Foods to Help Asthma

We’ll never tell you to reach for food instead of an inhaler. However, studies show that nutritional therapy may help you to cut down on the number and intensity of your asthma attacks.

The idea that food can soothe asthma symptoms may seem shocking, but if you understand what causes those symptoms, it makes perfect sense. During an asthma attack, an allergen or irritant – perhaps a few grains of dust or pollen – sends the immune system into full-scale attack mode. The body unleashes a barrage of histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation in the lining of the airways. Chronic inflammation actually leads to thickening of the bronchial tubes, which means your airways are narrowed even when you feel fine. To make matters worse, the bronchial tubes begin to churn out extra mucus, which blocks up the works and makes it even harder for air to make its way through, so you’re left gasping.

Inflammation is the main culprit behind asthma symptoms – and the target of many asthma drugs – so foods that fight inflammation are the natural choice, along with those that thin the bronchial mucus. Getting plenty of certain nutrients from food has also been linked to a lower risk of developing asthma, which is important to know (and act on) if you have children.

Onions
Regularly eating onions may help you experience fewer asthma attacks. That’s because onions contain several compounds that combat inflammation. One is a type of flavonoid (a class of anti-oxidant) called quercetin. In test-tube studies, quercetin has been shown to inhibit the release of inflammatory substances from mast cells, which are involved in allergic responses. This is also how some asthma drugs work. Onions also contain mustard oils (isothiocyanates) that seem to counter asthmainduced inflammation, at least in laboratory animals. Pungent foods such as onions, chillies and spicy mustard also trigger the release of watery fluids that help thin the mucus your body produces. (Be aware, however, that in a small percentage of people with asthma, onions actually trigger attacks.)
Aim for: There’s no set amount, so just aim to get more onions in your diet.
Helpful hint: You can extract the quercetin from onion skins – where it’s highly concentrated – by simply adding onion peels to a pot of soup while it’s simmering. The quercetin will leach into the soup stock. (Just make sure you remove the onion peel before eating the soup!)

Coffee
Although it’s no substitute for asthma medication, a strong cup or two of coffee, or even a cola, can help in a pinch because caffeine acts like theophylline, a drug that dilates the airways. Don’t use coffee and a prescription theophylline drug at the same time.

Studies suggest that drinking coffee regularly may even help prevent asthma attacks, possibly because the caffeine keeps the airways open. (If caffeine tends to keep you up at night, this is obviously not a good strategy for you.) Coffee also contains magnesium and anti-oxidants that may play a benefi cial role.
Aim for: A cup or two as needed during an attack or a cup or two every day to help ward off attacks