While there’s no single food or nutrient that relieves asthma symptoms, eating a balanced diet and avoiding processed and other triggering foods may help reduce asthma flare-ups.
If you live with asthma, you may wonder whether certain foods and dietary choices can help you manage your condition.
There’s currently no conclusive evidence that a specific diet has an effect on the frequency or severity of asthma attacks. However, eating fresh, nutritious foods and avoiding triggering ones may improve your overall health as well as your asthma symptoms.
In some cases, food allergies can also mimic or result in asthma symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about recommended diets for people with asthma, individual foods to avoid, and foods that may be beneficial to you.
There currently aren’t any standard recommendations on a particular diet for those with asthma. Reviews of the current literature recommend further study with more rigorous evaluation methods. Early evidence suggests there’s no single food or nutrient that improves asthma symptoms on its own.
Instead, people with asthma may benefit from eating a well-rounded diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables. According to
A 2022 review that analyzed the science behind the many elements of Mediterranean-type diets found the effects of short-term diets on asthma symptoms to be inconclusive. However, the researchers hypothesize that a long-term commitment to a more nutritious diet is more likely to have a positive effect on asthma and overall health.
There’s no specific diet recommended for asthma, but some foods and nutrients have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, which can help support your lung function and immune system.
If you have asthma or severe asthma, consider adding the following foods and nutrients to your diet:
Foods rich in vitamins
Scientists have extensively investigated vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A/beta carotene for their effects on asthma.
All are antioxidants, and vitamins C and E may have anti-inflammatory or anti-allergic effects. Getting enough vitamin D may help prevent asthma exacerbations.
Foods rich in vitamin C include:
Foods rich in vitamin E include:
- wheat germ oil
- sunflower seeds
- almonds
- hazelnut oil
- peanuts
- avocado
Foods rich in vitamin A and beta carotene include:
- carrots
- cantaloupe
- sweet potatoes
- leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce, kale, and spinach
- broccoli
Beside supplementation and sunlight exposure, you can obtain vitamin D through foods like:
- salmon
- herring and sardines
- cod liver oil
- milk and fortified milk
- fortified orange juice
- eggs
If you know you have allergies to milk or eggs, you may want to avoid them as a source of vitamin D. Sometimes allergy symptoms from a food source can manifest as asthma.
Foods rich in minerals
Selenium and magnesium are minerals that may help reduce symptoms of asthma and severe asthma.
As oxidative stress significantly contributes to asthma, and as selenium is a powerful antioxidant, increasing selenium intake in your diet can help reduce oxidative stress and thus reduce asthma.
A 2022 study involving 206 patients (103 with asthma and 103 without asthma) concluded that selenium deficiency led to an impaired immune response. This finding suggests that adding selenium to your diet may help reduce oxidative stress in the lungs.
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Foods rich in selenium include:
- Brazil nuts
- fish
- meat, such as chicken, pork, beef, and turkey
- eggs
- brown rice
- bananas
Foods rich in magnesium include:
New to meal planning?
Don’t get overwhelmed by all the options out there. Meal planning isn’t as hard as it looks. If you need a quick guide to get you started, you can check out these other Healthline resources on nutrition:
Some foods may trigger asthma symptoms or cause severe asthma to get worse. You may wish to avoid these. However, it’s best to consult your doctor before you start eliminating certain foods from your diet.
Sulfites
Sulfites are a type of preservative that may worsen asthma for some people. They’re found in:
Foods that cause gas
Eating large meals or foods that cause gas will put pressure on your diaphragm, especially if you have acid reflux. This may cause chest tightness and trigger asthma flares.
These foods include:
Salicylates
Although it’s rare, some people with asthma may be sensitive to salicylates found in coffee, tea, and some herbs and spices.
Salicylates are naturally occurring chemical compounds, and they’re sometimes also found in foods.
Artificial ingredients
Chemical preservatives, flavorings, and colorings are often found in processed and fast food. Some people with asthma may be sensitive or allergic to these artificial ingredients.
Common allergens
People with food allergies may also have asthma. The most common allergens include:
Talk with your doctor
Your primary healthcare team is going to have the best advice on what kind of diet may work best for you. They may recommend that you see a dietitian or nutritionalist to get a fully cusomtomized meal plan.
It’s also important to know that diet and lifestyle changes are meant to complement your existing asthma treatment. You shouldn’t stop using prescribed asthma medications without consulting your doctor, even if you begin to feel better.
Learn about other ways to prevent asthma symptoms.
According to the
Asthma in people with obesity may be more severe and more difficult to treat. Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight for your body may make it easier to manage your condition.
Exercise is also an important part of weight management, and for many people, exercise can further exacerbate their asthma symptoms as well.
Learn all about the best ways to exercise with asthma.
Eating a more nutritious diet may help improve your asthma symptoms, but the current research on specific diets or foods is still inconclusive.
The early evidence points to increasing anti-inflammatory foods like fruits and vegetables while limiting highly processed and fried foods. Talk with your primary healthcare team or a nutritional expert to get the best diet recommendations for your asthma symptoms.
Learn more about improving your nutrition.