At least one study found a higher fat diet containing foods like avocados to improve lung function in men with COPD.
Dream time
Barbara Quinn Tribune News Service
My sister started smoking in her early twenties. She thought it would help her lose weight. That decision, knowingly or unknowingly, opened the door to her lifelong battle against cigarette addiction. Years later, when she was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), she was still unable to overcome the strong push to smoke “just one more cigarette”.
It was difficult to watch her struggle for every breath over the past few years. According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals – many of which are toxic to our airways. Over time, the normal inhalation and exhalation that many of us take for granted becomes increasingly difficult for a person with COPD.
Harmful particles in cigarette smoke also weaken the body’s defenses against infection. My sister had all the classic symptoms: chronic cough, shortness of breath and frequent colds, flu and sinus infections.
The best and most effective way to prevent and treat COPD is to stop smoking. But does diet matter?
An in-depth analysis of the effects of diet on COPD was recently published by the Evidence Analysis Library of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. While many questions remain unanswered, some evidence suggests that certain nutritional therapies can help stabilize a person with COPD:
- Add extra calories to your diet if you are underweight. People with COPD who are able to increase their caloric intake often experience improved breathing, according to this latest analysis. Those who remain underweight are at the highest risk of complications.
- Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels. It’s a blood test called Serum 25 (OH) D. Low levels of vitamin D have been found to make symptoms of COPD worse. A vitamin D supplement can help improve lung function if necessary.
- Consider a high fat diet. Adding healthy sources of fat to the diet will add the concentrated calories needed to a thin person. At least one study found a higher fat diet to improve lung function in men with COPD. Healthy sources of fat include nuts and nut butters, avocados, and vegetable oils.
- Make sure that your daily diet includes adequate amounts of protein. Protein is needed to maintain muscle mass and strength. Researchers have found in some studies that higher protein intake can help improve breathing and functioning in a COPD patient. High protein foods include fish, poultry, lean meat, eggs, dairy products, and soy.
- Contact a registered dietitian for individual guidance on therapeutic nutrition. There is strong evidence that nutritional therapy can improve weight, lung function, and quality of life for a COPD patient.
