Chapter 6 K
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.