Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease in which a patient’s airways become inflamed and narrow. Asthma can lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and excess mucus production. While doctors often recommend asthma prescription medications and inhalers to manage asthma—using a quiet pure air filter for asthma to reduce airborne irritants at home, and avoiding the following common asthma food triggers can also significantly help:

1. Citrus fruits and tomatoes
Acidic foods like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and tomatoes may trigger asthma attacks. When you are allergic to a food item, your body releases histamines as part of the immune system’s inflammatory response. Histamines cause blood vessels to dilate and airways to constrict. If you already have a narrowing of your airways, as in the case of asthma, this can lead to symptoms such as wheezing or coughing.

2. Lunch meats and cured meats
Cold cuts such as bologna, pepperoni, or salami contain lots of sodium nitrite (220-700 milligrams) per serving. A study from the journal Chest found that sodium nitrites, plentiful in deli and cured meats, can trigger asthma attacks in patients with existing food allergies or asthma. Sodium nitrite is commonly used to preserve meat products, so you’ll likely find it in cured meats like bacon, hot dogs, pepperoni and sausages, and other deli meats. 

3. Milk, cheese, and butter
Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter contain the protein casein. Casein (or milk protein) may set off an allergic reaction in asthma patients who are already allergic to milk derived from animals, particularly cows. Avoiding these animal based milk products or opting for plant-based milk alternatives may help reduce the likelihood of a severe asthma attack.

4. Soda and sparkling water
Soda and other carbonated beverages are often recommended to asthmatics because they open up the airways to help relieve symptoms. But this may not always be the case. Studies have found that consuming such beverages can result in severe asthma attacks in some people. This is because carbonation can cause the airways to spasm and constrict. So if you already have asthma, steer clear or moderate any carbonated drinks.

5. Sodium rich condiments and snacks
Salty foods such as olives, pickles, and nuts may worsen asthma symptoms. From the journal Chest, researchers believe that salicylates, a natural plant-based chemical in these foods, might contribute to asthma attacks and inflammation. In other words, these foods contain too much sodium and may trigger a severe immune reaction when you react to them.

Asthma is a chronic disease. The best thing you can do to manage it is to take control of your symptoms by avoiding trigger foods such as red meat, citrus, dairy products, salt, acidic foods, and beverages. Pass on the carbonated drinks too. Please, always consult your doctor before trying any asthma prescription medications or natural treatment options for asthma.