Asthma Health Article

Dietary and nutritional therapies

Some alternative practitioners recommend cutting down on or eliminating dairy products from the diet, as

these increase mucus secretion in the lungs and are sources of food allergies. Other recommendations include avoiding processed foods, refined starches and sugars, and foods with artificial additives and sulfites. Diets should be high in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in salt. Asthma sufferers should experiment with their diets to determine if food allergies are playing a role in their asthma. Some studies have shown that a sustained vegan (zero animal foods) diet can be effective for asthma, as it does not contain the animal products that frequently cause food allergies and contain chemical additives. A vegan diet also eliminates a fatty acid called arachidonic acid, which is found in animal products and is believed to contribute to allergic reactions. A 1985 Swedish study showed that 92% of patients with asthma improved significantly after one year on a vegan diet. On the other hand, some people feel weaker on a vegan diet. In addition, many people are allergic to vegetables rather than to meat.

Plenty of water should also be drunk by asthma sufferers, as water helps to keep the passages of the lungs moist. Onions and garlic contain quercetin, a flavonoid (a chemical compound/biological response modifier) that inhibits the release of histamine, and should be a part of an asthmatic's diet. Quercetin also is available as a supplement, and should be taken with the digestive enzyme bromelain to increase its absorption.

As nutritional therapy, vitamins A, C and E have been touted as important. Also, the B complex vitamins, particularly B₆ and B₁₂, may be helpful for asthma, as well as magnesium, selenium, and an omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as flaxseed oil. A good multivitamin supplement also is recommended. In 2004, a study of supplements at Cornell University showed that high levels of beta-carotene and vitamin C along with selenium lowered risk of asthma. However, the same study found that vitamin E had no effect.