In order to maintain your health, it is important to monitor what you eat. This restriction and proper check on a diet become extremely important if you are living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a health condition in which an individual experiences limitation in airflow, making it hard to breathe. Eating a nutritious diet will help you in keeping your lungs healthy. Read on to know how COPD and food work in tandem

• Track your calorie intake

If you have COPD, excessive weight can worsen the condition. Instead of eliminating calories from your diet altogether, try to eat them in a well-balanced amount so that you won’t feel tired. However, if you have low body weight, then you should check with a dietician and get a healthy diet.

• Protein

Make exercise part of your daily routine. To keep your body active and energetic, it is important to get your daily share of proteins from foods like eggs, milk, cheese, meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and beans. Furthermore, you can include oily fishes such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines to your diet.

• Fiber-rich foods

Eating high fiber fruits, vegetables, and grains will help you maintain healthy body weight by reducing your hunger. Fiber-rich foods are particularly known for lowering cholesterol levels, improving bowel movements, and reducing the risk of heart diseases. Beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are rich sources of fiber that can be easily included in your diet.

• Complex carbohydrates

When it comes to COPD and food items that can help manage the condition, complex carbohydrates are known for providing energy. These long-chained sugar molecules take time to break down, providing energy throughout the day. If your doctor has recommended you to gain weight, then eating foods rich in complex carbohydrates such as fresh fruits, starchy vegetables, whole grain bread, beans, and lentils is helpful.

• Mono- and poly-unsaturated fats

These fats are known for lowering cholesterol levels in the body and improving the health of the airway. Foods that contain these fats are fish, avocados, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. If you are looking to gain weight, then adding these foods to your diet is a healthy choice.

Now that you know how COPD and food work, follow these diet tips to manage its symptom. However, consult with your doctor before you make changes to your diet. Moreover, remember that these dietary habits will not cure COPD, but help you manage and prevent its symptoms.