Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWaterCaffeinated DrinksTomato JuiceMilkHerbal TeaOrange JuiceDrinks to AvoidAdditional Remedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Water
Caffeinated Drinks
Tomato Juice
Milk
Herbal Tea
Orange Juice
Drinks to Avoid
Additional Remedies
Healthcare providers may recommend certain drinks for asthma symptoms. Water can prevent dehydration that can triggerasthma attacks. Other beverages can prevent flare-ups, including caffeinated beverages that open the airways, teas that reduce inflammation, and juices rich in essential vitamins.
While the best treatments for asthma include avoidance of triggers, drinking certain beverages in appropriate amounts may support your overall health as well as prevent asthma attacks.
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Our bodies are made up of 55% to 60% water, and it has many roles in making sure the body is functioning optimally.Protecting against an asthma attack is one of the benefits of increasing your water intake.
The following are specific ways water is good for people with asthma:
What Is Asthma?
Some studies suggest that consumption of caffeinated drinks may reduce the risk of developing asthma and recurrent asthma symptoms. Caffeine has a temporary effect on the lungs and is said to be a weakbronchodilator, which means it relaxes (dilates) the airways to help you breathe easier.
Caffeinated beverages may include:
In one large study, researchers examined the relationship between caffeine consumption and asthma.They concluded that consuming one cup of coffee one to two times per day may have protective effects against asthma. Researchers believe that the coffee benefits are related tomethylxanthines, agents found in caffeine that have a bronchodilator effect.
This study did not find similar benefits from other caffeinated beverages such as soda and caffeinated teas. The fact that coffee can contain two to eight times as much caffeine as these other beverages may make it more effective at preventing asthma.
Monitoring Caffeine IntakeIt is important tolimit how much caffeine you consumeeach day.Too much caffeine can cause reflux disease or heartburn, which may trigger asthma and contribute to more frequent asthma symptoms and exacerbations.Caffeine can also cause sleep disruptions, increased heart rate, irritability, and headaches.Children 12 to 18 are at greater risk of side effects and should limit their intake to 100 mg per day while children under 12 should avoid caffeine altogether.
Monitoring Caffeine Intake
It is important tolimit how much caffeine you consumeeach day.Too much caffeine can cause reflux disease or heartburn, which may trigger asthma and contribute to more frequent asthma symptoms and exacerbations.Caffeine can also cause sleep disruptions, increased heart rate, irritability, and headaches.Children 12 to 18 are at greater risk of side effects and should limit their intake to 100 mg per day while children under 12 should avoid caffeine altogether.
It is important tolimit how much caffeine you consumeeach day.
Too much caffeine can cause reflux disease or heartburn, which may trigger asthma and contribute to more frequent asthma symptoms and exacerbations.
Caffeine can also cause sleep disruptions, increased heart rate, irritability, and headaches.
Children 12 to 18 are at greater risk of side effects and should limit their intake to 100 mg per day while children under 12 should avoid caffeine altogether.
While caffeinated beverages can ease some asthma symptoms, it is not used to treat asthma and should not replace your regular asthma treatment plan.
Tomato juice is rich in vitamins A and C. One cup of tomato juice typically has about 20% to 42% of your daily needs of vitamin A and 60% of your daily vitamin C needs.
While tomato juice does not have the fiber found in whole tomatoes, a 4-ounce serving is considered one serving of vegetables. Researchers examined immune responses and found that diets rich in fruits and vegetables had a protective effect on lung inflammation and may be protective against asthma.
Dairy beverages, like cow’s milk, have beneficial nutrients (protein, magnesium, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D). A study of more than 11,000 patients found that lifelong milk consumption was beneficial in asthma.
Unless you have an allergy to milk and other dairy products, which can be confirmed with skin or blood testing, dairy products do not need to be avoided.
Drinking Vitamin DVitamin Dhas been shown to support a healthy immune system and may reduce airway inflammation.Vitamin D supplementationmay reduce the need forcorticosteroidtreatments during an attack.This may mean that drinking beverages with vitamin D, such as vitamin D-fortified milk, could ease asthma symptoms.However, the preliminary research only looked at people deficient in vitamin D. More research is needed.
Drinking Vitamin D
Vitamin Dhas been shown to support a healthy immune system and may reduce airway inflammation.Vitamin D supplementationmay reduce the need forcorticosteroidtreatments during an attack.This may mean that drinking beverages with vitamin D, such as vitamin D-fortified milk, could ease asthma symptoms.However, the preliminary research only looked at people deficient in vitamin D. More research is needed.
Vitamin Dhas been shown to support a healthy immune system and may reduce airway inflammation.Vitamin D supplementationmay reduce the need forcorticosteroidtreatments during an attack.
This may mean that drinking beverages with vitamin D, such as vitamin D-fortified milk, could ease asthma symptoms.
However, the preliminary research only looked at people deficient in vitamin D. More research is needed.
There are many different kinds of tea, and many contain uniquenatural medicinal propertiesthat can be beneficial to people with asthma.
There is very little evidence to support using these herbal remedies in teas to treat or prevent asthma. Discuss the benefit with your healthcare provider and confirm that there are no contraindications for using these teas.
Orange juice may offer people with asthma a special benefit that comes with avitamin C boost.
Vitamin C is one of thevitamins recognized as important for asthmamanagement. Some studies suggest that vitamin C may help stop the narrowing of the airways after physical activity.While more research is needed, increasing your intake of vitamin C, which is easy with a glass of OJ, may work to prevent or treatexercise-induced asthma.
Drinks to Avoid for Asthma
There are certain beverages that can make asthma worse or have been associated with an increased risk of developing asthma. However, consuming these beverages does not mean you will develop asthma.
Additional Remedies for Asthma
Complimentary oralternative therapiesand lifestyle modifications (exercise, limiting triggers, smoking cessation) may also help to prevent symptoms. Eating a diet rich in certain foods (such as fruits and vegetables) is associated with a lower risk of asthma and may reduce asthma severity and symptoms.
Which Fruits Are Best for Asthma?While a fruit beverage offers benefits for asthma, studies also show that eating nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables, especially apples and oranges, can reduce the risk of developing asthma.In children, bananas may also prevent asthma symptoms and improve lung function.
Which Fruits Are Best for Asthma?
While a fruit beverage offers benefits for asthma, studies also show that eating nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables, especially apples and oranges, can reduce the risk of developing asthma.In children, bananas may also prevent asthma symptoms and improve lung function.
While a fruit beverage offers benefits for asthma, studies also show that eating nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables, especially apples and oranges, can reduce the risk of developing asthma.
In children, bananas may also prevent asthma symptoms and improve lung function.
Summary
Asthma is a common lung condition that presents differently in individuals. Some types of beverages have been associated with a decreased risk of developing asthma and reducing symptoms. However, this will be very individualized.
Some drinks that may help with asthma include water, orange juice, tomato juice, teas, and coffee. For some people, consuming beverages on the avoid list (alcohol and sugary drinks) infrequently may not have any effect on asthma risk. Your asthma treatment plan should be customized to your needs. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
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