COPD Diet, Foods

Respiration is one of the basic functions of the human body. Energy production takes place when oxygen mixes with food in the various cells of the body. During energy production, carbon dioxide is produced. The blood circulation system is designed to carry oxygenated blood to the various different cells and tissues of the body. It is also designed to absorb carbon dioxide from these cells and tissues and pass them back to the lungs.

The lungs are a pair of organs located in the chest cavity that perform the function of gas exchange. This exchanges carbon dioxide from ‘used’ blood with oxygen from the air that has been breathed in.

COPD is a condition known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. As the name would suggest, COPD involves an obstruction of the pulmonary system. This means that it becomes difficult for the individual to breathe in and out as the airways will be obstructed. People suffering from COPD may be in a situation where the airways are affected because the individual parts of the lungs do not perform their functions efficiently. People suffering from COPD will not be able to breathe efficiently. Thus, such individuals will suffer from symptoms that include shortness of breath, giddiness, tiredness and general malaise that result from improper respiration.

The airways and the path that is taken by food intersect in the human body. Thus, an individual who is suffering from COPD may not be able to eat very well. The reason for this is the fact that the individual will be struggling to breathe. As the airways intersect with the food path, this may result in the individual experiencing difficulty with breathing when he or she is eating. The symptoms of shortness of breath can be extremely scary, resulting in the individual avoiding eating large morsels of food simply because he or she is afraid of doing so for fear of choking. This is where the COPD diet comes into the picture.

Chest infections are common for patients suffering from COPD. Such individuals will therefore need to be strong and in good health to ward off such infections. Chest infections will only worsen the symptoms of COPD and can even be fatal in situations where the infectious condition becomes serious. Hospitalization is often necessary under such situations. A COPD diet does not cure the individual of the condition. The reason that the diet is even included in the picture is the fact that the COPD diet is one that can help boost the general health of the individual. Once this happens, the chances of the individual falling sick are reduced. Furthermore, the individual will have more strength to help him or her fight the effects of COPD. Treatment is often found to be more successful in individuals who are well nourished.

COPD Diet Plan

The COPD diet plan is designed to ensure that the individual maintains his or her body weight. When the weight of the individual is falling, it means that he or she is not being fed with enough food. Thus it is important to keep a chart of one’s body weight which is updated regularly. This can be used to adjust or modify the COPD diet plan based on the condition of the patient and how he or she is responding to treatment.

It is important to know that the body actually needs energy to help it eat and digest food. Thus, the body will be under some sort of strain when it is digesting food. Patients suffering from COPD are balanced on a rather fine equilibrium when it comes to their breathing. Thus, putting additional strain on the body may result in increased shortness of breath and other related symptoms. Thus, one of the most important COPD diet tips is to ensure that meals are small and spread out through the day. This will mean that there is no major additional strain on the body. Whatever strain there is will last for a few minutes at a time, thus giving the individual a chance to recover his or her breath before the next meal.

Salt should be reduced when considering the COPD diet. Salt promotes the retention of fluids in the body. This is something that can further worsen the patient’s symptoms as fluid retention will lead to increased difficulty with breathing. Thus when one is considering COPD foods to avoid, one should avoid any food that is extremely salty. This applies to many different types of junk food that one might wish to consume from time to time.

Protein is an important food item and is the building block for new cell tissue around the body. Most people who suffer from COPD do not consume enough protein. This is one aspect of the COPD diet that one can consult with one’s doctor about. The doctor can give the patient some useful COPD diet guidelines, which, if followed, will provide the body with plenty of useful protein. This is essential to make sure that the muscles and tissues of the body do not suffer from weakness.

In general, it is good to consume a balanced, healthy diet. When considering the COPD diet, this becomes even more important. A patient suffering from COPD will be generally weak and tired. Thus, providing such an individual with a healthy COPD diet plan is something that can really help in dealing with the condition. A healthy, balanced diet is one that focuses on all the important food groups. These food groups include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Several natural food sources cover many of these important food groups. These include fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. Fresh fruits become increasingly useful to patients suffering from COPD because of their relatively small serving size. One can easily consume an apple or a banana within short period of time. This allows the practice of small, continuous meals, something that is recommended to all patients who are suffering from COPD. It is best for the individual to have fruits kept for times when he or she wishes to consume a snack.

Submitted on July 21, 2011