COPD Diet: This Is What You Need to Be Eating

About 16.4 million people are dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Millions more have COPD but don’t know it. This disorder may leave your lungs inflamed, affecting the airflow in and out of your lungs.

Since there’s no treatment, it’s crucial to do what you can to manage your illness. Keep reading to discover how to construct a healthy COPD diet. With these recommendations, you can make sure you’re receiving the nutrients you need to fight against illnesses.

Build a healthy meal plan for yourself with these foods to consume with COPD.

Drink Up

First, make sure you’re staying hydrated. Your body requires water to transport healing nutrients throughout your body.

Focus on six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Drinking water may help thin mucus, which will make it easier to cough up.

Otherwise, attempt to minimize your caffeine consumption. In certain situations, caffeinated drinks might have a detrimental impact on your COPD medications. These drinks may include:

• Coffee
• Soda
• Tea
• Energy drinks

You may want to chat with your doctor about whether or not it’s appropriate to consume alcohol. They could urge you to avoid alcohol completely, particularly if your medicines might produce unwanted effects. In certain situations, consuming alcohol might make it harder for you to cough up phlegm.

It could also lower your breathing rate.

What to Eat

One study observed that a ketogenic diet might minimize carbon dioxide emissions and improve your COPD symptoms. A keto diet focuses on minimizing carbohydrates and boosting healthy fats and proteins.

Try to heat high-quality proteins such as:

• Oily fish (salmon, mackerel, and sardines)
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Grass-fed meat

Oily fish are an excellent source of healthy fat, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Don’t forget to consume lots of fruits and veggies. Try to consume veggies that are low in starch and carbohydrates, such as potatoes. Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals that help promote organ function.

For optimal lung function, eat potassium-rich meals like:

• Avocadoes
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Leafy-green vegetables
• Tomatoes

You may benefit from adding complex carbs to your COPD diet, too. Complex carbohydrates are high in fiber, which might help control your blood sugar levels. They’re also good for enhancing your digestive system’s wellness.

Complex carbohydrates may include:

• Lentils
• Peas
• Bran
• Potatoes

Don’t forget those good fats! Try nuts, seeds, and utilizing olive oil in your favorite foods for your COPD diet.

These meals help make coping with COPD much simpler.

What to avoid

It’s crucial to avoid certain meals as well. For example, you don’t want to ingest too much salt, which might damage lung function. Instead, use unsalted herbs and spices in your recipes.

Here are the meals to avoid with COPD:

• Grapes
• Pineapples
• Berries
• Melons
• Apples
• Peaches
• Apricots
• Brussels sprouts
• Beans
• Onions
• Peas

Knowing what foods should be avoided with COPD will help improve your health and comfort.

Improve Your COPD Diet to Feel Better and Happier

Develop a wiser, healthier COPD diet. With these strategies, you can concentrate on your health and control your COPD symptoms. Enjoy your next meal with these recommendations now!