Can asthma be controlled or helped by diet?

[azteccamera]

What sort of foods should or shouldn't be eaten?

[jillybird]

My daughter eats very little dairy as this can produce mucus. She drinks rice milk and eats goats cheese. Recently she has cut back on her wheat and gluten intake and this has also made a difference. Her asthma is well controlled.

[Jutty C]

It depends on the individual but Coffee is supposed to be good for Asthma as it helps with increasing blood flow to the lungs. Avoid strong Tea though as it has oposite effect. If you go to this website their are many links for help with allergys & Asthma.

[denise m]

yes I believe it can, I have been asthmatic for years, and have found carbahydrates to irritate the problem, I found this out a few years ago when going on the atkins diet I rarely had to use my inhaler, but even before this I mentioned to the asthma clinic nurse that I found I had to use my inhaler a lot after meals thinking it was maybe over eating causing me to be breathless .....but then I realised... no it cant be because I would feel breathless after just eating just a sandwhich, but this comment was met by the nurse just saying "oh Iv'e never heard of that before".... but like I said years later I found I did'nt need my inhaler so much on the atkins diet, it's took me years to realise it is CARBAHYDRATES that cause so many for manyproblems for people...not just asthmatics....carbs are the silent killers

[Just Ian]

I know somebody who had a hemathorax, more than twenty years ago, and he still has breathing problems occasionally. When he has problems, anti histamine tablets provide almost instant relief. There are some foods with natural anti histamine qualities available to buy, or possibly even grow. So, if your asthma can be treated with anti histamine tablets then there will be some food that can help. Also, the attacks that you're suffering, may be caused by an allergy that you have to something that you're eating. Just keep a diary of food eaten and attacks and you'll be able to find out what's causing the problems. I could give you a list of the anti histamine foods, but no doubt thumbs downs by the dozen; so I won't. All the best anyway.

[D G]

If you have never seen an allergist and had an allergy skin test, it would helpful to do so. Many people with one allergy-type condition (asthma, allergies, eczema) could also have another. Be cautious when starting to eat new foods or when taking supplements you have never taken before. For instance, if a person with a soy allergy were to start eating all soy-based products they could become very ill or have a serious reaction.