Asthma is a condition in which a person's airway becomes inflamed, narrow or swollen, thereby making it extremely difficult to breath. Asthmatic people may be allergic to many elements in the environment like certain food, paint, colourants, and even the pollen of certain flowers. The things which trigger allergic reactions produce histamine and bradykinin, which are inflammatory mediators, in the human body. It causes the walls of the air way to inflame or swell. Breathing difficulties, panting, dry cough, high heart rates, and sweating are some of the symptoms of asthmatic attack.
There are two types of allergic reactions. In the first case the body would react immediately when it is exposed to the allergen. While in the second case, it would take up to 24 or 72 hours for the body to respond. It is important to diligently find out what causes the allergies and stay away from it.
There are many food items that cause an asthma attack. The intensity of the allergic reactions would vary in different people. Allergy is caused when the proteins and antigens contained in certain food items cause some sort of abnormality in the cells. When the cells push out antigen histamines or histamines, it contributes to an allergic reaction. Lactose in milk, gluten in wheat, meat, egg whites, and crustaceans like shrimp and crab are common allergens.
Arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated omega 6 fatty acid, that usually comes from the dietary animal sources can cause asthma. Those who suffer from asthma shouldn't use chlorinated water. They should also cut down their intake of tea, coffee, chocolates, nuts, salt, and sugar. The chemicals contained in processed food may cause allergic reactions for asthmatic people. Peanuts, sour fruits, food colourants, and fizzy drinks, and unhealthy snacks, too, can cause allergy and asthma. Asthma patients should stay away from food containing tartrazine, benzoate, sulphur di oxide and sulphate.
Including onions and garlic generously in your diet may keep away certain enzymes. Try to avoid food that may cause swelling on the mucus membranes.
Consuming soups, with a good amount of pepper in it, helps to strengthen the membranes in the respiratory system and makes the respiration easier.
Asthma is also caused when the digestive juices in the stomach get reduced. A medical check-up could confirm this.
It has been observed that consuming lemon juice mixed with water, before the meals, help to ease asthma.
Consuming ginger tea or shallots juice mixed with honey are effective remedies for asthma. Deficiency of vitamin B 6 may cause asthma attacks in some people.
Magnesium helps to maintain the health of the respiratory organs and allows the smooth expansion of it. Fruits and almost all the vegetables are rich sources of magnesium.
Asthma patients should avoid eating food which increases phlegm. Neither should they consume food which has turned cold.
Liquid food like soups is great sources of vitamins and other essential nutrients. Try to avoid fried food and fast food.
Here are 6 amazing recipes which could ease asthma and allergic reactions:
Spinach–shallots–garlic soup
Ingredients
½ cup spinach (washed and chopped)
½ cup shallots
5 cloves garlic
Half of a small carrot
A small piece of ginger
Salt as required
Preparation
Cook the chopped palak, shallots, and garlic in 4 cups water
Into it add grated carrot, chopped ginger and salt
Cook well
It is loaded with vitamin E and molybdenum which eases respiration by destroying the free radicals.
Mackarel/sardine/salmon soup (contains omega 3 fatty acid)
Ingredients
½ cup mackerel/ sardines/ salmon (deboned and cooked)
Half of a carrot (grated)
½ cup shallots
1 tsp pepper
3 cloves
A piece of ginger
4 cloves garlic
2 cups water
Salt as required
Preparation
Boil grated carrot, chopped shallots, pepper, cloves, ginger, garlic and salt in 2 cups water
When it is cooked, add the fish and simmer for a few minutes.
Dal, broken rice and garlic gruel
Ingredients
¼ cup dal
½ cup broken rice
5 cloves garlic
½ tsp cumin
A small piece of ginger
3 cups water salt as required
Preparation
Roast the dal
Into a pressure cooker add the roasted dal, broken rice, garlic, cumin, chopped ginger, salt and water
Cook well and serve hot.
Sweet potato ada
Ingredients
½ cup sweet potato (cooked and mashed)
½ cup rice flour
2 tbsp coconut
2 tbsp jaggery (crumbled)
1 tsp cardamom powder
A pinch of salt
Preparation
Mix the mashed sweet potato, rice flour and salt in some warm water into smooth dough
Into a bowl add grated coconut and cardamom powder
Mix well
Make balls from the sweet potato dough and flatten it using a rolling pin
Place the coconut – cardamom filling in the centre of the flattened sweet potato mixture
Fold it in half and roast on a hot tawa.
Liver soup
Ingredients
Vitamin B 12, which is contained in animal products and meat, is essential for asthma patients. However, it should be tested whether liver is allergic before consuming it.
Ingredients
½ cup liver
Half of a tomato
A small piece of ginger
4 cloves ginger
2 cloves
A small piece of cinnamon stick
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
½ cup shallots
1 tbsp coconut
½ tsp chilli powder
A pinch of pepper powder
1 tsp oil
Preparation
Crush shallots, ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric powder and chilli powder along with coconut
Marinate the liver with this mixture
Add tomatoes and salt along with it and cook well.
Since vegetarian diet does not supply vitamin B12, it should be taken as supplements.
Apple-orange salad
Sour fruits should be avoided by asthma patients. However, intake of vitamin C would help to ease respiration.
Ingredients
Half of an apple
4 pieces of orange
1 tbsp sugar
5 strawberries
Preparation
Wash and dice all the fruits into bite size pieces
Add sugar and mix well.
