Healthy foods for asthma patients

“As long as I take all my medications, I don’t need to do anything else for my asthma”. That’s one of the misconceptions when living with asthma, or any illness. What you consume and the environment you stay in contribute to improving or deteriorating your health.

In this post, we will explore some of the healthy foods in Nigeria that can help improve your asthma and overall health. The last one is our favourite.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Plantains

Plantain is one of the most popular foods in Nigeria. Plantains are a rich source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They are also low in fat and sodium, making them a great addition to a healthy diet for asthma patients.

Plantains can be cooked in various ways, you can fry them and serve them with eggs, rice, etc. they can also be served boiled or roasted or made into a pottage.

Beans

Beans are also another popular food in Nigerian households. There are also other types of beans apart from the regular ones we know, such as black-eyed peas, cowpeas, and lentils.

Beans are an excellent source of protein, fibre, and other nutrients that can help support overall health and reduce inflammation of the lungs in asthma patients.

Fish

When it comes to fish, there is a variety of options you can choose from that will be beneficial to you, including sardines, tilapia, catfish, mackerel, tuna, etc.

Fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and improve lung function.

You can add fish to a whole lot of your meals like soups, and stews or eat it as a stand-alone snack.

Vegetables

A lot of people run away from vegetables because they consider them “boring food”, but no one said it had to be. You can add vegetables as a side to your dishes or even as garnishes to your Jollof rice. You can also use vegetables to make a rich salad.

Eating leafy green vegetables like spinach, and kale, are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which can help reduce inflammation in the lungs.

Other vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots are also high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Fruits

As the saying goes “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away” an apple a day might also keep asthma away. According to a research review article in Nutrition Journal, apples were associated with a lower risk of asthma and increased lung function.

Apart from apples, eating fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and pineapples which are rich in vitamin C, can help reduce inflammation and support lung function.

Other fruits such as papaya, guava, and mangoes are also high in vitamins and minerals that can benefit asthma patients.

Just taking your meds shouldn’t stop you from taking other steps to ensure you are healthy. It doesn’t have to bore to eat healthily, you just have to find the way that is right for you.

Till next time…. Just breathe