Asthma, a chronic condition marked by difficulty in breathing caused by attacks of bacteria in the bronchi of the lungs, can sometimes be eased or worsened by dietary composition, experts say. 

Though there is no specific dietary recommendation for the disease, research often shows that there are some specific foods that may worsen its situation or increase the likelihood of developing it.

Nutritionists and medical practitioners recommend some foods that people with asthma have to avoid, what foods may improve or even prevent asthma symptoms from developing, or even lifestyle factors that may help a person manage the chronic condition.

Private Kamanzi, the head of Amazon Nutrition Cabinet Center in Remera, identifies key foods and drinks that people with asthma may have to avoid as they worsen the illness.

Simple sugars

Kamanzi is of the view that foods containing simple sugars increase mucus in the respiratory tract, which might lead to difficulty in breathing.

"Foods containing simple sugars often lead to the interference in airways of the respiratory tract, because when these foods are taken in, the body cells react by swelling, hence causing inflammation, which then blocks the respiratory flow,” he notes.

The simple sugars that Kamanzi urges asthma patients to avoid are found in processed juice, sodas, chocolates, biscuits and wheat, among others, which increases the mucus in the respiratory airways.

Products from animals

He also urges people to avoid foods obtained from animals which have saturated fats as they scale up the mucus in the throat.

"Some foods obtained from animals include saturated fats which increase the mucus in the throat leading to suffocation. These include fresh meat and milk, among others,” he explains.

Apart from food, he also asks people to consider other environmental factors like climate, asking them to avoid adverse weather like stormy, windy, cold or humid climates. Smoking is also among the environmental exposures.

Chance Mukasekuru, a nurse at Remera Health Center, urges asthma patients to take vitamin containing foods so that they broaden the respiratory airways.

"Vitamin containing foods, mainly fruits and vegetables, like spinach, carrots and pumpkin seeds, are one of the foods that help broaden the respiratory airways and reduce mucus which leads to inflammation,” she explains.

She also urges patients to be cautious of their environment and ensure clean air and hygiene, among other environmental factors, allowing their respiratory organs to work well.

Among the drinks, Mukasekuru recommends patients to take coffee because: "Caffeine can open up the airways in the lungs for up to four hours, which can alleviate asthma symptoms like wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness.”

Not having enough water vapour in the lungs causes airways to constrict. This provides mucus, which (in conjunction with constriction) form asthma attacks and symptoms, she adds.

Regarding further complications, Kamanzi who is both a dietitian and nutritionist, recommends going for a medical check-up.

"There are a number of tests we conduct, when the disease is tense, we can carry out nutrition therapy to avoid further complications resulting from the disease,” he adds.

An article published by Nutrition Reviews, a medical journal, highlights that asthma is common among people of low socioeconomic status mostly developing countries in Africa.