What are the recommended foods for COPD 
                     What are the recommended foods for COPD? 
Having good-quality food is beneficial for the health of all individuals. However, good nutrition is 
even more critical for those suffering from a long-term illness like chronic obstructive pulmonary 
disease (COPD), a group of diseases that causes trouble in inhaling air due to blocked airways. 
Including nutrients in your diet does not eliminate the need for medication but strengthens your 
lungs and makes breathing easy. In addition, it helps you maintain an ideal weight and reduces 
COPD symptoms flare-up. So, here are nutritious foods that experts recommend for COPD patients. 
Have a look!
1. High Protein Foods:
People suffering from COPD face difficulty in keeping their food down. It may cause unintentional 
weight loss, malnutrition, and muscle loss. In a study conducted in January 2019 and published in 
the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, it was revealed that most 
people with COPD fail to meet their energy and protein requirements. It is not ideal as the muscles 
used for breathing need to work extra hard if you have COPD. They become smaller and weaker 
worsening breathing problems. So, COPD patients must make conscious efforts to include protein in 
their diet. They must eat eggs, cheese, dried beans, poultry, meat, and nuts.
2. Vitamin D Rich Meal:
Patients with COPD and emphysema conditions typically have vitamin D deficiency. One cause for 
this may be the steroids recommended to COPD patients. Also, breathlessness, a COPD symptom, 
leaves you unable to spend less time in the sun (source of vitamin D), which may cause deficiency. 
Some people claim that this vitamin is a crucial nutrient for managing lung health. Its lack can 
worsen lung function and increase the risk of exacerbation of COPD. So, to prevent vitamin 
deficiency in your body, you should eat canned sardines, uncooked mushrooms, salmon, almond 
milk, and orange juice.
3. High-fibre Food:
Fibre is another vital nutrient for COPD patients. It is the indigestible part of plant food that moves 
the meal into the digestive tract. Including foods rich in fibre keeps people moving and prevents 
constipation and bloating, which makes it hard to breathe. In addition, a rich-fibre meal can lower 
cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart problems that co-exist with COPD. Examples of fibre-
rich food are oats, vegetables, fruits, brown rice, whole grain cereals, and whole wheat bread.
4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
Experts suggest that eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can assist with easing lung 
inflammation and lessen COPD symptoms. Consuming a Mediterranean diet that is traditionally rich 
in this nutrient reduces COPD incidence. It might be because of the anti-inflammatory properties of 
omega-3 fatty acids. One study published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine revealed that a subset of 
COPD patients who consume omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid do not experience cough and 
wheezing. COPD patients must include foods like canola oil, walnuts, sardines, cod, flaxseed, and 
green leafy vegetables in their diet.
So, these are a few foods that are beneficial for the health and well-being of COPD patients.
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