Proper, healthy nutrition of great importance for everyone, but especially for individuals with chronic conditions, such as COPD.
For people with (severe) COPD, it is important to get enough energy and protein. This can be a challenge, in part because shortness of breath and fatigue can make it difficult to prepare and eat a meal or snack.
To make a diet sufficiently energy- and protein-rich, the guidelines and practical sample menus for people with COPD mainly recommend additional meat, milk, and dairy products.
Fact or fiction
For many years there has been debate whether milk and dairy products cause increased mucus in the lungs and thus causes an increase in symptoms. A direct causal relationship between an allergy to cow's milk and mucus production in COPD cannot be clearly demonstrated. Nevertheless, some lung patients do experience a relationship between dairy consumption and increased mucus production in the lower airways.
Dietary advice in COPD tells us that mucus in the mouth after consuming cow's milk products is different from mucus produced in the lungs. It also states that there is no connection between the sticky saliva in the mouth after using dairy and sputum in the lungs.
In my immediate circle is someone who experienced a big difference in his symptoms after he stopped drinking cow's milk. He is happy to share his personal story here.
A personal experience
"My emphysema developed very gradually. I think it started when I was about 35 to 40 years old, what caused it I don't really know. I never smoked. I mostly noticed that I was more tired than others. Every now and then I would get pneumonia, which reduced my lung capacity. I had mucus in my lungs that was difficult to cough up. Slowly but surely, I developed pneumonia more and more often. With the antibiotics and prednisone the doctor gave me, the infections did go away, but the prednisone courses weakened my condition a lot.
About 11 years ago I was referred to the pulmonologist who did a bronchoscopy. It was seen that there was a lot of tough mucus in my lungs, which I could not cough up. Because I was going from one pneumonia to another, the pulmonologist considered giving me antibiotics continually.
Then Marjorie advised me to switch from cow's milk to soy milk. Shortly before, I had been on vacation abroad, where I had hardly consumed any milk. During that trip, my lung symptoms were less of an issue. So, I decided to give it a try.
The milk I drank with my breakfast and lunch is now soy milk. And the dessert at dinner is also a soy product.
How am I doing now? Good!
That switch from cow's milk to soy made me have much less phlegm and much frequent pneumonia. The infections of the past did cause damage to my lungs. The inhaler I use help to get the lungs more open. I feel less tired as a result.
I have now been retired for several years. The stress of my job is gone. I like to be outside. I walk and bike a lot, so my fitness is better now, too. These lifestyle changes help further improve my overall well-being.
Due to the pandemic, I haven't had a lung function test for a while, but a recent examination showed that my lung capacity has declined just little over the past few years.
Recently did I drink some dairy drinking yogurt, then I immediately noticed more mucus. Not only in my mouth or throat, but also in my lungs.
I experience the change from dairy to soy products as positive. Although I leave everyone free to make their own choices, I like to tell others, who are in a similar situation as me, that it helped me a lot to stop drinking cow's milk."
Research on milk and COPD
As indicated, a causal link between an allergy to cow's milk and increased mucus production in the respiratory tract cannot be conclusively demonstrated. What a 2010 study does show is that through several intermediate steps, cow's milk consumption can indeed lead to increased sputum production. The breakdown of milk produces the substance beta-casomorphin-7. This substance stimulates certain glands in the intestines to produce mucus. If beta-casomorphine-7 is absorbed into the blood stream, it could trigger the same type of glands in the lungs to excrete excessive mucus. Possibly the presence of inflammation in the airways is an additional condition in this. All these different factors may cause a portion of people to notice that many of their symptoms improve when they omit dairy from their diet.
More nutritional advice
More studies have been done on the relationship between nutrition and COPD. I would like to share some dietary recommendations that are not often found in guidelines for people with COPD.
Eat more fruit and vegetables
Take an extra portion of vegetables and/or fruit daily. If you don't yet have COPD, it reduces the chances of you developing it. In those who do have COPD, it reduces the risk of dying from the condition. Research suggests that increasing foods with antioxidants may be associated with improved lung function.
Take less meat
Cured meat, such as ham and salami, among others, increase the risk of developing COPD, worsen lung function and increase the risk of hospitalization.
The nitrite in these meats can damage lung tissue resulting in emphysema.
Soy Protects
Tofu and soy milk protects against shortness of breath. A Japanese study looked at the relationship between COPD and soy consumption. The more soy products, such as tempeh, tofu and soy drink, people consumed, the lower the risk of COPD and respiratory symptoms, especially shortness of breath.
More fiber
Research finds that a diet rich in fiber can reduce the risk of developing COPD and death from lung disease. A diet high in dietary fiber has been linked with less frequent productive coughing and better lung function.
Fiber is found in plant products: grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes (beans, soy, lentils). Animal-based foods do not contain fiber.
Disclaimer
The information in this blog is educational and general in nature. It is not a substitute for personal advice or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you have COPD, be well informed by an expert, such as a pulmonologist or dietitian, before making any changes to your diet.
Sources
- Prospective study of cured meats consumption and risk of COPD in men - Frequent cured meat consumption was associated independently with an obstructive pattern of lung function and increased odds of COPD. - Soy consumption and risk of COPD and respiratory symptoms: a case-control study in Japan
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