Even if they cause you discomfort now, you might be able to gradually adjust to them by eating very small portions at first and gradually increasing the amount over time. Leaning what triggers COPD, you can help reduce personal flare-ups and improve your quality of life! Researcher has found that, of all the major food groups, carbohydrates produce the most carbon dioxide waste by far. Some people with COPD have difficulty gaining and maintaining their weight, causing them to need a special, high-calorie diet. Like broccoli or cauliflower, fried foods can cause bloating and excess gas making it difficult to breathe. If you’re living with a lung disorder or COPD then drinking beverages with a high level of caffeine such as coffee, tea, sport drinks, and pop are best to be avoided or enjoyed in very small amounts. Pinterest. If you have COPD, eating certain foods can even put strain on your lungs and make it more difficult to breathe. Even if you aren't able to make home-cooked meals every day, knowing what foods to avoid can help you make immediate and meaningful improvements to your diet. According to one study, COPD patients who had a single high-carb drink had increased symptoms and reduced lung function afterward. However, people with diabetes or mold allergies should not take Beano or similar supplements. So, if you want to improve your diet and learn how to avoid foods that can exacerbate your COPD, this article is for you. Damaged lungs often have enough difficulty meeting the body's basic respiration needs under even the most ideal circumstances. Being overweight can make breathing more difficult, especially if you have COPD. Show your health care team the My COPD Action Plan or the COPD Pocket Consultnat Guide mobile app and ask if you can work together to make a plan for you to help avoid and treat exacerbations or flare ups. Here is a list of fruits that tend to be friendlier to people with stomach sensitivities: While dairy products are a great source of healthy fat and can be a healthy part of a balanced diet, too much dairy can cause your body to produce extra mucus. Because of this, caffeine can make it more difficult to breathe and control COPD symptoms like wheezing and fatigue. Even though salt is a simple, cheap, and easy flavoring for food, you can make your food much healthier and even more delicious by using salt-free alternatives. Make avoiding them a top priority in your efforts to stay healthy with COPD. If you smoke, please stop! It's also a great opportunity to experiment with new, healthier foods that you'd never thought to try before! But you get a little creative, you can always find a healthier and equally delicious way to prepare the same foods that you love to eat fried. This narrows your airways and can cause them to collapse together, obstructing your ability to breathe. coffee, tea, alcohol, fruit juices, carbonated beverages and soda). It can be difficult to eat healthy while managing COPD, but it's well worth the effort. This is likely to cause acid reflux, also known as heartburn. It is a good idea to limit your intake of cruciferous veggies if you notice extra gas or discomfort, but there's no need to avoid them if you don't experience any problems. To be realistic, avoiding these foods entirely may not be possible. Resources and Support. Also, eating fruit along with other foods, such as grains or dairy, can dilute the components that cause stomach discomfort and make them easier to digest. Oct 2, 2017 4:00:00 AM / by Research also shows that eating foods with a heavier carbon dioxide load can actually make your COPD worse. Carbonated beverages have carbon dioxide gas dissolved inside of them. 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