Bronchial asthma is becoming very common in the society and now even children are also getting its symptoms very often. Reason for this is the environmental changes which are going on aggressively and have a very bad effect on the ones which have low immunity specially children and old age people. Bronchial asthma is basically a condition in which there is inflammation in the airways and hence there is narrowing of pathways resulting in breathlessness or difficulty breathing, production of mucus, short breaths and wheezing sounds. If the disease becomes chronic then it can interfere with the daily activities of a person. Following is a complete diet chart that helps in avoiding recurrent asthma attacks and improving one’s condition. It can be easily followed in children as well as in adults. In Ayurveda the condition is called as tamak shwas and is the result of imbalanced kapha as well as pitta. The diet plan helps in balancing both of the dosha.
DIET CHART FOR ASTHMA
EARLY-MORNING
Have a glass of lukewarm water on an empty stomach after passing stool and brushing teeth
(This will help in enhancement of digestive functions and also makes digestion better. Moreover it helps in getting rid of the accumulated kapha in the throat as well in chest)
BREAKFAST
Vegetable Dalia / Broken wheat porridge / Veg Semolina (veg upma) / Veg Vermicelli / Veg poha (Rice flakes) / Veg Idli/ Veg Oats / Missi Roti / Chapati with Veg or Dal / 1 egg white only/ or gram flour chilla
(Light breakfast is very effective in keeping digestion intact and does not cause accumulation of endotoxins. It also helps in reduction in the production of kapha dosha)
MID-MORNING
Fruits
(They help in keeping body hydrated)
LUNCH
Chapati + Vegetable + Dal + salad
(The lunch should be healthy, light and nutritious)
EVENING
Herbal tea / Ginger tea/ Sprouts / Roasted Chickpea / Rice flake Snack/ Homemade soup/ Pumpkin soups or ash gourd soups/ chicken stock
(They help in preventing long hours with an empty stomach and can prove to be body strengthening)
DINNER
Chapati + Vegetable + Dal + Salad
(Light dinner prevents indigestion and constipation. This gives less room for accumulation of endotoxins)
DIET INSTRUCTIONS
CEREALS
Cereals to be consumed
Whole wheat, Whole grains cereals, Porridge, Oats, barley flour, millets like pearl millets, foxtail, little and finger millets
(They help in keeping digestive system healthy and also prevent accumulation of endotoxins)
Cereals to be avoided
White Rice, Whole refined flour and its products, refined sugar, corn, gram flour
(They are kapha vardhak aahar which means it can aggravate kapha dosha thus the appearance of symptoms like mucus, short breath etc.)
FRUITS
Fruits to be consumed
Apple, Pear, Sugar cane, Papaya, Muskmelon, Pomegranate, Dried Fruits
(The fruits are rich in nutrition and also are a good source of hydration but there should be a specific time for their intake preferably not in evening or early morning)
Fruits to be avoided
Apricot, Peaches, Orange, Grapes, All Berries and All citrus fruits
(These fruits might aggravate the symptoms due to their cold potency or their citrus taste can aggravate pitta dosha)
VEGETABLES
Vegetables to be consumed
Cauliflower, Radish, Carrot, Peas, Broccoli, Bottle gourd, Round gourd, Bitter gourd, Beans, Garlic, Ginger, Mushroom, Cabbage, Beans, potatoes (after boiling only), cabbage, capsicum
(The vegetables are the good source of minerals and vitamins and fulfill requirement body)
Vegetables to be avoided
Eggplant, Taro roots, Onions, Okra, Dried and Canned vegetable
(They are the reason for accumulation of endotoxins thus aggravating symptoms)
PULSES
Pulses to be consumed
All Pulses
(All kind of pulses can be taken as they are the good source of protein especially horse gram soup and black gram soup)
Pulses to be avoided
Whole pulses (limited amount), Soy and its products
(Use of some pulses like black lentils, kidney beans as their excessive intake might increase dosha aggravation as they can increase pitta dosha)
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Dairy Products to be consumed
Cow’s ghee
(Only cow’s ghee can be consumed and occasional intake of cow’s milk can be done during evening hours)
Dairy Products to be avoided
Milk and its products, Cheese, Buttermilk, Condensed milk and all other dairy products should be strictly avoided
(As mentioned earlier they aggravate symptoms because they will aggravate kapha dosha)
SPICES
Spices to be consumed
Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander Fenugreek, Fennel, Pepper, Garlic, Salt (limited), black pepper, sonth
(Use Of ginger in dried form must be done as fresh ginger generally aggravates kapha. In addition other spices makes digestion smooth and easy)
Spices to be avoided
Green chili, Red chili, Cloves
(They have a bad effect on digestion thus making digestion difficult and results in aggravation of symptoms)
DRINKS
Drinks to be consumed
Clear soups like pumpkin soup, ash gourd soup, black gram soup and black gram soups, Herbal tea, Beetroot juice, Bitter gourd juice
(They help in maintaining body’s strength)
Drinks to be avoided
Alcohol, Processed and canned food, Junk food, Tea, Coffee
(They have a negative impact on digestion and body as well. The reason is they promotes accumulation of endotoxins and thus results in accumulation of dosha like pitta and kapha)
FLESH FOODS
Flesh Foods to be consumed
Egg white portion only (limit), meat soup of sheep
(It increases the body’s strength, balances protein intake in the body and also gives strength to muscles. They help in liquefying the accumulated kapha dosha)
Flesh Foods to be avoided
Raw, Uncooked and Processed meat, fish especially Selfish, Shark, Swordfish, Tuna, Marlin, clams, Mussels, Oysters, Scallops, Meat patties, Burgers, Pork, Organ meat like – Liver, Kidney and Chest, Red meat, Prawns, Lobster,Crab, Turkey, Rabbit, Bacon, Duck, Goose
(These are heavy to digest and cause aggravation of symptoms especially kapha and are not good for digestion too)
SEEDS AND DRY FRUITS
Dry Fruits to be consumed
Flaxseed- ½, Sunflower seeds- 1 tsp. (per day), 1 Walnuts, 5 Almonds and 5 Raisins (soaked)
(They are the source of micro nutrients which are essential for body)
Dry Fruits to be avoided
Cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, Peanuts, Pistachios
(They are heavy to digest and do cause aggravation of symptoms)
FATS
Fats to be consumed
Cow ghee, Sunflower oil, Canola oil, Olive oil, Mustard oil
(They are the best for maintaining a good and healthy digestion)
Fats to be avoided
Unsaturated fats, Cream, Palm oil, Coconut oil, Butter, Hydrogenated oil
(They have a very negative impact on body thus resulting in endotoxin accumulation)
PREPARED FOODS
Prepared Foods to be consumed
Homemade only
(They are the best as they are free from preservatives and do not cause any harm to body)
Prepared Foods to be avoided
Packed soups, High fat dressing or mayonnaise, Chocolate, Fudge, Butterscotch, Coconut bar, all fried foods, Junk foods, Sauces etc. Peanut butter, Fruit jellies, Jams, Refined sugar, Marmalade, Sweeteners, Chutneys, Pickles, Ice-cream, etc.
(They cause accumulation of toxins)
DIET TIPS
- Walking for at least 30-45 min is recommended.
- Whole fruit should be preferred to fruit juices.
- Skipping meals should be avoided, especially breakfast.
- Water intake should be increased to at least 8-10 glasses regularly. Water should be lukewarm.
- Herbal Tea – Boil ½ tsp. each of Coriander, Fennel, Cumin in 3 cups of water till it’s reduced to 1 cup. strain the solution and drink it. Make fresh everytime.(Two times per day)
- Seasonal fruits and vegetables should be consumed except the ones with cold potency.
- Try not to get exposed in cold air or in direct air as it will result in abrupt aggravation of symptoms.
- When feeling of heavy chest awakes try having warm water with saindhav lavan
- Have Terminelia chebula powder often or you can just have its fruits in a regular routine.
Above mentioned instructions are must to be followed as they prevent you from many things and mostly from aggravation of symptoms. You must understand what is good and bad for you and then should opt for the right options so that further complications can be ignored or avoided.