Healthy Eating for COPD Patients
How many COPD patients can relate to this... "It takes a lot of effort to eat large amounts of food." As for myself, if I try to put too much in my mouth, I do get short of breath. It is hard to chew, swallow and breathe when your lung functions are not good. Therefore, eating small amounts of food at a time is recommended due to the energy used to chew and swallow. This is something they teach you if you attend Pulmonary Rehab classes.
I have listed a few facts that I hope will help you begin to "Eat Healthy". This is so important for those of us with COPD.
- Fish Oil and supplemental omega-2 fatty acids. Although no strong evidence supports this, researchers believe that fish oil may be beneficial for COPD patients as they have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
- Vegetables. High amounts of antioxidants are found in fresh, green and yellow-orange veggies. Such as kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, beets and red bell peppers.
- Protein and Fats. A diet low in fat is best for healthy individuals. But for COPD patients, we need a greater amount of fat... healthy fat... in our diets. Proteins from fish, poultry, lean meats, also olive oils and oily fish are good to include in your diet.
- Fruits. Fruits are loaded with vitamins and easy to chew. Berries, peaches, plums, prunes, raisins, grapes, kiwi fruit, cherries, and oranges are high in antioxidants. Very good for your diet!
As you can see we have mentioned "Antioxidants" several times in our diet. Why? Because antioxidants fight disease by helping to repair damaged cells that are affected by the oxidation process which occurs during normal cell functioning. Vitamin A and carotenoids, C, E, selenium, flavonoids, lycopene, lutein and lignan all make up antioxidants.
- Dietary Supplements. Zinc and selenium in foods may help to reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections, but there is little evidence that vitamins and minerals have any ability to improve lung function. Please talk to your doctor before adding any dietary supplements to your diet.
- Red Wine. Research has shown that the chemical resveratrol, which is found in red wine, grapes and olive oil, can have health benefits. Also, some researchers believe that used in moderation, red wine may even provide protection to the lungs. It also should be noted that a high intake of wine can have a reverse effect, which may cause weakening of the immune system. Again, talk to your doctor before including alcohol or red wine to your diet.
You will find alot of information on the internet concerning "Healthy Eating for COPD Patients". My recommendation is to talk to your Pulmonologist about what foods are good for "your body" and "your health". We all may read something on a website or in a book and feel that this will "cure" us, as it is written in stone.
I would like to share with you a sad but true story written by Lori Palermo about her dad Wayne Litzenberger who passed away of COPD/Emphysema.
http://www.loveyourlungsbreatheforlife.com/arayofhope.html
Eat Well My Friends and Breathe Easy,
Sandy
1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4... Exhale
I have listed a few facts that I hope will help you begin to "Eat Healthy". This is so important for those of us with COPD.
- Fish Oil and supplemental omega-2 fatty acids. Although no strong evidence supports this, researchers believe that fish oil may be beneficial for COPD patients as they have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
- Vegetables. High amounts of antioxidants are found in fresh, green and yellow-orange veggies. Such as kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli, beets and red bell peppers.
- Protein and Fats. A diet low in fat is best for healthy individuals. But for COPD patients, we need a greater amount of fat... healthy fat... in our diets. Proteins from fish, poultry, lean meats, also olive oils and oily fish are good to include in your diet.
- Fruits. Fruits are loaded with vitamins and easy to chew. Berries, peaches, plums, prunes, raisins, grapes, kiwi fruit, cherries, and oranges are high in antioxidants. Very good for your diet!
As you can see we have mentioned "Antioxidants" several times in our diet. Why? Because antioxidants fight disease by helping to repair damaged cells that are affected by the oxidation process which occurs during normal cell functioning. Vitamin A and carotenoids, C, E, selenium, flavonoids, lycopene, lutein and lignan all make up antioxidants.
- Dietary Supplements. Zinc and selenium in foods may help to reduce the severity of upper respiratory tract infections, but there is little evidence that vitamins and minerals have any ability to improve lung function. Please talk to your doctor before adding any dietary supplements to your diet.
- Red Wine. Research has shown that the chemical resveratrol, which is found in red wine, grapes and olive oil, can have health benefits. Also, some researchers believe that used in moderation, red wine may even provide protection to the lungs. It also should be noted that a high intake of wine can have a reverse effect, which may cause weakening of the immune system. Again, talk to your doctor before including alcohol or red wine to your diet.
You will find alot of information on the internet concerning "Healthy Eating for COPD Patients". My recommendation is to talk to your Pulmonologist about what foods are good for "your body" and "your health". We all may read something on a website or in a book and feel that this will "cure" us, as it is written in stone.
I would like to share with you a sad but true story written by Lori Palermo about her dad Wayne Litzenberger who passed away of COPD/Emphysema.
http://www.loveyourlungsbreatheforlife.com/arayofhope.html
Eat Well My Friends and Breathe Easy,
Sandy
1 2 3... Inhale ... 1 2 3 4... Exhale
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