Nutrition in COPD

Eating right food definitely makes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) better if not cures it. COPD patients respiratory muscles use 10 times more energy than normal person. Being overweight in COPD is bad but underweight is worse. Having low weight or losing too much weight carries poor prognosis.

Carbohydrates metabolism produces more carbon dioxide which is high in severe COPD. So low carbohydrate, high protein and fat diet is ideal. To make it simple to understand 

What to eat ?
1. Complex carbohydrates: whole grain bread and pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables
2. High fibre diet: nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables
3. Eat a good source of protein at least twice a day to help maintain strong respiratory muscles: milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fish, poultry, nuts and dried beans or peas.
4. Eat mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, which do not contain cholesterol: oils from plant sources, such as
    canola, safflower and corn oils
5. Multivitamins & calcium supplements especially if on steroids
6. Drink plenty of liquids: 6- 8 glasses of liquids
7. Eat small 4-6 meals in a day.
8. Drink beverages after a meal 

What to avoid ?

1. Avoid excess salt
2. Avoid food that cause bloating  :

• Carbonated beverages
• Fried, greasy, or heavily spiced foods
• Apples, avocados, and melons
• Beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, lentils, onions, peas, peppers, radishes and soybeans

3. Avoid non-nutritious beverages such as black coffee and tea
4. Avoid beverages before or during a meal so that you do not feel as full.
5. Avoid too much alcohol as it might slow your breathing and make it difficult for you to cough up mucus and can also interact with the medicines, especially oral steroids

Eat Right, Live Bright!