Here’s How Food Fits into COPD Management

What we eat affects every system in our bodies, including the respiratory system. Here’s a guide to eating well with COPD.

After you’ve been diagnosed with COPD, it may be the first time you’ve seriously thought about how your nutrition impacts your daily well-being.

At least, that’s the case for a client of dietitian Karolin Saweres, MS, RDN, LD, of My Nutrition and Me outside Cincinnati.

Someone living with COPD recently came to her with no nutrition education, she says. With this blank slate, this person was motivated to see Saweres due to lack of energy and inability to gain weight. Now, he and Saweres are working together to identify what’s best (and worst) for him to put on his plate.

Whether you relate to this person or have had numerous one-on-ones with a registered dietitian (RD) for COPD, there’s always more to learn about how your diet affects your condition.

Here’s what to know about nutrition and COPD:

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What does nutrition have to do with COPD?

We often think of our diet affecting very specific major organs — the heart, for example, or perhaps the liver. But what we eat affects every system in the body, including the respiratory system.

Though a healthy diet can’t cure COPD, the American Lung Association suggests eating a diet with fewer carbs and more fat may help you breathe easier.

Specifically, some of your top concerns probably include shortness of breath and low energy levels. Certain foods, like those with high carbohydrates, can create more carbon dioxide (CO2) in your lungs, making it harder to breathe. By lowering your carbs, you may lower your body’s CO2 production — ultimately helping you breathe easier.

Meanwhile, other food choices can help boost your energy.

“Maintaining adequate nutrition (generally considered a high energy intake) is linked to shortness of breath (dyspnea) improvements,” says Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN, of Nutrition Digested. “Improvements in dyspnea can positively influence quality of life.”

Other factors like staying hydrated and eating smaller, more frequent meals can impact how you feel daily.

What to eat

First, consider chatting with a doctor or dietitian about how diet can address your concerns if you haven’t already. In general, though, a COPD-friendly diet includes plenty of protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and total calories.

Protein

The American Lung Association recommends eating protein at least twice a day — like milk, eggs, cheese, meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and dried beans or peas. You might need more protein than someone without COPD.

If you’re trying to lose weight, they suggest choosing low fat sources of protein, like lean meats and low fat dairy products. If you’re looking to gain weight, they recommend choosing proteins with higher fat content, such as whole milk, whole cheese, and yogurt.

Complex carbs

For COPD, it’s best not to overdo it on carbs since they create the carbon dioxide that makes breathing more challenging. When you do include carbs, focus on the complex kind that keeps you full, such as:

• whole wheat bread and pasta
• brown rice
• oats
• beans and lentils
• leafy greens
• root vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes

Healthy fats

Healthy fats like omega-3s and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats can help reduce inflammation, Saweres says. Look for foods with these fats, including:

• fatty fish like salmon and tuna
• nuts, such as walnuts, pistachios, and almonds
• seeds, including flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds

Total calories

You might notice that gaining weight may be challenging with COPD. You and your doctor can come up with an appropriate daily calorie target. It may be higher than you think.

“Often, weight loss, nutritional issues, and loss of skeletal muscle and function accompany COPD,” says Brownstein. “It is recommended that people with COPD maintain a BMI between 25 and 29.99, as this is associated with a lower mortality risk.”

What to avoid or limit

You’ll want to watch out for foods with a few red flags, like sodium, simple carbs, and foods that are labeled as ‘light.’ Here are some examples of each:

Sodium

Steer clear of high sodium foods like canned soups, processed lunch meats, and frozen meals, according to Saweres.

“Excessive sodium intake can lead to fluid retention, which contributes to swelling (edema) and worsening breathing difficulties,” says Saweres.

Simple carbs

Overdoing it on simple carbs like those in sugary beverages, pastries, white bread, and candies could create too much carbon dioxide. When this happens, your body has to work harder to get rid of it.

“Light” or “diet” foods

You can skip low or zero calorie “light” or “diet” foods like beverages, dressings, and sweets, according to Brownstein.

“These items do not provide enough calories for the increased energy needs of people with COPD,” says Brownstein. The energy you expend on eating them may not be worth their minimal nutritional yield.

Tips for cooking or meal planning

Whipping up a multi-course gourmet meal every evening may not be in the cards since your condition can quickly sap your energy. But, according to Brownstein, some convenient substitutions can help you do more with less.

“Frozen fruits and vegetables are quick and easy to prepare (simply microwave and enjoy) and help meet vitamin, mineral, and fiber needs,” she says. Similarly, quick- or no-cook packages of rice, pasta, beans, and canned fish can cut down on time and energy in the kitchen.

When making meals from scratch, keep sodium low by leaving the saltshaker off the table or choosing salt-free seasonings or blends.

“Try lemon juice, lime juice, or vinegar,” Saweres recommends. “Use dry or fresh herbs to add flavor.”

For between-meal eating, try stocking up on high calorie, high protein foods you can grab in a flash.

“Keep protein shakes or full-fat products on hand for quick and easy snacks that are filling and nutritionally dense,” Brownstein suggests.

These calorie-dense options aren’t just convenient. They’re also useful for eating meals more often — another of Brownstein’s tips for getting enough calories without overexerting yourself.

Takeaway

A COPD-friendly diet may look a little different for each person. Take it one day at a time, noting foods that might worsen your symptoms. Little by little, you’ll discover what works for you.