Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is requires taking several precautions and making adjustments to promote lung functioning and conserve energy. Following a well-balanced diet and maintaining healthy body weight is an important way to keep COPD symptoms at bay. Here, we will talk about the foods to eat and avoid for COPD patients.

Foods to eat
The following are some of the foods that help manage this condition:

• Protein-rich foods:  Eating high-protein food items like eggs, pastured poultry, grass-fed meat, and a variety of fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel is known to help people with COPD.
• Complex carbohydrates:  Including complex carbs in the diet is a helpful way to manage COPD symptoms. These foods are high in fiber and help improve the functioning of the digestive system. So, when it comes to foods to eat and avoid for COPD patients, bran, peas, lentils, beans, quinoa, oats, barley, and potatoes are beneficial foods.
• Fresh produce:  Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great source of minerals, fiber, and vitamins. These foods are also low in carbs and help improve overall health, so one should try to include more fruits and vegetables in their diet to manage COPD.
• Potassium-rich foods:  Potassium optimizes lung function, so one should incorporate potassium-rich foods like tomatoes, asparagus, avocados, dark leafy greens, bananas, oranges, potatoes, and beetroot in their diet. Also, these foods also all the more beneficial if one is taking diuretic medications.
• Healthy fats:  While choosing foods to eat and avoid for COPD patients, one must make note of the fat consumption. Dietary sources of healthy fats like nuts, olives, coconut, seeds, avocados, fatty fish, and cheese must be included in the diet.

Foods to avoid
These foods must be avoided to help cope with COPD:

• Salt:  Too much sodium can lead to water retention, which may hamper the functioning of the lungs. So, one should use unsalted herbs and other spices to flavor their food instead of using salt.
• Certain fruits:  Fruits like apples, peaches, apricots, and melons can lead to bloating and gas in some cases, which, in turn, may result in aggravated breathing issues. So, it is important to avoid these fruits and opt for grapes, pineapple, and berries instead.
• Certain vegetables:  Several legumes and vegetables can cause gas and bloating, including beans, cabbage, lentils, leeks, onions, cauliflower, corn, Brussels sprouts, and peas. So, it’s best to limit their intake and eliminate them from the diet if one experiences worsening of the symptoms.
• Dairy products:  While picking the best foods to eat and avoid for COPD patients, dairy products are at the bottom of the list of helpful foods. They make the phlegm thicker and are harmful to people with COPD, so they are best avoided.