Written by: Emily Joswiak • March 1, 2022• Lifestyle

The Connection Between Diet and Breathing Problems

Changing up your diet can have a direct effect on your breathing. Read on to learn about the metabolic process and what foods you should avoid.

Not many people know that the foods they eat can directly affect their breathing. Once you know how the metabolic process works, however, it will make perfect sense. Read on to discover the connection between diet and breathing problems.

Metabolism

Everyone has heard of metabolism, but what is it? The metabolic process is when food changes into fuel in your body. On one side of the process, you have oxygen and food, which are like raw materials. Once the process is finished, the oxygen and food have transformed into carbon dioxide and energy. We keep the energy to carry out our day-to-day tasks, and we exhale carbon dioxide, which is essentially a waste product.

The more carbon dioxide our bodies produce, the more work our lungs must do to exhale it. That’s why choosing foods that create the least amount of carbon dioxide is essential.

What To Seek Out

Metabolizing healthy fats produces the least carbon dioxide for the oxygen used, so they’re the most efficient food to eats. That means you should look for foods such as nuts, fish, poultry, and seeds. These are also good sources of protein, which is just as important as healthy fats.

You’ll need some carbohydrates as well. However, opt for complex carbohydrates instead of simple ones. If you’re hoping to lose weight, that means you should look for fresh fruits and vegetables. If you want to gain weight, go for whole-grain carbs.

What To Avoid

Simple carbohydrates produce the most carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used, so you should avoid them. Table sugar, candy, soft drinks, and cake are all simple carbs, so cut them out of your diet as much as possible.

Making several other lifestyle changes, from quitting smoking to practicing breathing exercises, can also ease COPD symptoms. Watching what you eat is just one part of the process of reducing your discomfort.

Now that you know the connection between diet and breathing problems, start eating more consciously, and get ready to breathe easily once again.

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Last modified: March 2, 2022