Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition in which a person is affected by multiple lung disorders. This is commonly due to the consumption of tobacco in its varied forms. While there is no cure as yet for this condition, it’s important to lead a normal life by controlling COPD. Some triggers of the symptoms make treatment cumbersome. And these seven foods must definitely be avoided by COPD patients.

Cured Meat
Cold cuts and cured meat are known to have a higher concentration of nitrates that are unhealthy for people in any way. These foods can aggravate the symptoms of COPD, causing the situation to worsen. Even for those who not have COPD, eating these foods could increase the risk of contracting this disease.

Sodium-rich Foods
The sodium present in the salt has a direct impact on the balance of electrolytes in our body, which ultimately signals it to retain or get rid of excess water depending on the levels of salts in the blood. High consumption of salt could lead to higher retention of water in the body. These foods can make it harder for the person to breathe and may even increase blood pressure.

Cruciferous Vegetables
While cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts are very good for your body and can provide a lot of fibers, they also tend to cause bloating in some individuals. This can result in acidity and make it difficult for COPD patients to breathe effectively. Hence, for such patients, it can be a good idea to avoid the consumption of such vegetables.

Dairy Products
Dairy products cause excess production of mucus in our respiratory tract as well as the intestines. This results in the thickening of the phlegm that needs to be coughed out of the body. This puts excessive strain on the lungs and the respiratory system in a patient suffering from COPD. Moreover, the lactose present in dairy products can also result in a lot of bloating, which causes difficulty in breathing.

Aerated Drinks
Another food group that causes bloating is aerated drinks. These are not good for the body due to a variety of reasons including its high-calorie content and the amount of carbon dioxide. These beverages could cause some difficulties in breathing for the patient.

Caffeine
Avoiding foods like chocolates, tea, and coffee becomes essential in the management of COPD. Caffeine can interfere with the medications prescribed to you by the doctors. Hence, it is better to replace them with non-caffeinated beverages to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day.

Fried Food
Foods processed with excess oils can be extremely difficult for the body to digest. Moreover, this process could also result in bloating since unsaturated fats present in oil take longer for the body to digest due to which they stick around in our digestive system longer than other food. Excess consumption of fried foods could also result in weight gain, which may up stressing your diaphragm and cause breathing difficulties.