How To Stem The Rise In Asthma

The incidence of asthma has risen during the past several decades, and many scientists believe the fact that Americans are eating fewer and fewer fruits and vegetables, and more processed foods, may be contributing to this situation.  There is evidence that diets higher in vitamins C and E, flavonoids, magnesium, selenium and omega 3 fatty acids can reduce the cases of asthma.  Recent studies seem to show that eating seven or more servings of fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce asthma.

There is no such diet as "the asthma diet," as there are for other diseases such as diabetes, colitis, and high blood pressure.  Scientists have recently proven that diets low in antioxidants will produce patients with poor lung function.  Increase the fruits and veggies and in just days, lung function has increased.  Researchers have proposed that by eating fewer fruits and vegetables, one's susceptibility to potentially harmful inhaled substances may be increased because of the reduction in antioxidant defenses.  None of this has been quantified in enough studies to make  it a science fact, but the accumulating evidence does suggest that diet does play a role in modulating the response of the lung to inhaled allergens.

As with so many medical conditions, studies are beginning to prove that we can control many ailments with diet.  Remember when it was discovered that children with ADHD could improve behavior with the elimination of red dye from their diet?  Recently scientific studies have shown that patients with celiac disease benefit greatly from a gluten free diet.  Our diet has changed so much over the past half century with the introduction of many processed foods, that much of the population has gotten away from what's really good for us, fruits and veggies.  Let's get back to basics and improve our health, not just for asthmatics, but for everyone.