Dante Carrillo
A healthy diet cannot cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it can help manage symptoms and prevent adverse health effects. People with COPD require more energy for breathing and muscle functions, so adequate energy intake is essential. Weight management is crucial, as excess body weight can worsen symptoms, while being underweight can lead to malnutrition and increased infection risk. A well-balanced diet with complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and proteins can help manage COPD. Sugar intake is important, as simple carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, and table sugar should be limited due to their higher sugar content and lower nutritional value. Instead, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables provide complex carbohydrates with sustained energy release.
How is sugar involved in the diet for COPD?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | Opt for complex carbohydrates such as whole-grain bread and pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables. Simple carbohydrates, including table sugar, candy, cake, and regular soft drinks, should be limited. |
| Weight Management | Being underweight or overweight can lead to health complications and impact breathing. Weight management for people with COPD involves following a customised eating plan and an achievable exercise program. |
| Sodium Intake | Excess sodium or salt in the diet can cause water retention, affecting breathing ability and increasing the risk of pulmonary hypertension. |
| High-Fat Foods | Include high-fat foods that are nutritious, such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Avoid highly processed high-fat foods that can be detrimental to overall health. |
| Fiber | Aim for 20-30 grams of fiber per day, which can be obtained from whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. |
| Calcium and Vitamin D | Long-term steroid use may increase the need for calcium and vitamin D. Discuss supplementation with your doctor. |
| Hydration | Drink plenty of water to keep mucus thin and easier to remove. Avoid carbonated drinks. |
| Dairy | Dairy products can increase phlegm and mucus production, but they also provide calcium and vitamin D. Consult your doctor before eliminating dairy. |
| Cruciferous Vegetables | Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale are nutrient-dense but can cause gas and bloating, affecting breathing. Consume in moderation or substitute with other vegetables. |
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What You'll Learn
Complex carbohydrates are recommended over simple carbohydrates
People with COPD should be mindful of their overall health, and nutrition is a big part of that. A well-balanced diet may help reduce inflammation in a person with COPD. A healthy diet cannot cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but can help your body manage infections, including chest infections that may lead to hospitalisation. Good nutrition can help prevent that from happening. If illness does occur, a well-nourished body can respond better to treatment.
The best diet for someone with COPD often depends on the person's weight and lifestyle. The American Lung Association recommends that people with COPD eat complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates contain long chains of sugar molecules that the body takes time to break down, providing a sustained release of energy. Simple carbohydrates, on the other hand, provide fewer nutrients.
Complex carbohydrates include whole grains such as whole-grain bread and pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods are high in fibre, which helps improve digestive function and blood sugar management. Whole grains also provide more fibre than simple carbohydrates, which is important for people with COPD to consume as it helps them feel full.
Simple carbohydrates, such as table sugar, candy, cake, and regular soft drinks, should be limited. These foods provide less nutritional value and can lead to weight gain, which can exacerbate COPD symptoms. Excess body weight means the heart and lungs must work harder, making breathing more difficult.
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Weight management is important to prevent breathing difficulties
Weight management is important for preventing breathing difficulties in people with COPD. While a healthy diet cannot cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it can help your body manage infections and make you feel better.
Being overweight or obese can exacerbate COPD symptoms. Excess body weight means that the heart and lungs have to work harder, making breathing more difficult. This may also increase the demand for oxygen. On the other hand, being underweight can indicate malnutrition, which can lead to poor health outcomes, including an increased risk of COPD exacerbations.
A well-balanced diet may help reduce inflammation in a person with COPD. A healthful diet can help prevent or manage some of the adverse health effects of COPD. For example, a reduced carbohydrate diet results in lower carbon dioxide production, which may help with breathing. When choosing carbohydrates, opt for complex carbohydrates, which are high in fibre and help improve digestive function and blood sugar management. Whole-grain bread and pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables are good sources of complex carbohydrates.
It is also important to limit or avoid certain foods that can worsen COPD symptoms. These include fried and greasy foods, dairy products, cruciferous vegetables, carbonated drinks, and foods high in salt and sugar. Instead, focus on including plenty of fresh, whole foods in your diet and staying hydrated with water, herbal teas, and non-carbonated juices.
In addition to dietary changes, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight for your body may involve following an achievable exercise program. It is important to consult with your doctor or dietitian to determine the best approach for managing your weight and preventing breathing difficulties associated with COPD.
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High-fat foods should be nutritious, not highly processed
While sugar is not mentioned explicitly in relation to COPD, it is clear that diet plays a crucial role in managing the condition. A well-nourished body is better able to handle infections, and good nutrition can prevent serious illness and aid treatment.
People with COPD require more energy for breathing and muscle function, so adequate calorie intake is essential. A diet with fewer carbohydrates and more fat may help patients breathe easier, as metabolising fat produces less carbon dioxide than metabolising carbohydrates. However, it is important to choose complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread and pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, over simple carbohydrates like table sugar, candy, and cake.
Regarding high-fat foods, while it is important to emphasise higher fat intake, the type of fat matters. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are recommended, while saturated fats, which are often found in ultra-processed foods, can increase the risk of heart disease, which is a common comorbidity with COPD.
Ultra-processed foods are typically high in calories, salt, fat, and added sugars, and low in fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They often contain additives such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, artificial colours, and flavours, which may be responsible for negative health effects. These foods include frozen meals, boxed products, energy drinks, fruit punch, soda, some breakfast cereals, flavoured yoghurt, sauces, and ready meals.
Instead of consuming ultra-processed foods, it is recommended to eat more nutritious high-fat foods, such as:
- Wholegrain bread and cereals
- Baked beans
- Fish
- Unsaturated oils
- Pulses
- Nuts and seeds
- Avocados
- Eggs
- Dark chocolate
In summary, while sugar is not specifically mentioned in relation to COPD, a nutritious diet that includes complex carbohydrates and healthy high-fat foods is important for managing the condition. Ultra-processed foods, which are typically high in sugar and other unhealthy ingredients, should be limited, and replaced with more nutritious alternatives.
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Limit salt and cured meats to prevent fluid retention
People with COPD may require up to 10 times more calories than a person without it, as breathing requires more energy. Eating a diet with fewer carbohydrates and more fat may help you breathe easier, as the body produces less carbon dioxide when metabolising fat.
To prevent fluid retention, it is important to limit salt and cured meats. Salt causes water retention, which can lead to shortness of breath in patients with lung disease. While the salt shaker is an obvious source of sodium, most of the sodium in our diets comes from processed foods. To reduce sodium intake, cut back on salty seasonings and check food labels to ensure they contain less than 300 milligrams of salt per serving. The COPD Foundation recommends choosing foods labelled "low sodium", with less than 140 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Cured meats such as sausages, bacon, ham, hot dogs, cold cuts, and other deli meats are often high in salt and should be avoided. Investigators suspect that the nitrites used as preservatives in these meats may damage lung tissue. Cured meats are also high in saturated fats, which can increase LDL ("bad") cholesterol and the risk of heart disease, which often coincides with COPD.
In addition to salt and cured meats, people with COPD should limit fried foods, dairy, and cruciferous vegetables, as these can cause bloating and gas, leading to breathing problems. It is also important to maintain a healthy weight, as excess body weight can make breathing more difficult. A well-nourished body is better able to handle infections, which can become serious quickly for people with COPD.
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Fibre-rich foods are beneficial for people with COPD
People with COPD should aim to consume 20–30 grams of fibre each day, according to the American Lung Association. Fibre is the indigestible part of plant food that helps food move through the digestive tract. Fibre-rich foods can help prevent bloating and constipation, which can impact breathing.
Fibre-rich foods include nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Other examples are whole wheat bread, oats, whole grain cereals, brown rice, whole grain pasta, and legumes.
A well-balanced diet may help reduce inflammation in people with COPD. Fibre-rich foods are often packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can help improve lung function and overall well-being. For instance, dark leafy greens are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as magnesium and potassium, which support lung function.
People with COPD should also be mindful of their overall health and weight. A customised eating plan and achievable exercise program can help manage symptoms and minimise complications. For instance, a diet with fewer carbohydrates and more healthy fats may help with breathing, as metabolising fat produces less carbon dioxide.
It is important to consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian to devise a tailored meal plan that considers individual dietary needs and circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
Simple carbohydrates, such as table sugar, should be avoided. White bread and pasta should also be avoided as they contain a greater amount of sugar.
Complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread and pasta, are beneficial as they provide a sustained release of energy.
Fried foods, dairy, cruciferous vegetables, carbonated drinks, and salt should be avoided as they can cause bloating, gas, and phlegm production, which can restrict breathing.
Yes, it is important to maintain a healthy weight and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. A well-balanced diet with anti-inflammatory foods and antioxidants can also help reduce inflammation and manage symptoms.
