Foods you shouldn't be eating if you have asthma!

Asthma can't be cured, but studies claim that making certain changes in your lifestyle can help improve the symptoms in patients.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The cases of asthma are ever-rising across the globe, mainly due to a spike in environmental pollution. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways, causing difficulty breathing, chest pain, cough and wheezing.

It is said that over 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma that affects people of all ages and groups, with one-tenth of those living in India.

Asthma can't be cured, but studies claim that making certain changes in your lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts, wholegrains, and unsaturated fatty acids can help improve the symptoms in patients.

However, there are some foods that need to be avoided as they might aggravate the asthma symptoms. They are-

• Foods that are considered to be causing allergic reactions such as eggs, peanuts, milk, soy, shellfish and other fish types.
• Foods that contain sulphites – wine, beer, pickles, lime juice, dried fruit or vegetables, processed foods - that can cause allergy-like symptoms in people with underlying asthma and allergic rhinitis.
• High salt diet – fast food and processed foods - as they have been found to have a worsening impact on asthma condition. High salt intake has also been found to alter airway inflammation and the flow of oxygen into the bloodstream.