Diet Plan for Asthma

A healthy and nutritious diet is a key to maintain overall health as well as asthma. Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disease in which airways get inflamed, produce more mucus thus, make breathing difficult and triggers breathlessness. Some people are allergic to certain food items and environmental changes and this can trigger asthma. Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight may make easier to manage asthma. Eating too much saturated fats may increase the risk of asthma attacks.

DIET CHART FOR ASTHMA

EARLY-MORNING

A glass of water+ fenugreek seeds

BREAKFAST

Vegetable Dalia / Broken wheat porridge / Veg Semolina (veg upma) / Veg Vermicelli / Veg poha (Rice flakes) / Veg Idli/ Veg Oats / Besanchilla (gram flour) / Missi Roti / Chapatti with Veg or Dal / 1 egg white only

MID-MORNING

Fruit/ Vegetable juice/ Coconut water

LUNCH

Chapatti + Vegetable + Dal + salad

EVENING

Herbal tea / Green tea / Sprouts / Roasted Chickpea / Rice flake Snack/ Homemade soup

DINNER

Chapatti + Vegetable + Dal + Salad

DIET INSTRUCTIONS

CEREALS

Cereals to be consumed

Whole wheat, Whole grains cereals, Porridge, Oats

Cereals to be avoided

White Rice, Whole refined flour and its products, refined sugar,

FRUITS

Fruits to be consumed

Apple, Pear, Sugar cane, Papaya, Water melon, Musk melon, Pomegranate

Fruits to be avoided

Apricot, Peaches, Orange, Grapes, All Berries, Dried Fruits and All citrus fruits

VEGETABLES

Vegetables to be consumed

Cauliflower, Radish, carrot, Peas, Broccoli, Bottle gourd, Round gourd, Bitter gourd, Beans, Garlic, Ginger.

Vegetables to be avoided

Okra, Eggplant, Beans, Potato, Taro roots, Mushroom, Cabbage, Onions, Dried and Canned vegetable

PULSES

Pulses to be consumed

All Pulses

Pulses to be avoided

Whole pulses (limited amount), Soy and its products

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Dairy Products to be consumed

Nil

Dairy Products to be avoided

Milk and its products, Cheese, Buttermilk, Condensed milk

SPICES

Spices to be consumed

Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander Fenugreek, Fennel, Pepper, Garlic, Salt (limited)

Spices to be avoided

Green chili, Red chili, Cloves

DRINKS

Drinks to be consumed

Coconut water, Clear soups, Sugarcane juice, Herbal tea, Beetroot juice, Bitter gourd juice, Gooseberry juice, Pumpkin juice

Drinks to be avoided

Alcohol, Processed and canned food, Junk food, Tea, Coffee

FLESH FOODS

Flesh Foods to be consumed

Egg white portion only (limit)

Flesh Foods to be avoided

Raw, Uncooked and Processed meat, fish especially Selfish, Shark, Swordfish, Tuna and Marlin, clams, Mussels, Oysters and Scallops, Meat patties, Burgers, Pork, Organ meat like - Liver, Kidney and Chest, Red meat, Prawns, Lobster, Crab, Lean beef, Lamb, Ham, Turkey, Rabbit, Mutton, Bacon, Duck, Goose

SEEDS AND DRY FRUITS

Dry Fruits to be consumed

Flaxseed- ½, Sunflower seeds- 1 tsp. (per day), 1 Walnuts, 5 Almonds and 5 Raisins (soaked)

Dry Fruits to be avoided

Cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, Peanuts, Pistachios

FATS

Fats to be consumed

Cow ghee, Sunflower oil, Canola oil, Olive oil, Mustard oil

Fats to be avoided

Unsaturated fats, Cream, Palm oil, Coconut oil, Butter, Hydrogenated oil

PREPARED FOODS

Prepared Foods to be consumed

Homemade only

Prepared Foods to be avoided

Packed soups, High fat dressing or mayonnaise, Chocolate, Fudge, Butter scotch, Coconut bar, all fried foods, Junk foods, Sauces etc. Peanut butter, Fruit jellies, Jams, Refined sugar, Marmalade, Sweeteners, Chutneys, Pickle, Ice-cream, etc.

DIET TIPS

• Walk for at least 30-45 min is recommended.
• Whole fruit should be preferred to fruit juices.
• Skipping of meals should be avoided, especially the breakfast
• Water intake should be increased at least 8-10 glass regularly
• Herbal Tea - Boil ½ tsp. each of Coriander, Fennel, Cumin in 3 cups of water till it’s reduced to 1 cup. (Two times per day)
• Seasonal fruits and vegetables should be consumed.