles
Almost all pickles contain some preservative agents such as sulfites which can cause your asthma to flare. Fermented foods have the same issue and if you have asthma then you should avoid these types of foods. - Foods linked to gas
Gas causing foods should be avoided especially if you suffer from acid reflux. This is because such types of foods will put unwanted pressure on your diaphragm, which can lead to asthma flare-ups. Some of the gas-causing foods include garlic, beans, fried foods, carbonated drinks, and cabbage. - Salicylates
Salicylates are one of the foods to avoid with asthma. Salicylates can be found in many types of foods and for some people, it can cause asthma symptoms to worsen. Salicylates can be found in tea, turmeric spice, cucumbers, apricots, honey, guava, and vinegar. This is rare when compared to other foods that trigger asthma symptoms.
When you eat a healthy diet, it can help you manage your asthma symptoms but this largely depends on many factors. How effective the food you eat is will depend on your overall health and how diligently you follow a healthy diet. Moreover, your symptoms and their severity also need to be taken into account when you are determining how effective certain changes in diet will be for you. You will likely feel more energetic when you avoid foods that trigger your asthma.