Asthma and nutrition. Part 1.

If you suffer from asthma it is very important to have a health practitioner look after you as attacks can be very serious. Asthma is caused by many triggers such as inhalation of allergens, pollutants, cold air, vigorous exercise, stress, fatigue, weather and hormonal changes and diet. Some food additives that deserve a particular mention include: monosodium glutamate (look for 620-625 on food labels); tartrazine (102); sulphites (220-228); artificial colours and salicylates.

Regardless of the reason for the attack, the reaction is the same - a narrowing of the airways due to smooth muscle constriction, which manifests as bronchospasm. This causes difficulty in exhaling. Asthma attacks also cause inflammation, which leads to thick mucous production, creating further difficulty breathing.

Treatment revolves around opening up the airways and reducing the inflammation and mucous. But importantly you need to monitor attacks in order to identify the most likely cause (there may be more than one) so you can work on the alleviating the cause rather than just treating the symptoms when they arise. Here are a few options to managing your diet if you are a sufferer. (Continue)