Can Eating Healthy Help Manage Asthma?

Asthma affects more than 28 million adults and children in the United States, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA). While medications and inhalers are key to achieving and sustaining asthma control, some promising research suggests that what you eat may also affect how well you breathe.

“Individuals who take their medications as prescribed and prioritize whole nutritious foods, with a focus on fruit, vegetables, and less red meat, and who avoid processed foods, often have less difficulty managing their asthma,” explains Maureen George, PhD, RN, professor of nursing at Columbia University School of Nursing and spokesperson for AAFA.

Professor George explains how healthy eating may complement the anti-inflammatory effects of daily medications and could help control asthma.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways to swell (inflammation), twitch (hypersensitivity), and become squeezed by the surrounding muscles (bronchospasm), making breathing difficult. Symptoms can be triggered by stress, allergens, exercise, cold weather, and sometimes diet.

Because the airways are affected in more than one way, most people need more than one medicine to fully control their asthma. An episode of uncontrolled asthma is called an asthma attack.

Can certain foods affect asthma symptoms?

“We know that unhealthy saturated fats in red meats, processed food, and refined sugars produce inflammation in laboratory tests,” explains Professor George. “These foods are also associated with weight gain and obesity. Patients with both asthma and obesity have more asthma symptoms and more difficulty achieving asthma control.”

A recent study suggests that because airway inflammation plays a significant role in asthma, eating a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, which helps reduce inflammation throughout the body, may contribute to healthier lungs in children. Foods with gut-friendly bacteria, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids may also help reduce airway inflammation and strengthen the immune response.

How can I make my diet asthma-friendly?

If you or someone you love has asthma, there are a few ways to start eating for better breathing:

• Replace cooking oil or lard (which are high in unhealthy trans and saturated fats) with oils like olive, canola, or sunflower.
• Prioritize lean protein, such as fish, chicken, beans, and lentils.
• Eat fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir because of their positive effects on gut health and the immune system.
• Eat more brown rice and grains over white refined grains and rice. Brown rice, quinoa, and oats offer more fiber and nutrients than white bread or pasta.
• Swap supplements like echinacea or teas like chamomile for mint tea. Echinacea and chamomile are plants from the ragweed family, which can cause allergies.
• Prioritize whole fresh fruits over dried fruits. Dried fruits, wines, and some packaged foods contain sulfites—a preservative that can worsen asthma for some people. The whole fruit contains important fiber that you do not get in the juice.
• Keep easy, healthy foods on hand—like cut fruit, yogurt, or trail mix—so you’re less tempted by fast food.

“There’s no single ‘asthma diet,’” Professor George says, “but focusing on whole, natural foods is one of the best ways to support your overall general health, which is an important part of keeping asthma under control because of the other benefits.”

How does diet fit into overall asthma control?

A nutritious diet is just one component of asthma management. It does not replace inhalers or other treatments or medications, but it can help make the body stronger, more resilient, and, especially, less inflamed.

Along with a healthy, whole food diet, patients are advised to:

• Take medications as prescribed
• Avoid known triggers like smoke, pollen, or pet dander
• Exercise regularly (with a health care professional’s approval)
• Get enough sleep
• Manage stress

“Asthma can be a lifelong condition, but these steps, including a healthy diet, can help keep asthma under control and make a real difference in daily well-being, improving overall quality of life. “

Maureen George, PhD, RN, is a professor of nursing at Columbia University and spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.