Nutrition for COPD

You may already know that good nutrition is important for your health, but did you know it also affects your breathing? Eating well is important for good lung health too. What you eat can reduce the risk of disease, and how you eat can help reduce symptoms like shortness of breath. So why is good nutrition important for COPD?

Good nutrition is important for COPD because your body uses food for energy. The process of changing food and oxygen into energy is called metabolism. With COPD, it can be harder to keep up your energy due to difficulty breathing. For those with COPD, breathing requires more energy and the right nutrients to breathe easier. The nutrients that provide you with energy are called macronutrients, and these include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Your body needs all three to survive and be healthy. Fats provide the most energy per gram; the American Lung Association recommends that you eat more fats than carbohydrates to keep up with your energy needs. Good nutrition from micronutrients, which are vitamins and minerals, can also help you prevent respiratory illnesses and flare-ups.

If you are experiencing symptoms of reflux, please talk to your doctor for treatment to avoid COPD symptoms flaring up. Acid reflux may cause feelings of heartburn, which is when stomach acid irritates the food pipe. It's important to have reflux treated to reduce symptoms and prevent COPD flare-ups.

So what should you eat for good nutrition? When it comes to macronutrient choices, you want to choose whole foods. Whole foods are not processed and do not have unnatural ingredients. For carbohydrates, or carbs, choose whole fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, and whole grains such as whole-wheat pasta, bread, and rice. Try to limit processed carbs with added sugars or table sugar, such as soda, candy, and pastries. Eating whole carbs will provide you with more fiber, which can help your digestive system — you should aim for 20 to 30 grams of fiber per day. For fats, choose plant-based fats that are low in cholesterol, such as unsalted nuts, beans, avocados, and avocado or olive oils. Try to avoid dairy products and processed and fast foods that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol, including butter, vegetable oils, red meats, and fried foods. For protein, it's important to choose lean meats and plant-based proteins; lean protein sources include poultry, fish, nuts, beans, and peas. Lastly, to season your food, avoid adding table salt and eating salty foods. Salt, or sodium, can lead to higher blood pressure and other health problems, so try to limit sodium and use herbs and other spices to flavor your food instead. When eating out, ask for unsalted foods.

So how can you eat well to reduce your symptoms? If you experience shortness of breath during or after eating, follow these tips on hydration, energy, and breathing at mealtimes. Make sure you are well hydrated — drinking plenty of water can help reduce mucus buildup. You will want to drink six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day, drinking a little bit throughout the day instead of all at once. You might have to limit how much you drink during a meal to avoid feeling full from water. Before you eat, you may want to rest and save up your energy. During a meal, try to sit upright and eat slowly, taking your time with each bite; you may need to take breaks to breathe deeply and catch your breath. You can also break up meals into four to six smaller meals throughout the day to conserve energy, or try eating more at the beginning of the day when you have more energy.

For more help, you can ask your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian who can make a tailored nutrition plan for you. If you have any general nutrition questions, you can chat with your care manager in the Movn app. Thank you for watching "Nutrition for COPD." You can find more information on lung health and nutrition in the resource section of the app.

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