Nutritional support for asthma

Nutrition can make a difference when it comes to treating asthma and preventing future attacks

There seem to be a few bugs going around at the moment and my son is currently recovering from a nasty virus that saw him admitted to hospital with viral-induced asthma.

A few years ago, he was diagnosed with allergic asthma (asthma triggered by environmental allergens) so fortunately we always have ventolin on hand, but he hadn’t needed to use it all year and this was the first time he had ever needed to go to hospital for breathing issues.

As I was sitting in the paediatric emergency department in the middle of the night (we were finally transferred to a ward at 2am), I found myself thinking about all the parents who have to deal with this kind of situation on a regular basis. My son’s asthma wasn’t too bad but I can imagine how scary it must be in more severe cases.

Asthma is an inflammatory condition and acute attacks can have a range of triggers, including allergens, respiratory infections, air pollutants, exercise, weather conditions, stress, medications, food additives and hormonal changes.

It might not seem like an obvious link but diet and nutrition can be helpful in preventing or reducing asthma attacks in the following ways:

🥗 Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods can help manage asthma symptoms by reducing airway inflammation. 

These foods include garlic, ginger, fatty fish, leafy greens, berries, turmeric, nuts and seeds, olive oil, green tea, citrus fruits, capsicum and apple.

🍍 Foods with expectorant properties can help loosen mucous and clear it from the respiratory tract.

Dietary expectorants include pineapple, honey, thyme, peppermint tea, apple cider vinegar and chilli.

Other factors that should be considered when treating asthma include:

👉 Sensitivity to food additives - certain food additives like sulphites, artificial colours and preservatives can trigger an allergic reaction or hypersensitivity in susceptible individuals, leading to airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction

👉 Food intolerances - inflammatory reactions triggered by food intolerances can lead to systemic inflammation, potentially aggravating asthma symptoms or triggering asthma attacks in susceptible individuals.

👉 Mast cell activation syndrome - mast cell activation can exacerbate airway inflammation, increase mucous production, and induce bronchoconstriction, all of which contribute to asthma symptoms and attacks.

👉 Candida infection - candida overgrowth and associated inflammation can contribute to systemic inflammation, potentially exacerbating asthma symptoms through immune system activation and inflammatory responses.

👉 Environmental allergens - exposure to environmental allergens can lead to immune system activation, IgE-mediated responses and release of inflammatory mediators like histamine, resulting in airway inflammation and asthma symptoms.

👉 Low stomach acid - poor digestion and absorption of nutrients can lead to systemic inflammation and immune system dysregulation, potentially contributing to asthma exacerbations in some individuals.

👉 “Leaky gut” -  increased intestinal permeability can lead to systemic inflammation, activation of the immune system, and exacerbation of allergic and inflammatory responses, potentially impacting asthma severity and frequency of attacks.

Supplements can also be helpful in managing asthma:

✅ Vitamin C - an antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and improve lung function. It may also help in reducing bronchoconstriction.

✅ Omega-3 EFAs, e.g. fish oil - omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce airway inflammation and improve lung function.

✅ Magnesium - magnesium helps relax bronchial muscles, potentially improving airflow and reducing asthma symptoms.

✅ Vitamin D - vitamin D deficiency is common in asthmatics and can exacerbate symptoms. Supplementation can improve immune function and reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.

✅ Quercetin - a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects that can help reduce allergic reactions and inflammation in the airways.

✅ N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) -  NAC helps in breaking down mucus and has antioxidant properties that can protect lung tissue from damage.

⚠️ As always, please consult a healthcare professional before giving your child new supplements, to ensure that they are taking the correct form and dose. This is particularly important if your child is also taking pharmaceutical medications.