There are many diet changes that are suggested to those with asthma. However, most people are not aware of the foods that should be avoided when someone is diagnosed with asthma. Cutting these foods out of the diet can help to reduce the frequency and the severity of asthma attacks.

Processed Foods and Salt

Patients with asthma that follow a low sodium diet for anywhere between two weeks and one month often report having an improvement with lung function and a reduction in both the frequency and the severity of their asthma attacks. Low salt diets have been shown to lessen the constriction that affects the bronchial tubes, helping to improve asthma. Most Americans with asthma actually consume at least twice as much salt in their diet than the recommended amount.

Processed foods are also high in sodium, and cutting out processed foods makes it a lot easier to stick to a proper diet that is low in sodium. Processed foods including frozen foods, bread, snacks and even lunchmeats tend to have far more sodium in them than their more natural counterparts. It has also been shown that those that eat a lot of processed foods tend to end up not getting their basic nutrients and vitamins due to the lack of fresh food in the diet.

Eggs, Milk, Nuts, Soy and Shellfish

Many people with asthma actually suffer from unknown food allergies or food sensitivities. These food allergies and food sensitivites can often trigger an asthma attack, without the patient realizing they have a food sensitivity or allergy. For those that have asthma attacks or symptoms that tend to worsen after eating any of these foods it is always best to see a doctor.

For those that do not have a food allergy but think they may have a food sensitivity, it may be a good idea to cut one of these foods out of the diet at a time for a few weeks. If you note any improvement when going without a certain one of these foods, removing it from the diet may reduce the severity of frequency of asthma attacks.

Corn Oil, Safflower Oil and Sunflower Oil

All of these oils are high in omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 6 fatty acids actually promote inflammation, which can lead to constriction of the airways and worsen the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. It is best to avoid these oils and stick to canola oil or olive oil.

Cutting back on these foods, and eliminating some of them from the diet, can help to improve asthma. However, these changes should never be used to replace the use of an inhaler or any other medical treatment that is necessary.