ASTHMA
Asthma is an illness
from which about 5% of the population suffers in Finland. It is an
infection of the airways that makes breathing difficult. It may be
caused, for example, by pollen and animal dust, environmental
pollution, certain foods, food preservatives, ample use of salt, and
stress. In addition, it is found five times more often in industrial
countries than in developing countries; so we can assume that the
Western and greatly refined food is one factor that may cause asthma.
How can we then
prevent asthma or alleviate its symptoms? It has been found that some
ingredients in food are a bit more useful than others. The next
observations have been made, for example:
Fatty fish
can protect from asthma according to some studies. For example, in a
study done in the Cambridge University (770 voluntaries took part in
it), they found that
such people suffered
from asthma, who hadn't eaten fish at least twice a week.
However, there were also people who had eaten at least this amount,
and who did not suffer from asthma (Readers Digest 5 / 2004, p. 148).
The reason can be the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, because
they can decrease the contraction and infection of the airways. Plant
oils also contain some fatty acids.
Vitamins and minerals,
which we can get in abundance from fresh food, can be useful in
preventing asthma.
Important ingredients
are at least vitamin C (juice, oranges and citrus fruits, potato,
rutabaga, turnip, cabbages, strawberry, cloudberry, black currant,
sweet pepper...), vitamin E (plant oils, whole meal grain,
nuts, avocado, plant margarine, eggs...) and beta carotene
(carrot, tomato, cabbages, spinach, sweet pepper, parsley, apricot,
sweet potato...), which strengthen the immunity of the lungs and
the body and fight against free radicals that are the cause of many
diseases. We can get them from most fruits, berries, and vegetables.
In addition, vitamins
B6 and A and magnesium are useful in preventing asthma:
Vitamin B6
can be beneficial for those who suffer from asthma. According to some
studies, it can alleviate asthma that is caused by an infection of the
bronchus. It can be obtained, for example, from salmon and other fish,
banana, avocado, milk, eggs, whole meal grain, potato, nuts, and
beans.
Vitamin A
is important, because
its deficiency increases the risk of infection in the airways and
eyes. Generally, not much of it is needed, because the daily need can
be obtained already from one carrot (vitamin A comes from beta
carotene that a carrot contains). It can be also obtained from certain
milk products, eggs, margarine, and in the form of beta carotene from
sweet pepper, tomato, cabbage, and spinach. If it is obtained in the
form of beta carotene, there is no danger of an overdose.
Magnesium
can also be a necessary ingredient (according to some studies,
magnesium is useful also in the prevention of osteoporosis), because
according to a study made in the University of Nottingham in 1994,
those people whose magnesium level was low had the most asthma
attacks.
There is magnesium
for instance in whole meal grain, green vegetables, nuts, seeds,
banana, beans, peas, and blueberries.
