Nutrition is a very serious part of your COPD Action Plan. Thus, just as we promised in our previous blog, this blog is “Chapter 2” of Part 7. In this blog, FLASS introduces you to some very specific tips for good food choices as you cope with COPD.
Natural Nutrition: Safe COPD Dietary Tips
Healthy Nutrition Can Be Tasty and Varied For COPD Patients.
For all of our readers, just to be on the safe side, FLASS always advises COPD patients to check with their primary care doctor. Of course, if you have a COPD diagnosis, you need to also discuss dietary changes with your FLASS pulmonologist.
In the long run, making healthy nutrition choices will help to reduce symptoms of COPD. Likewise, we all know healthy eating can help any of us enjoy a longer, fuller life. (Additionally, we all know that understanding a healthy eating style and accomplishing it are two very different things.)
In cases of COPD, the Mayo Clinic states, “A healthy diet can help you maintain your strength. If you’re underweight, your doctor may recommend nutritional supplements. If you’re overweight, losing weight can significantly help your breathing, especially during times of exertion.”
Nutrition and Lungs?
We find that a lot of patients are amazed that food and breath have a relationship. Here’s how it works:
First: Action Demands Fuel–According to experts at COPD Support, “Your body uses food as fuel for all of its activities.” By the way, we call the process of changing food to fuel in the body “metabolism.” If you think about it, you can probably guess that oxygen and nutrition (food) are the raw materials of this amazing process.
- And it stands to reason “Energy and carbon dioxide are the finished products.” Now, do you begin to see how important nutrition is to the breathing process?
- Carbon dioxide is a waste product and is exhaled.”
Second: Nutrition Makes Energy–Your body uses the energy from nutrition, to function. At COPD Support, we also learn “The right mix of nutrients in your diet can help you breathe easier. No single food will supply all the nutrients you need.”
Therefore we note that any healthy diet has lots of variety. That’s a good thing. Sometimes, difficulty in breathing can discourage your appetite. However, if you realize how important and medicinal your diet is, you’ll eat healthily and regularly for the benefits of energy and breath.
The FLASS Food Locker of Nutrition and Good Menu Choices
If you and your FLASS healthcare team discuss a meal plan let them know your preferences:
- what foods you like…
- the foods you don’t like and won’t eat…
- your daily schedule, including your exercise…
- Any additional health problems or special dietary needs…
We do not expect you to completely change your likes and dislikes, but you might decide ultimately to try out some new healthy elements from our locker of nutrition and menus of food choices below:
The Protein Pantry for COPD
Healthy Nutrition and Exercise Helps You Breathe Better Even If You Are A COPD Patient.
We build muscle and other body tissues with protein. And protein needs to increase as we age. It is important that people with COPD eat a good source of protein at least twice a day to help maintain strong respiratory muscles. “The best sources of protein are milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and dried beans or peas.”
Always choose lean meats, especially if you eat beef. And need we tell you to never eat the skin of a chicken?
Likewise, fatty fish including salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines are also rich sources of omega-3. Fatty acids will actually help you fight inflammation they are beneficial in reducing inflammation in airways which helps easier breathing
Mamma Said “Eat Your Vegetables”
Brightly colored vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, Brussel sprouts, leafy greens, winter squash, and sweet potatoes all contain phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are powerful antioxidants that help to repair damage at the cellular level. So, we now know Mamma was right.
A diet also including fresh fruit daily helps manage COPD symptoms. It was found in a research study by increasing the amount of fruit by 100 g daily, subjects decreased mortality by 24%. Thus studies have proven fruit is important to COPD health.
Natural Protein, Gas and Energy
Nuts are calorie-rich and they help a COPD patient get enough protein in their diet. Nuts are richly flavored, crunchy and very healthy. They can help you break the unhealthy snack cycle. Enjoy–unless of course, you are allergic.
A Few More Nutritious Suggestions
Beans are very inexpensive and they have a lot of zinc and fiber. Zinc seems to help improve symptoms in people that have COPD. But be aware that beans also can cause occasional gas. Gas can make it more difficult to breathe, in case you haven’t noticed.
Whole grains such as millet and quinoa don’t contain refined carbohydrates like the wheat and refined grains of most bread does. Higher carbohydrate levels tend to cause higher levels of inflammation. However whole grains help to improve energy levels.
Milk, Good Fats, and More Vitamins
It is important to drink milk daily to get enough calcium. Remember that reduced-fat milk is an excellent choice for COPD patients. This is very significant. You see, in spite of nutritional value, higher fat milk tends to thicken mucus. That makes it more difficult for the COPD patient to breathe.
Beware of Saturated Fats!
Staying Hydrated is an Important Part of Your COPD Action Plan.
Minimizing saturated fats in your diet is important when you have COPD. Saturated fats are found in animal products, like butter and lard. Also, try to avoid trans-fats that are found in fried foods. We suggest our patients cook with olive oil, safflower oil, canola or other plant oils. You see, ultimately improving your cholesterol level can help improve the overall health of the COPD patient
The Good “F”s: Fluid and Fiber
Most people that have COPD don’t get enough fluid. So, soups and drinks are good nutritional choices. The extra fluid will help to prevent dehydration. Likewise, extra fluid will thin mucus, and that ultimately will ease your breathing.
Likewise, getting enough fiber daily is important to everyone’s health. We just want you to know women should get about 21 g daily. And men should get at least 30 g daily. You will notice fiber helps to improve digestive health and it can also help maintain a healthy weight.
Beware of Salt
Too much salt will cause retention of fluid, and that makes it more difficult to breathe. Using reduced-sodium foods and avoiding additional salt when you cook will improve fluid retention.
Potassium, Magnesium, and Water
Be aware that diuretics may be prescribed to control fluid retention problems, which in turn can deplete potassium levels. Potassium helps us to fight fatigue and it’s important in proper levels for all muscles to function properly.
The heart is a muscle and without enough potassium, it can literally stop. Bananas, squash, pistachios, and tuna all have higher levels of potassium. Likewise, Magnesium is important to all people, with or without COPD. It is necessary for protein production and for proper muscle functioning. Find your magnesium in peas, beans, raw spinach, and dark green vegetables.
Last but not least, water is not a food but the old adage of eight glasses daily still stands the test of time. Water is necessary to help hydrate, thin mucus, and maintain easier breathing.
Life After COPD Diagnosis
All of these dietary ideas are just a starting point.
Keep in Mind: Not Only What You Eat But How You Eat It
Diet is just one factor. In coming blogs, we will also bring you information concerning COPD medications and surgeries. However, one thing is certain, if you begin to pay attention to nutrition at an early stage, you will be healthier to face the challenges of the advanced stages of COPD.
Terrific Take-Aways
We have had many patients complain that their worst time for shortness of breath is meal time. If you have noticed that eating makes you short of breath, try these little tips:
We agree with the Cleveland Clinic that the simple idea of eating more slowly can help your breathing during a meal. Additionally, we suggest:
- You take tiny bites.
- Chew your food slowly and breathe deeply.
With Good Nutrition and Exercise, You Will Enjoy More Breath. FLASS Calls It The Food-Breath Connection.
Here’s a novel way to remember these points: Put down your fork or spoon every time you chew. It sounds odd, but you’ll be surprised at how much this simple tip can improve your breathing while you eat–and after.
You’ve heard this one before, we’re sure. But it has great value: “Try eating five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals.” Why? “This will keep your stomach from filling up too much so your lungs have more room to expand.”
Another little trick is to consume your liquids at the end of your meal. Drinking during the meal can contribute to that miserable bloated feeling.
Thank you for reading the FLASS blog and we hope you or someone you love can benefit from these FLASS suggestions for smart dietary choices.