Hyderabad: Too-gradual recovery of asthma patients whose recovery (despite medicines), was not as quick as expected, was due to an imbalanced diet, according to a research study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics.
A healthy diet rich in lean proteins, calcium and iron were missing in their daily food habits.
The study found that a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and proteins is important for asthma patients as it will help to build immunity to fight against asthma. But the study found that the patients were low on nutrient intake, high on fats and were malnourished due to their wrong choice of foods.
Researchers studied 100 patients in the age group of 25 to 50 years who were ‘spirometrically’ diagnosed for asthma.
Their body mass index and dietary habits were studied and it was found that their daily intake of protein was significantly lower than required. There was also a significant decrease in daily intake of vitamin C, calcium, iron, thiamine which made it difficult for them to deal with the recurrent episodes of asthma.
Dr Zeenath Fatima, consultant dietician, explained, “Foods which are rich in vitamin D like milk and eggs, carrots and green leafy vegetables and magnesium-rich foods such as spinach and pumpkin seeds must be a part of their diet to help them fight the episodes of asthma. But there have also been cases of allergic reactions to milk and eggs. In that case, it must be avoided.”
The study also found that most of the patients were obese and were not well-nourished.
Dietary advice as per recommended allowances must be given to these patients by healthcare providers so that they can fight the disease better.
