How to Choose a Balanced Diet for Asthma Patients in Winter?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory ailment that affects the airways of the lungs. It makes them inflamed and narrow, which is why breathing becomes difficult. Winters are a big trigger for asthma as the cold air that you breathe encourages the production of histamine. This is also created by your body during an allergic attack and triggers wheezing and asthma. If you have asthma, it is important to stay warm and healthy during this time of the year.  

Certain foods may also increase or decrease the risk of developing asthma, which is why picking the best food for immunity during this time of the year is important. Read on to gain some insight on foods to eat and foods to avoid with asthma during the winter.  

Additional Read: What Is Asthma? A Quick Guide To Symptoms And Treatment 

Foods to avoid asthma during winters

Foods, in general, do not cause asthma, but when your immune system is allergic to a food or a particular element of the food then asthma can be an offshoot of the allergic reaction. That is why it is important to stay away from foods that are known to cause allergies. Here are some foods that trigger asthma. 

• Cold dairy products: Dairy products by nature generate mucus, which is likely to make you susceptible to wheezing and other infections. If you have asthma, then it can worsen your situation. You should absolutely avoid cold dairy products during winters. 
• Food that contains preservatives: Certain chemicals like sodium and potassium bisulfite, sodium and potassium metabisulfite, and sodium sulfite can induce symptoms of asthma. These are commonly used as food preservatives to increase the shelf life of food. So, when planning your list of foods to avoid asthma, you should certainly avoid preservative-rich foods and include more of nutrient-dense fresh foods and drinks.  
• Junk foods: Junk food is harmful to health in general. However, if you have asthma, it will not only worsen it but will also lead to other problems like weight gain. This gives way to even bigger health problems like diabetes and cardiovascular issues. Thus, foods that are high in refined carbohydrates and white flour should never be included in a diet for asthma patients in winter. 
• Shrimps and shellfish: Be it frozen or fresh, shrimps and shellfish are packed with sulfites, which can trigger coughing and wheezing. This may deteriorate your asthma symptoms.  

Right food for asthma patients

When planning an asthma diet, it is equally important to select the right food. Here is the best food for asthma that you must include in your diet for asthma patients in winter. 

• Have a lot of garlic and ginger in your diet as these are excellent natural antibiotics, which helps in managing asthma during the cold winter months. Packed with anti-inflammatory properties, these two ingredients can be consumed on a daily basis.  
• Sunlight in winter helps increase the Vitamin D level in your body. This along with Vitamin C can suppress inflammatory responses of the body, arising due to asthma triggers.  
• Magnesium is also very good for health and including this mineral in your daily diet will help you lower the risk of asthma. If you are prone to asthma, including this micro-mineral will help soothe your respiratory tract. Thus, a magnesium-rich diet for asthma patients in winter is the right way to stay healthy. 

How to keep asthma symptoms from worsening in the winter

When it comes to monitoring asthma symptoms, only selecting the right food for your diet is not enough. While you can use Ayurvedic treatment for cold and asthma to avoid medicinal side effects, it is always good to prevent triggers so that you can keep asthma from turning worse.  

To prevent asthma attacks, here’s what you can do: 

• Devise an asthma action plan with your doctor, to begin with and then keep to it.  
• You can also plan and take pneumonia and flu shots every year to avoid infections that could trigger asthma attacks. 
• If you are on asthma medications, take them as prescribed. Do not skip or stop without your doctor’s advice.  

• As an asthma patient, you will always have to watch out for early warning signs of asthma. This will allow you to take medical help quickly without letting your symptoms aggravate.  
• Reduce dust exposure by using dust covers on your bed and pillows. Minimize your dependency on air conditioners to keep outdoor pollutants and allergens such as pollen from your immediate environment. 

By following these steps, you can observe the right asthma diet and include the best food for asthma management. To know more and take a holistic approach towards your diet, talk to a nutritionist on Bajaj Finserv Health. Book an appointment with a specialist close to you within minutes and keep asthma attacks at bay.