Did you know that food can have an impact on breathing? Surprisingly but true, the food you eat can affect your breathing as the body uses food as an energy source for all the activities it does, such as breathing. That’s why people with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) should make their diet a priority.

However, you cannot get all the nutrients needed from a single food. Instead, you should follow a balanced healthy diet packed with various nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Yet, for those with COPD, it’s best to increase fat intake and reduce carbohydrate intake. Now, let’s have a look at the nutritional considerations for COPD patients:

Nutritional Considerations

Carbohydrates

When it comes to carbohydrates, COPD patients should opt for complex carbohydrates like fresh fruits and vegetables or whole-grain bread and pasta. On the other hand, they should avoid simple carbohydrates, such as soft drinks, candy, cake, sugar, etc.

Fiber

Consuming 20 to 30 grams of fiber daily can also help you breathe easier. Hence, start eating fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, pasta, and bread.

Protein

Your menu should include foods high in protein twice a day if you want your respiratory muscles to stay strong. Foods packed with protein include meat, cheese, milk, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, beans, and peas.

Fats

Speaking of fats, as with carbohydrates, you should also be careful when choosing the type of fat you consume. For COPD patients, and in general, choosing mono- and poly-unsaturated fats is the best option as they don’t contain cholesterol. Hence, pack your diet with canola, safflower, and corn oils.

On the contrary limit your intake of trans and saturated fats, which can be found in butter, lard, fried foods, hydrogenated vegetable oils, crackers, cookies, and pastries.

Vitamins and Minerals

Generally speaking, COPD patients take steroid supplements which in the long run can increase the need for calcium. Thus, you may start taking calcium supplements, preferably those that include vitamin D. Still, consult your doctor before you decide to try supplementation.

Sodium

You may already know that consuming too much sodium causes increased blood pressure and edema (swelling). So, if you have any of these issues, ask your doctor about the recommended daily sodium intake for you and try to reduce it.

Water

Hydration is really important for your overall health and well-being. For those with COPD, it’s even more important as it keeps mucus thin so it can be easily removed. That said, set a goal of drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water every day.

Now that you’ve learned the nutritional guidelines to follow let’s move on with some tips on what to do if you experience shortness of breath during or after eating, which often happens in COPD patients. Here’s what you should do:

• Rest before eating
• Sit upright when eating
• Eat slowly, taking small bites
• Make a pause in between bites
• Avoid foods that result in gas or bloating
• Eat 4 to 6 smaller meals daily, more in the morning and less in the evening
• Drink liquids after meals, avoid drinking with meals
• If you take nutritional supplements, take them at night time

Finally, remember that all of the above-listed guidelines and tips are only general recommendations for people with COPD. Every person is different and their needs differ too. Therefore, always talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet.