48% of people with asthma also have food allergies.

Lifestyle

May 3

Written By

Most people don’t realize that foods might be triggering their asthma! Studies show that 48% of people with asthma also have food allergies and that about half of children with food allergies experience respiratory symptoms.

Foods, food additives, (and even chemicals) can trigger asthma either as part of a food allergy or an intolerance reaction. Being exposed to an allergen may cause irritation or swelling in areas of the body such as the nose, eyes, lungs, air passages and skin. A severe food allergy reaction is known as anaphylaxis and can be life-threatening.

Children who experience food allergies during the first two years of life are the most likely to develop asthma later in childhood, and the most common food allergies associated with an increased risk of asthma are:

➡️ Peanuts

➡️ Milk

➡️ Eggs

We cannot ignore this information! According to the CDC, 1 in 13 people have asthma. Most manage it with medications and inhalers. What if we could minimize that dependence on medications and get you feeling better naturally?

Part of the solution may be uncovering hidden food triggers.

If you or a loved one has asthma and has never explored whether foods may be playing a role, you can start by trying an elimination diet. One study found that an elimination diet controlled asthma in 54% of children who also had confirmed food allergies.

To do an elimination diet, remove the top allergenic foods from your diet for a full 2-3 weeks. Here are the top foods to avoid:

❌ Peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, shellfish, tree nuts, and soy ❌

Track your symptoms during the elimination and see if your asthma and breathing improve. If they do, chances are that one of these foods has been triggering you. The only way to know for sure is to reintroduce each food one at a time. It’s important to reintroduce foods one at a time and only one every 2-3 days.

Please be cautious during the reintroduction phase. Asthma is a serious condition and can even be life threatening. Be prepared with emergency medications and phone numbers in case a food triggers a strong response.

The best way to do an elimination diet? Under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. We can help you identify food triggers, calm the inflammation in your airways, and manage your asthma with a more natural approach

Want to know more? Book a phone consult from our website.