Dealing with anything that affects your ability to breathe naturally can be really upsetting. It can also lower your quality of life and limit what you can do. When looking at natural remedies for asthma, the aim is to prevent attacks, not treat them when they occur. One of the key strategies that might help is changing your diet. However, you need to be patient and diligent with any diet changes, committing to them for the long term. It may take a few months to see if they are making a difference.
**Considering Food Allergies and Sensitivities**
Food allergies might not always show obvious symptoms like swelling, but they can affect you in other ways. If you have asthma, avoiding certain foods might reduce the number of attacks you experience. This requires some trial and error, keeping close track of your symptoms. Expert Andrew Weil suggests eliminating wheat, corn, soy, and sugar one by one over 6 to 8 weeks to see if you notice any improvements. Consulting with a healthcare provider knowledgeable in nutrition can help guide you through this process.
**Reducing Inflammation**
Inflammation is the body’s way of signaling damage and starting repairs, but too much of it can cause problems, including asthma. Completely eliminating unnecessary inflammation isn’t possible, but you can greatly reduce it with your diet. Foods like refined carbs, sugary items, and saturated fats trigger inflammation. Watch out for foods high in omega-6 fatty acids as well, since they can also promote inflammation if consumed in excess.
Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help because they are rich in antioxidants that fight inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial in reducing inflammation. Good sources include flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, and fatty fish like salmon.
**Histamine Intolerance**
Another dietary approach to easing asthma symptoms is trying a low-histamine diet. Histamine is a natural substance found in many foods, and normally the body can handle it well. However, some people don’t produce enough of the enzyme needed to process it. This can trigger conditions including asthma. While you can’t completely eliminate histamine from your diet, you can cut down on high-histamine foods to see if it helps, aiming to try it for at least two to four weeks.
Some of the high-histamine foods include fermented items like pickles, some cheeses, soy sauce, sauerkraut, yogurt, and soy products like tempeh and natto. Alcohol and vinegar also have high histamine levels. Certain fruits like apricots, cherries, and strawberries, and vegetables like eggplant, spinach, and tomatoes are also high in histamine. Avoid all fish and shellfish, as well as processed meats and foods with artificial additives.
By making these changes and sticking with them, you might find some relief from asthma symptoms and improve your overall health.