List of dietary restrictions and recommendations for sufferers of COPD

If you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, good nutrition plays an important role in preventing COPD from recurring or creating further damage to the lungs. That is why you must comply with the recommendations and dietary restrictions for people with COPD, so that your condition remains stable. What are the do's and don'ts for you?

What are the recommended foods for people with COPD?

Source: Dentist Conroe, TX

Food provides you with energy and nutrients to carry out your daily activities, and one of them is breathing. When you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, you need more energy to breathe than normal people. The muscles that help you breathe can take up 10 times more calories than the average person.

Apart from undergoing medication to treat COPD, changing your diet to optimize your breathing is also important for managing the disease.

Quoted from the American Lung Association website, the right combination of nutrients can help you breathe easier. People with COPD may feel better when they eat foods that are low in carbohydrates and high in fat.

Some foods recommended for people with COPD include:

1. Complex carbohydrates, as:
   • whole wheat pasta
   • wheat bread
   • Brown rice
   • oatmeal
   • quinoa
   • fresh vegetables
2. Fiber as much as 20-30 grams per day, from:
   • nuts, such as soybeans
   • whole grains, such as kidney beans
   • vegetables, such as spinach and carrots
   • fruits
3. Protein, including eggs, beef, fish, poultry (chicken, duck), and nuts.
4. choose unsaturated fats those that do not contain cholesterol, such as canola and corn oil.

Calcium supplements may be able to help you meet the increased calcium needs caused by steroid use. However, make sure you consult your doctor first before deciding to eat vitamins and supplements regularly every day.

What are the dietary restrictions for COPD sufferers?

For people with COPD, there are also some foods to avoid, such as those that cause bloating and gas, or those that hold too much fluid in the body. Also, avoid foods that contain too much fat or are low in nutritional value.

Some foods to avoid for people with COPD include:

1. Foods that contain too much sodium

Be careful with frozen food or food takeaway . These types of food can contain high amounts of sodium. To be sure, you can check it through the nutritional value information label. Look for foods that contain less than 140mg of sodium per serving.

It may be easier to see the percentage of daily nutritional value (% RDA). If the nutritional adequacy rate is 5% or less per serving, this is considered low.

However, if the nutritional adequacy rate is more than 20%, these foods are considered high in sodium (salt). Too much sodium can cause fluid retention and result in difficulty breathing.

2. Certain vegetables

Usually, cruciferous vegetables will be recommended for anyone because of their high fiber content. Unfortunately, one drawback of this type of vegetable is that it can cause gas and bloating in the stomach. This can put pressure on the lungs and make it more difficult for people with COPD to breathe.

You may not have to completely avoid cruciferous vegetables, but limit their consumption. Some vegetables that you need to limit in the dietary restrictions for COPD sufferers include:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Radish
• Bok choy

3. Foods containing sulfates, such as shrimp

Seafood can not only be a source of healthy protein, but can also cause respiratory problems, especially for people with COPD. Shrimp appears to contain chemicals called sulfites. Sulfites can narrow the bronchi in people with COPD. When narrowed, breathing becomes more difficult.

Consider stopping shrimp if you suspect that seafood is causing a reaction. Some other foods and drinks that contain sulfites that you should also avoid including potatoes, beer, wine, and some medicines also contain sulfites.

4. Fry

Similar to cruciferous vegetables, fried foods can cause gas and bloating. Greasy frying makes the stomach swell. This bloated stomach will push against the diaphragm muscle (the muscle that separates the lungs and stomach) and constricts the lungs from expanding. That is why fried foods are not recommended for people with COPD.

5. Coffee and carbonated drinks

Not surprisingly, carbonated drinks are included in the food group that causes "gas and bloating". COPD sufferers should drink lots of fluids to thin the mucus in the lungs, but not just any fluids.

Carbonated drinks are one of the taboos for sufferers of chronic constructive lung (COPD). Caffeinated drinks, sweetened drinks and alcoholic drinks contain chemicals that require a lot of water in the body to be processed. As a result, this type of drink can actually dehydrate the body. Chocolate also has the same effect on the stomach and lungs.

6. Foods that cause acid reflux are also not good for COPD

Although citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, they can trigger acid reflux. In the long term, this condition is called GERD and can worsen COPD symptoms.

COPD sufferers are at a higher risk of developing acid reflux, according to a study published in the journal Chest . Do you know what foods cause acid reflux? If you have COPD, try to avoid or eliminate these foods from your diet.

7. Milk and its derivative products

Although milk can supply calcium to strengthen bones, milk can increase mucus production in the lungs. According to one study, a compound in milk called casomophin can increase mucus production or make phlegm thicken.

With COPD, our respiratory system is compromised and it is not able to transport mucus through the tissues as efficiently as it should. This will cause coughing and difficulty breathing.

If you have more phlegm or thick phlegm, you should limit the amount of milk in your diet. This includes anything made with milk, such as yogurt, ice cream, cheese, butter, and buttermilk.

Living with COPD can be a challenge, but you can make it easier to treat with a healthy diet. Even though you have COPD, you can still live a healthy life.

Practicing the do's and don'ts for COPD nutrition can help you breathe easier and improve your quality of life. You can consult a doctor or a nutritionist to help you build a healthy diet plan.

Tips for maintaining a healthy diet for COPD sufferers

Not only obeying dietary recommendations and restrictions for COPD people, you also have to live a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips:

1. Maintain a healthy weight

Consult your doctor or nutritionist about the ideal body weight and number of calories that are right for you. When you are overweight, your lungs need to work much harder to meet the body's oxygen demands. Planning a proper diet, along with regular exercise specifically for COPD sufferers, can help you reach your goal of a healthy weight.

2. Drink lots of fluids

If there is no doctor's prohibition due to other diseases (kidney or heart disease), you should aim to drink at least 6-8 glasses a day. Drinking lots of fluids makes the phlegm thinner, making it easier to pass. Make sure you drink beverages without caffeine or carbonation. However, water is still the best.

3. Eat smaller portions more often

This will help prevent your stomach from expanding, so that the pressure on your lungs is reduced and it is easier for you to breathe. One sign that your stomach is affecting your breathing is if you have difficulty breathing during meals or right after eating.

4. Clean the airways at least 1 hour before eating

This method will help you breathe easier while eating.

5. Eat slowly while sitting up straight

This will help you digest your food and breathe more easily during meals.