Asthma: food, diet and herbs

Published: 11/24/2010 - Updated: 06/21/2016

Asthma is a condition which is characterized by its main symptom as the person has difficulty breathing, especially at night, where asphyxia also occur usually accompanied by severe bouts of coughing. These symptoms are due primarily to the airways, located within the lungs and whose function is to get air into the lungs, get smaller. The airways (bronchi and bronchioles) become thicker and look like strangled, there is excessive mucus, which causes the air capture is less and making breathlessness and chest tightness.

Who are more likely to have asthma?

Asthma can occur at any age and sex, but generally, people are more susceptible when they have a deficient immune system and a heated emotional atmosphere and oppressive.

Symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath at night or during exercise
  • Severe coughing attacks
  • Coughing
  • Feeling depressed chest
  • Wheezing coming from the chest
  • Fatigue or tiredness

Causes

The factors that trigger asthma are:

  • Inadequate eating or living habits
  • Distress prolonged and frequent
  • Emotional stress and sense of being "suffocated". This often occurs in children when parents or adults around them that often coexist with them (such as grandparents, teachers, etc.) are highly absorbent or obsessive, scolding them, telling them what to do, and "even telling them how to breathe”. The feeling of "not being able to breathe on my own” is what causes asthma and stresses.
  • The crisis usually worsens or become more frequent in cold weather extremes or in spring and autumn.

Food and diet to control and cure asthma

The body has a powerful self-healing capacity, in reality, the disease only occurs when certain factors come together to prevent the body balance and heal itself. The only thing we can do is to prevent or stop it is by flowing the regenerative and reparative ability of the organism. When we do not, your body is weakened; it becomes very sensitive to the environment and reacts in an unbalanced way through what is known as a disease.

Being the food the main support in any illness, it is important that the person with asthma has an adequate diet and to help repair and rebalance the body's organs and systems for effective recovery. The following dietary guidelines are for asthma in adults and children, except where indicated otherwise.

Not Allowed Foods

  • Refined sugar and derivatives, which create excess mucus and harmful toxins, as well as degenerate and irritate the nervous system and makes people more prone to anxiety, nervousness, panic, stress, etc.
  • Fried, animal meats, red meat and milk products (cheese and derivatives) generate a lot of toxins in the body and increase mucus production, as well as lower the defenses of the body and fill the body with non-beneficial fats.

Foods allowed and recommended in the diet

Citrus (lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, orange, lime, etc.): High in vitamin C, help eliminate toxins, mucus, gas and bad fats and strengthen the body's defense mechanism and nourish the airways. The best time to take a medical citrus is in the morning and fasting, which will help clean up blood, lungs and intestines effectively.

Fruits: the best fruit (excluding citrus) for asthma are pineapple, guava, grapes, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries and goji berries. All these fruits should be taken in the morning. Apples are great for relaxing and to strengthen the respiratory tract. Its best time to use for medicinal purposes is at night before bedtime, to help reduce the coughing and choking, as to nourish the lungs.

Fresh vegetables: rich in vitamins and nutrients that serve to reinforce the airways and keep the body free of mucus and toxins. They are rich in fiber, help to clear the bowel of toxic material and reduce the sensitivity to environment (allergies). The best vegetables for asthma are carrots, alfalfa, tomato and onion. Vegetables should be eaten fresh, steamed, three or four servings a day, either in juice or salad.

Garlic: is especially powerful to help combat asthma, it has a long list of qualities among which is its powerful antibiotic, antibacterial and cleansing effect, and contain important minerals for the restoration of tissues. Among other of its many benefits, garlic has high concentrations of magnesium, which plays a key role promoting lung activity and the flow of air. The best way to take garlic medicinally is before breakfast or at night with a glass of warm water. Children should have it crushed. It is important that we do not eat garlic whole, but chewing.

Legumes: Vegetable milk is ideal to replace cow's milk and feed the body at its best; it does not produce mucus and provides calcium and sufficient nutrients for the asthmatic.

Fish and vegetable oils: are good for the entire body.

Medicinal plants for the asthma: Sage, nettle, feverfew, hyssop, poppy leaves, eucalyptus, lemon, mint.

Herbal Therapy for Asthma

  • Make an infusion with three grams of poppy petals, add a liter of pure water boiling. Boil 1 minute and turn off. Stand for 5 minutes and strain. Drink two tablespoons every hour.
  • Drink nettle tea with a tablespoon of olive oil in the morning.

About the author
  • K. Laura Garcés G

    Writer, therapist and lecturer. She is a lover of natural medicine and the power of mind and emotions in body and life. In addition, he has studied nutrition and develops appropriate diets to support this healing process.She has written more than 1500 articles in magazines in Spain and Mexico, winner of two literature contests. Linkedin.