Many people complain of breathing difficulties ranging from shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and persistent cough. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and pneumonia are some of the disorders that cause respiratory distress. Along with taking timely medications, sufferers also need to follow a strict diet regime to check symptoms. Check out the following foods that cause breathing issues to avoid them from your menu.

  • Fried and greasy foods
    Fried food products like French fries, onion rings, and chicken wings are some foods that cause breathing issues. They can cause bloating, chest pain, and heartburn. The deep-fried snacks lead to excess gas formation in the stomach, which pushes the diaphragm and causes discomfort. Moreover, greasy foods also adversely affect heart health.
  • Excessively salty food
    Patients witnessing breathing problems should refrain from flavoring their food with excess salt. Studies suggest that the presence of an increased dose of sodium salts in meals causes water retention. This, in turn, may lead to breathing difficulties. Nutritionists recommend that your meals should not contain more than 300 milligrams of sodium per serving, and whole meals should limit the salt content within 600 milligrams. If you wish to season any delicacies, try out herbs and spices, instead of salts to manage breathing troubles.
  • Cold cuts
    Cold cuts include precooked or cured meat products, including bacon, ham, and chicken breast. These ready-to-eat meats are mostly served with sandwiches, hotdogs, and burgers. Despite being tasty, these delicacies contain nitrates as an additive. Manufactures add the compound to enhance the shelf life of products. However, nitrates increase the risk of COPD and cause breathing difficulties among many individuals. Patients diagnosed with this disease should limit their intake of luncheon meats. A study published on the European Respiratory Journal reported that several individuals required readmission to hospitals after consuming these products.
  • Carbonated beverages
    Patients complaining of breathing troubles should think twice before indulging in carbonated sodas, beers, sparkling wine, sparkling cider, and juices. These sweetened drinks are full of empty calories and fall under foods that cause breathing issues. They instantly release carbon dioxide, most of which gets trapped in the digestive system. They also make you feel gassy and bloated and exert pressure on the diaphragm. Individuals start feeling uneasy and often experience respiratory distress after drinking a few glasses of carbonated drinks.
  • Cruciferous vegetables
    Cruciferous vegetables like cabbages, radishes, cauliflower, and broccoli also lead to bloating in asthmatic and COPD patients. Most of them contain raffinose, which is difficult to digest. The gut bacteria ferment them and release an excess of gases in the digestive tract. It is better to avoid them and select other healthier options among vegetables.

So, now you know about the foods that cause breathing issues. Select your meals intelligently so that you can keep your respiratory distress under control.