COPD Diet

Include

Fresh water
Fresh juices and smoothies
Herbal teas:
Green tea - reduces inflammation and promotes internal healing.
Fibre-rich foods:
Berries, oranges, nuts, seeds, beans, dried fruits, carrots, oats, and popcorns.
Vegetables:
Leafy greens, pumpkin, tomato, carrots, chilli peppers, edamame, pepper, potato, red cabbage, and beetroot.
Fruit:
Olives, orange, mango, pineapple, cherries, blueberries, lemon, grapes, pear, strawberry, pomegranate, guava, kiwi, lemon, lychee, papaya, and coconut.
Whole grains:
Barley, millet, spelt, brown rice, buckwheat, rye, oats and quinoa.
Legumes:
Lentils
Ginseng:
Reduces mucus, improves breathing, and promotes blood circulation in lungs.
Turmeric:
Diminishes inflammation
Seafood
Oyster and fatty fish.
Good fats:
Fatty fish, olive oil, coconut oil, coconut, olive.
Healthy nuts:
Walnut, almond, brazil nut, and cashew.
Potassium-rich foods:
Beet, banana, orange, tomato, avocado, cucumber, asparagus, grapefruit, dates, and raisins can improve breathing.
Complex carbohydrates:
Barley, oats, quinoa, potato with skin, whole wheat, and brown rice.
Herbs & Spices:
Red sage, thyme, oregano, salvia, echinacea and ginger
Yogurt:
It has essential minerals which can help lungs perform well.

Avoid

Acidic drinks
Carbonated drinks:
Can contribute to bloating and dehydration.
Acidic foods:
These foods can promote acid reflux which may trigger COPD symptoms.
Dairy products:
Can increase mucus production and frequent coughing.
Fried foods:
Can cause bloating and trouble in breathing. They may also lead to weight gain which will increase pressure on lungs.
Salt-high diets:
Can cause problem in breathing.
Certain vegetables:
Avoid beans, peas, corns, onions, and brussels sprouts if you experience gas trouble after their consumption.
Cruciferous vegetables:
Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower may induce gas trouble and effect breathing.
Refined carbohydrates
Cold cuts:
Ham, hotdog, and bacon.
Caffeine:
Can interfere with your medicines.
Saturated fats
Animal fats
Refined sugar:
This can promote inflammation and lead to hormonal imbalance, which in turn can encourage fibroid growth.
Caffeine:
Too much caffeine will take a toll on your liver, this will make the job of keeping your hormones in check more difficult. Reducing your caffeine intake will enable your liver to detoxify your body and fight fibroid growth.
Certain fruits:
Avoid apricots, apples, melons, and peaches if you experience bloating after their consumption.
Bad fats
Cakes, pastries, and sugary deserts
White bread
Processed foods
Fast foods
Ice cream
Excessive alcohol:
Increases the risk of infection in lungs and windpipe. It also leads to inflammation and may induce cough reflex.

Whole Foods, Fermented Foods & Fibre

Certain foods like whole foods, fermented foods, and fibres are rich in constituents that help a COPD patient in several ways. Whole foods are called “nutrient-dense”. It means they have a variety of vitamins, proteins, minerals, phytonutrients, etc. These natural nutrients tend to reduce further damage to the lungs.

Fermented foods have a direct impact on gut health and perfect for a COPD diet. And your gut health is associated with lungs health (also known as “gut-lungs axis”). So, eating fermented foods regularly can make your lungs stronger. Similarly, a diet rich in fibres can help boost lungs function. Increasing intake of dietary fibres will diminish lungs inflammation and further tissue damage.

Vegan, Pescatarian & Anti-Inflammatory Diets

A plant-based diet is a natural source of antioxidants, fibres, essential minerals, and other healthy compounds. These components help the lungs perform their role better. Also, avoiding dairy foods can decrease mucus production and its accumulation in the lungs. It is because such foods contain casomorphin, which is linked with the mucus synthesis.

Studies prove that seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for chronic diseases like COPD. They improve the breathing rate and reduce the number of chemicals that harm the lungs. Likewise, the anti-inflammatory diet can help you fight off lung inflammation. It does this by reducing the production of inflammation-causing protein. So, consider vegan, pescatarian, and anti-inflammatory diets while creating a diet plan to enhance your lungs health.

Intermittent Fasting

Practising intermittent fasting can help your lungs in different ways. When you keep a fast, your body signals the production of more white blood cells. These cells provide protection against diseases and make the immune system stronger. Thus, your lungs may stay protected from more harm.

Another advantage of intermittent fasting is that it lowers the level of toxins from the body. Toxins are known to induce inflammation. But when you fast, your body starts burning toxins to acquire energy. This way, inflammation diminishes. Due to fasting, your body will also start burning stored fats. A reduction in body fats will reduce your body weight. It will eventually lessen the stress from the lungs and make breathing easier. So, make fasting a part of your COPD treatment plan and help your lungs get better.

Juicing

Juicing is a delicious way of relieving COPD symptoms, so incorporate this into your COPD diet. Fresh juices are packed with daily vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They can reduce inflammation and give you the inner strength to fight the disease.

You can blend more than one fruit or vegetable to create a more nutritious juice. Apple juice is perfect for building lungs health. You can boost its effects many times if you incorporate beet and blackberry in it. Citrus fruits like lemon or orange are also good options to consider. They have anti-oxidants and several vitamins. They promote healing from within and make the lungs work better.

Low-Carb Diet

The low-carb diet allows you to reduce carbs intake and replace it with healthy fats and proteins. People who eat fewer carbs observe improvement in their breathing. One study proves that a low-carb diet can help your lungs perform better by up to 22%.

It may also reduce frequent coughing. The positive effects of a low-carb diet are maybe associated with a reduction in inflammation. So, restrict carbohydrates intake and consume proteins and fats as its substitute. This is great to include in your overall COPD diet.

Nutrients & Supplements

The following products might be helpful for you. However, be sure to consult your doctor before taking vitamins or mineral supplements.

Co-enzyme Q10 and Creatine improve COPD symptoms when they are used in combination. These are the natural chemicals that can reduce shortness of breath and promote lungs health. Studies also prove their effectiveness for COPD patients.
Vitamin D supplements are known for promoting immune response whenever the body encounters a foreign particle. So, it protects the lungs from infectious bacteria and other germs. It also reduces inflammation in airways and eventually improves breathing.
Vitamin A is a kind of vitamins that is soluble in fat. Vitamin A supplements boost the immune system and provide protection against infectious agents. By taking it in an adequate amount, you may protect your lungs from bacteria, etc.
Vitamin E supplements may reduce symptoms of COPD patients. These supplements can keep the allergens away from airways. They also boost anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defences in the lungs and windpipe.
Zinc is known to reduce the severity of COPD symptoms.
Melatonin supplements are not directly linked with lungs health. They help COPD patients sleep well. These supplements reduce stress and help make life better.Be sure to consult your doctor before taking vitamins or mineral supplements.

*There is some scientific evidence for these benefits, but more research is needed to corroborate them, and they should not replace professional medical advice or treatment. It is also essential to note that while many individuals have found these products to be beneficial, every body is different and may react differently to them. Before starting use, it is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional. We must clarify that the Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these claims.

Herbs & Spices

Red Sage is a powerful herb that has several antioxidants. A few studies prove that it protects body cells from damage caused by oxygen shortage. If you have trouble breathing, this herb may provide you with much-needed protection.
Thyme is high in antioxidants like luteolin and apigenin. This helps your COPD because the antioxidants support your body in fighting inflammation.
Oregano is another beneficial herb. It contains components that are antihistamine and decongestants in nature. These compounds reduce allergy and inflammation. They also make breathing clearer.
Salvia is a blessing for people having respiratory conditions. It provides protection to the lungs from getting more damaged. It controls frequent coughing and prevents inflammation.
Echinacea helps improve breathing in individuals with COPD.
Ginger can be very helpful if you are tired of excessive mucus. It decreases inflammation from lungs, broadens air passageway, breaks down mucus, and promotes blood circulation in the lungs.

Essential Oils

You should use essential oils as they can be extremely beneficial in terms of aiding detoxification.

Eucalyptus oil has beneficial components like eucalyptol. This compound can boost lungs performance in different ways. It not only reduces mucus production but also dries the already formed mucus. Other than this, its anti-inflammatory properties help in breathing.
Peppermint oil has refreshing qualities due to menthol present in it. It has the ability to reduce swelling from membranes of the nose. Inhaling it through steam can also improve your breathing.
Myrtol standardized is very effective in reducing COPD symptoms. It is highly beneficial for other lungs diseases as well, as it treats inflammation in airways.

Other Health Care Products

Castor Oil Packs: This treatment will help you to eliminate toxins from your body. Simply apply the pack to your abdomen.The build-up of toxins is what causes the fibroid growth. Castor oil contains an anti-inflammatory property, (ricinoleic acid). It promotes circulation in your lymphatic and circulatory systems. Castor oil also increases lymphocytes, which are the white blood cells that fight toxins. Make sure that you buy organic cloths and organic castor oil. View a selection of castor oil products online.