Suffering from asthma is no fun. It is a condition where the airways narrow because of a type of stimuli that does not usually affect the airways in normal lungs. Asthma causes shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. These can range from mild attacks to life-threatening in some cases. During an asthma attack the airways start to get blocked with mucus and other secretions. If the airways are not cleared the sufferer is at risk of suffocation. But there is hope. Asthma sufferers can help control their condition by consistently eating the right kinds of foods. Knowing what to eat every day can help to dilate their airways and thin the mucus in their lungs. Also avoiding foods that can trigger allergic reactions can prevent asthma attacks.
It can be difficult to ascertain exactly which foods cause you allergic flare-ups. Some foods can cause an asthma attack in a matter of minutes but others can take a couple of days! If you can establish which foods you are allergic to and avoiding them plus maintaining a daily healthy diet, it is possible to keep asthma at bay.
For optimum health eat lots of vitamin C which you will find in fruit and vegetables. An easy way to consume the required 300mg of vitamin C on a daily basis is by juicing your fruit and vegetables. Eat lots of oily fish so you are getting your omega 3s. Buy mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon. If you suddenly feel wheezy and short of breath then a cup of fresh coffee (not instant or processed) can help open up your bronchial tubes. Tea containing theobromine is also an effective bronchodilator. Foods that can provide instant aid are spicy pungent foods like mustard, garlic, onions or chilli peppers as they have anti-inflammatory properties. It is advisable to avoid things like cow’s milk and most other animal products, sodium and monosodium glutamate, vegetable oils and impure alcohol (most commonly available).
Juicing can help to control and alleviate so many ailments. For asthma sufferers drinking the raw juice of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis can really help to keep their asthma at bay and in some cases alleviate it for good! The following are recipes recommended for those who suffer with asthma attacks. They can clear your airways and if drunk regularly prevent future attacks.
Grapes – contain strong anti-inflammatory properties so if you drink the juice of grapes regularly you can reduce the number of asthma attacks you currently experience. For children under seven dilute the juice with water.
Guava, Strawberries and Cranberries – juice together for a real kick of vitamin C. Remember to cut the guava into smaller pieces as it is hard and could damage your juicer! Citrus fruits are not usually suitable for asthma sufferers so this concoction is a good substitute.
Carrots and Celery – you can drink the carrot juice every day on its own and notice your tolerance levels improve within a week. This is because carrots are excellent in removing unwanted mucus from your body. The celery is a powerful cleanser so add a couple of sticks to your carrot juice for an even more powerful recipe.
Wheatgrass, Alfalfa Sprouts, Parsley and Celery – one stick of celery with a handful of the wheatgrass, alfalfa sprouts and parsley should be juiced and then mixed with half a glass of water. Add two teaspoons of raw honey. This recipe contains lots of chlorophyll and this will detoxify the liver and colon. Detoxifying will help reduce any inflammation of your organs. This juice is not the easiest to drink but really good for you! If you find it too unpalatable you can add a couple of apples and wedge of lemon to make it a bit tastier!
Many asthma sufferers have horrible side effects from the drugs they are prescribed. It is therefore worth trying out safe and natural alternatives. Juicing is easy and fast. As well as reducing asthma attacks and potentially ridding you of them entirely, daily juicing can help keep you at your healthiest so you can live life to the full. There are many other recipes to research and explore to keep your health at its optimum level.
By Eirian Hallinan