When you suffer from COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, the constant lack of airflow into your lungs usually manifests itself in the lack of energy and chronic illness.
To help reduce the symptoms of COPD and increase your quality of life, you may want to eat a diet that is rich in superfoods. Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods beneficial for optimal health and well-being. Consider the following items the next time you go to the grocery store.
Please note that the content of this article is not intended to be used as a substitute for sound medical advice from your dietician or health care provider.
The brighter, the better!
When it comes to fruits and vegetables for COPD patients, the brighter the color, the better it is for you. Freshly harvested fruits that you can add to your daily diet include apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, grapes, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, pears, raspberries, and strawberries.
For COPD-friendly vegetables, include the following into your daily meals: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, cooked tomatoes, leafy greens (unless you are on blood thinners), spinach, squash, and sweet potatoes.
High Five!
When you suffer from COPD, it’s also important to eat a diet that is high in protein. Not all protein comes from meat products. Soy products also contain protein. The five soy products to remember are tofu, soy milk, edamame (boiled soybeans), bean sprouts, and soy nuts. Eating these as part of your daily diet will help improve your lung function and even reduce the risk of developing COPD.
OMG for OMeGa-3!
Omega-3 Fatty acids, commonly found in fish such as arctic char, salmon, albacore tuna, lake trout, herring, sardines, mackerel, black cod, anchovies, oysters, mussels, halibut, rockfish, and catfish. If you’re vegan, or just don’t eat seafood, don’t worry – there are vegetarian sources for Omega-3. These include the following: chia seeds, canola oil, English walnuts, flaxseeds, hempseeds, seaweed, leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli rabe, collards, kale, grape leaves, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
Cereal and Tea for Breakfast!
Because of its high tannin content, black tea is one of the top home remedies for COPD. Drinking 3-4 cups of hot black tea daily can help you breathe easier because black tea is a natural bronchodilator, which works to open up your bronchial passages. As for cereal, stay away from the sugary stuff and consume the cereals that are high in fiber. There are two kinds of fiber that your body needs: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber.
Soluble fiber attracts water and turns into a gelatinous substance in your intestine. It slows down digestion so that your body can absorb more nutrients from the food you eat. Some sources include oatmeal, legumes such as lentils, peanuts, beans (black, kidney, navy), and peas. Insoluble fiber is found in vegetables, whole grains and wheat bran. It will add bulk to the stool (because we can’t digest it) and helps food pass faster through the digestive system. Some
Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.
Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
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Scott Ridlhttps://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/author/scott/
I liked reading this article I eat foods listed but not enough of them I have copd yrying to cut down on smoking its so very hard im 64 yrs old see dr regularly has me on stolioto inhaler I use it once every other day its good to know walnuts have imega 3