Healthy Food for COPD

COPD: Eat Right at Every Bite

Eating right food may help boost your energy when you have COPD, and if weight loss is a problem, a few “comfort foods” may be back on your diet.

Breathing burns 10 times more calories when you have COPD. For people who are consciously watching their weight, smaller part of the nutrient-packed foods in this slideshow will keep calories in check and provide the fuel your body needs to help you feel your best.

A COPD Breakfast

Breakfast may be your most important part of meal. A lot of people with COPD get too fatigued later in the day to eat well. If that sounds so familiar, try to have your largest meals early in the day when you have your most energy. Since you should be getting 20 to 40 grams of fiber every day, must starting with a bowl of bran cereal and whole-wheat toast gets you headed in the right direction.

Oatmeal With Milk

Another great food for starting your day is warm oatmeal. It’s very easy to eat and rich on fiber, calcium, vitamin A and iron . Preparing it with milk instead of water makes it even more very nutritious. And if you’re trying to shed a few pounds, oatmeal deserves a small place in your diet. Has its high fiber content helps you feel full with fewer calories. And top it with berries instead of sweeteners to keep the calorie count low.

Eat More Nutritious Foods First

If fatigue is making you stop eating before you get the calories and nutrients you’ll ever need, eat the high-calorie items first. But don’t go for the “empty calories” of mashed potatoes or desserts. And sink your fork into chicken, baked fish, lean beef, or tofu so you get protein with every bite

Say Cheese

Adding cheese to dishes like potatoes, rice, or vegetables will probably increase both the nutrient value and the caloric value of every meal. And plus you’ll get extra calcium to help protect your bones, that can be made brittle by in some of the medicines prescribed for COPD. If you want the nutrients in cheese at a lower calorie count, look for those labeled “part-skim” or “reduced-fat.”

Drink Plenty of Fluids

Drinking plenty of non-caffeinated fluids will help keep the mucus in your airways thin and make it easier to clear your lungs. When mealtimes, eat first and sip later. In that way you won’t feel full before you’ve had a chance to get a solid and nutritious meal.

Milk Please

If you need to gain weight, your body can make good use of the calories in milk, while the vitamin D and calcium help keep your bones strong. Dinking it in place of water throughout the day.

Avoid Caffeine

Caffeine is not a good choice for someone with COPD. It may interfere some medicines and may cause nervousness and restlessness, that can exacerbate your symptoms. So much better to avoid or limit coffee, tea, especially caffeinated sodas. Unfortunately, the caffeine in chocolate lands it on the no-list.

Better Than Salt

Use herbs and no-salt spices to flavor your food. Sodium can also cause you to retain water, that makes it harder to breathe. And the most important to read food labels and to avoid foods that have more than 300 milligrams of sodium per serving. Before you use any salt substitute must talk with your doctor. And maybe some of them have ingredients that may be just as bad for you as salt.

Get More Fiber

Because you’re unlikely to get all of the 25 to 30 grams of fiber you need each day from breakfast alone, that include high-fiber foods in your meals. A bowl of low-sodium split pea or lentil soup makes an excellent hot lunch. And other good sources of fiber include dry beans (legumes), whole-grain bran, cereals, and breads, brown rice and fresh fruits and vegetables.

COPD Caution: Gas-Inducing Foods

While foods like a bean burrito do provide protein and fiber, use with caution. Foods that can cause gas or bloating can make it feel harder to breathe. A very common culprits include heavily spiced foods, carbonated beverages, greasy fried foods, beans, and vegetables like cabbage and brocooli. Each person can reacts a little differently. Keep a food diary to see which ones fits you, then steer clear of the troublemakers.

Go for Potassium

If you’re taking a diuretic, you may need more potassium in your diet. Oranges and bananas are most excellent sources that are quick, easy snacks. Tomatoes and potatoes are great mealtime sources of potassium.

Eggs Offer a Calorie Boost

If you’re looking for ways to boost your calorie intake, try adding an extra egg into your recipes. Just Mix a whole egg to your next meatloaf before baking. You can try it in macaroni and cheese. Just avoid raw egg, it sometimes used in the dressing for caesar salad in order avoid food poisoning.

Snack Right

If you need to gain weight, keep high-calorie healthy snacks handy. You can have a handful of nuts or a ready-to-eat pudding cup. Or you can buy low-fat or non-fat pudding cups to avoid unhealthy cholesterol and saturated fat. Fruits and vegetables or crackers with cheese with dip are other nutritious snack ideas.

Keep It Fresh

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables whenever you can will yield big benefits. They are packed with high nutrients. Eating a balanced diet instead of a meat-and-potatoes regime contributes to better overall health and energy.

Shakes and Smoothies

Foods rich in calcium and vitamin D are essential for keeping bones healthy. That’s the reason why milkshakes and smoothies are the perfect snack for many people with COPD. You can use milk or yogurt choosing lower-fat products if weight control is desired and use fresh fruit for nutrients and high fiber. Fortified shakes and canned are no-fuss drinks that are ready to be used straight out of the fridge.

Starchy Vegetables

Starchy vegetables carrots, like beets, corn and winter squash are rich sources of vitamins and minerals. They have more calories than other vegetables. A baked squash casserole makes an excellent side dish or main course. Soup is a savory way to enjoy these richer vegetables.

Boosting the Protein

Protein is an essential element in everyone’s diet, especially important when you have COPD. You can add nonfat dry milk, , soy protein powder or protein powder to dishes like mashed potatoes, soups, casseroles,even hot cereal.

Protein at Every Meal

Peanut butter can pump up your intake of both calories and protein, little time or energy wasted on preparation. Protein is very important at every meal for people with COPD. A very good sources include eggs, poultry, lean meat, fish, legumes, and nuts.