Optimal Diet For COPD Patients

​When those who have COPD get infected and their condition becomes serious, they have to be hospitalized immediately. Such situations can be avoided by providing the patient with a proper COPD diet. Moreover, when the patient is on a proper diet, the body will respond to the treatment in a better way. 

Complex carbohydrates are ideal for those who suffer from COPD. The patients who want to reduce weight should consume more fresh fruits and vegetables. Those who want to increase their weight can opt for a variety of whole-grain carbohydrates, fresh fruits, and vegetables. The ideal COPD diet may include milk, eggs, cheese, meat, poultry, fish, nuts and dried beans. The patients should avoid or strictly limit the consumption of sugar, candy, cake, and soft drinks. They must consume daily 20 – 30 grams of fiber which is available from fruits, veggies, bread, nuts, seeds, and pasta. In order to keep the respiratory muscles strong, the patients have to include proteins twice in their daily diet. Those who want to lose weight can go for low-fat protein sources like lean meat and low-fat dairy products. Protein with a higher fat content like whole milk, whole milk cheese, and yogurt are ideal for patients who want to gain weight.

Fats
COPD patients are advised to avoid or limit foods that contain trans fats and saturated fats. They should also avoid food items such as butter, lard, hydrogenated vegetable oils, fried foods, pastries, crackers, and cookies. The COPD diet should contain mono - and polyunsaturated fats free of cholesterol. These fats are liquids at room temperature and they are obtained from plant sources like canola, corn oils and safflower. Those who want to lose weight should consume limited quantity of these fats and those who want to gain weight can add these fats to their diet daily.

​Sodium
COPD patients who have high BP also should drastically reduce sodium in their diet since sodium may cause swelling and consequently BP will increase. ​

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Vitamins and Minerals
General-purpose multivitamins should be included in the COPD diet. Normally, people with COPD take steroids, but long-term consumption of steroids will increase calcium requirement. In such situations, the patients should go for calcium supplements that include Vitamin D. Calcium carbonate and calcium citrate are the best sources of calcium. 

Fluids
COPD patients should be sure to drink plenty of water daily. Apart from keeping the body hydrated, water will keep the mucus thin so that it can be removed very easily. 6 – 8 glasses of water should be included in the daily COPD diet. The quantity may be spread over the entire day.

COPD patients should avoid foods that will cause gas or bloating. 4 – 6 small meals a day make the ideal COPD diet. The patients should eat more food early in the morning and drink water 1 hour after meals. 

​Foods to be avoided
COPD patients should strictly avoid fried foods, aerated drinks, too much salt, dairy produce, cured meats, cold cuts, and sugar especially.

COPD patients should focus heavily on their diet as it will be the best way for them to decrease their symptoms and live a much better life. ​

Conclusion

According to WHO estimates, 65 million people have moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). More than 3 million people died of COPD in 2005, which corresponds to 5% of all deaths globally.

Severe COPD can get to a point where your lungs may stop functioning and you may need a lung transplant. 
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Did you know that lung transplants have the lowest survival rate among all transplants? Only about 50% of people live 5 years after having a lung transplant and patients have to take up to 50 pills a day!

We at The Sid Foundation want to increase that survival rate and help patients be able to afford that medication which is why we raise money for lung transplant research and development and lung transplant patients. 

We need your help in increasing the survival rate and helping lung transplant patients so please join the 200+ donors who have raised over $40,000 and donate what you think is fair to help lung patients everywhere.

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