Diet Chart For bronchitis

The bronchial tubes are responsible for carrying air to and from the lungs. Bronchitis is a condition where the lining of the bronchial tubes are inflamed or swollen. This causes cough, lot of mucus, short breaths and some cold symptoms like body aches, fever, etc.

It is generally recommended to consult with doctor and follow prescribed medicines, but more often it is better to avoid it unless it is serious. Mostly it is caused due to smoking at its initial stage of infection, sometimes at age of mid 40s due to the working environment, lack of regular exercise and unfortunate heredity problem.

Following a bronchitis diet will make the patient healthier physically and mentally. Hence it is important to know about the food items that should be included in the patients’ bronchitis diet. This helps to enhance the immune system and help fight the inflammation that has clogged the tubes.

To treat bronchitis and assist its prevention in further occurrences of this disease, following bronchitis diet is much useful. It includes:

1. Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage, collard green
2. Green vegetables have antioxidants which help in combat infection.
3. Garlic: Recommended raw intake- Garlic is an ancient’s medicine for cold, cough and mucus liquid and is still recommended by many dietitians and doctors. Garlic is proven to have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal capabilities.
4. Vitamin C food: Vitamin C is beneficial as it assist in enhancing immune system function and combat viral fever.
5. Grass-fed meat: High amount of vitamin A and E, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc is known to boost the immune system.

Sulfites are a type of preservative that may worsen bronchitis. Sulfites are found in wine, dried fruits, pickled food, maraschino cherries, shrimp, and bottled lemon and lime juice. Eating large meals or foods that cause gas puts pressure on your diaphragm, especially if you have acid reflux. This may cause chest tightness and trigger asthma flares. These foods include beans, cabbage, carbonated drinks, onions, garlic, and fried foods.

Although it’s rare, some people with asthma may be sensitive to salicylates found in coffee, tea, and some herbs and spices. Chemical preservatives, flavorings, and colorings are often found in processed and fast food. Some people with bronchitis may be sensitive or allergic to these artificial ingredients. People with food allergies may also have asthma.

Do's:

1. Eat adequate high carbohydrate meals every day to keep glycogen stores full and make most of your training sessions.
2. Allow 3-4 hours digetion time for a large meal, 2-3 for smaller meal, 1-2 for blended or liquid meals and less than one hour for smaller snacks.
3. If you eat less than one hour before the event be sure to snack on any tried and truelow fat high carbohydrate snack.

Dont's:

1. Dehydrate your body.
2. Maintain proper balance of intake and output.
3. Balance your protein and carb intake wisely.
4. Alcohol & smoking should be avoided totally.
5. Avoiding contact with others would prevent the spread of pathogens that could cause other people to contract the disease as well.

1. Cereals & Cereal products: Rice, parboiled rice, whole wheat flour, wheat flour, brown bread, Bengal gram daal, chickpeas, kidney beans, arhar daal, toor daal. Vegetables & Fruits: Bell peppers, broccolli, carrots, snake gourd, tapioca, yam, taro, methi leaves, coriander leaves, lotus stems, spring onions, onions, garlic, ginger, tomato, mango, lemons, oranges, berries, grapes, pears, pomegranate, kiwis, cherries.
2. Milk & Milk products: Curd, toned milk, paneer, custard, payasam, ghee, lassi, etc.
3. Meat, Fish & Poultry: Chicken (fowl & lean), sweet water fishes.
4. Nuts, Oils & Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, vegetable oil, mustard oil, olive oil.