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| To maintain a healthy diet, start by making eating enjoyable. Eat tasty dishes served in a pleasant environment.
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If you find it hard to do all the cooking, try the following tips:
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- Choose foods that are easy to prepare.
- Eat in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Eat with friends and family.
- Eat your main meal early. This will give you energy throughout more of the day.
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- Try to include a favorite food in each meal.
- Stop smoking. It is never too late to quit
smoking. No matter how long you have had
COPD or how serious it is, quitting smoking will
help slow the disease and improve your quality of life.
Besides, food tastes better when you don’t smoke.
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- Use your breathing medications about 1 hour before eating.
- Rest before eating.
- Eat while sitting up. This helps remove pressure on your lungs.
- If you use O2, use it while eating. Eating and digestion require energy, which causes your body to use more O2.
- Eat six small meals each day instead of three large ones. This way, your stomach is never too full. A full stomach can interfere with breathing by pushing on the diaphragm.
- Drink your beverage at the end of the meal. Drinking before or during the meal can fill you up more quickly.
- Avoid or eat only small amounts of gassy foods that bloat the abdomen and make breathing difficult. These include:
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- Vegetables: onions, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, brussels
sprouts, corn, cabbage, cucumbers, turnips, beans (except green beans) |
| - Fruits: melons, raw apples |
- Greasy foods- If you have a hard time breathing in the morning, do not skip breakfast. Drink a liquid breakfast or nutritional supplement.
- Eat a varied diet that includes foods from all the food groups.
- Avoid foods that are difficult to chew.
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| Use less salt, which can cause you to retain fluids. |
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| - Use herbs or no-salt spices to give lots of flavor to your meals.
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| - Don't add salt to foods while cooking. |
| - Buy packaged foods low in salt. |
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| Limit your intake of caffeine. Caffeine may interfere with some of your medications. It may also make you feel nervous. |
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For more information on nutrition and recipes, check out the following sites:
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| The Cleveland Clinic |
| COPD International |
| University of Pittsburgh Medical Center |
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| NOTE: Talk to your doctor for a plan that’s right for you.
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Why is eating a problem for people with COPD?
COPD can make eating more difficult because: |
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- Depression often results in loss of interest in food.
- Lack of energy can make it difficult to prepare and eat meals.
- Some medications can reduce the appetite.
- Shortness of breath can make it difficult to eat. Holding your breath while chewing or swallowing may be uncomfortable if you are already short of breath.
- Eating can make it harder to breathe. A full stomach tends to push up and interfere with the diaphragm, making breathing more difficult.
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Why is it important to eat well and regularly?
If you have COPD, eating healthy foods regularly is especially important because: |
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- Food provides you with the extra energy you need to breathe.
- Nutrients are necessary for a healthy immune system to fight infections.
- Eating healthy foods can help you gain or maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, your heart and lungs have to work harder, which makes breathing more difficult. Eating healthy foods can help you lose weight. If you eat too little or are underweight, you will feel tired. You may find it more difficult to perform everyday activities and maintain your independence. Being underweight can increase your chance of getting infections.
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