If you or a loved one is living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may wonder whether certain foods can influence it. Although diet doesn’t cause COPD, some foods may contribute to symptoms such as extra gas, bloating, or fluid retention, which can put pressure on the lungs. Eating the right foods can also support weight management, which is a factor in COPD.

Everyone’s COPD treatment plan is different, which is why it’s essential to consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian. But there are daily nutrition routines that can decrease strain on the lungs, help meet your nutrient needs, support the immune system, and reduce the risk of other health issues that may complicate your condition.

Certain foods can make breathing more difficult for people with COPD by increasing bloating, fluid retention, or metabolic effort (the energy your body uses to digest food). While everybody is unique and has different responses to foods, limiting the foods listed below may help reduce discomfort and support easier breathing.

1. Fried Foods

Fried foods like french fries, fried chicken, and onion rings are high in fat, and they can slow down digestion, leading to bloating and breathing difficulties. The high fat and calorie content can also lead to weight gain when eaten in excess. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for managing COPD.

2. Processed Meat

Processed meats include hot dogs, deli meats like ham, and bacon. These meats have additives that help extend their shelf life. However, they may cause symptoms for people with COPD. Nitrates are additives found in processed meats. Certain lung conditions can worsen from eating a lot of these additives. Processed meats are also high in sodium (salt), which can make COPD symptoms worse.

3. Soda and Carbonated Waters

Soda or carbonated beverages have carbon dioxide added to create bubbles. These can increase bloating and make it harder to breathe. Sugary sodas also contain empty calories (calories with minimal nutrient value). Whether your COPD goal is to lose, gain, or maintain weight, it’s important to fuel your body with more nutrient-dense foods to support a healthy immune system.

The carbon dioxide in sodas and carbonated beverages can increase bloating and make it harder to breathe.

4. Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables include cauliflower, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and arugula. Although these vegetables are high in disease-preventing nutrients and are beneficial for overall wellness, they may not be the best for people living with COPD. That’s because their high fiber content may lead to symptoms like bloating and indigestion, and possibly breathing troubles. Rather than cutting these vegetables out of your diet completely, try eating them in smaller portions.

5. Salty Snacks

One goal of a healthy COPD diet is to decrease salty snacks like canned soups, olives, and salted popcorn. Check the labels of your favorite processed or packaged snacks and aim for no more than 300 milligrams per serving. Too much salt may lead to water retention and higher blood pressure, both of which can put more strain on your breathing.

6. Dairy Products

When dairy products are broken down in your body, a byproduct called casomorphine is produced. This may increase phlegm and mucus production in some people. The body’s natural response is to cough it out, but for people with COPD, this can cause unpleasant symptoms like coughing and wheezing. If you find that dairy increases your symptoms, limit your intake of dairy products like cheese, milk, and ice cream.

Foods To Incorporate in a COPD Diet

When your body metabolizes (breaks down) food for energy, it produces carbon dioxide that must be exhaled. For people living with COPD, breathing takes more energy, and their muscles may use 10 times more calories to breathe compared to someone without COPD. This increases their need for calories.

It takes someone with COPD 10 times more calories to breathe compared to someone without COPD.

Calories come from macronutrients, including fats, protein, and carbohydrates. When carbohydrates are metabolized, more carbon dioxide is created, while fat produces less. Focusing on more fats and smaller amounts of carbohydrates may help make breathing easier.

Because calorie and macronutrient needs vary, especially if weight gain or loss is a goal, it’s best to work with a dietitian to find the right balance for you.

Carbohydrates

Choose high-quality carbohydrates to support your energy and overall health, such as complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

If you need to lose weight, it may be beneficial to aim for more fruits and vegetables than breads and pastas.

If you need to gain or maintain weight, include a variety of whole grains along with fruits and vegetables. Limit simple sugars from candy, baked goods, and sugary drinks.

Proteins

Getting enough protein is important for people living with COPD because protein supports and maintains the strength of respiratory (lung) muscles. Aim to include at least two healthy protein sources per day, such as:

• Milk and other dairy products (if tolerated), such as yogurt or cheese
• Eggs
• Lean meat and poultry, such as skinless chicken, turkey, or lean cuts of beef or pork
• Fish, such as salmon, tuna, or cod
• Nuts
• Beans

If weight loss is your goal, focus on lean proteins and low-fat dairy or tofu. If you need to gain or maintain weight, it’s OK to enjoy higher-fat options like whole milk, full-fat yogurt, and cheese.

Fats

For an overall healthy diet when living with COPD, pick healthy fats that are plant-based and contain mono- and polyunsaturated fats. It’s recommended to reduce saturated and trans fats like hydrogenated vegetable oils, lard, fried foods, and fats found in processed foods like cookies and crackers, for overall health.

Fluids

Hydration is especially important when living with COPD because fluids keep mucus thinner and easier to clear out of the lungs. A general goal is 6 to 8 cups (8 fluid ounces) of fluids per day, but it’s essential that you check with your doctor for specific recommendations. Just make sure to hydrate throughout the day rather than all at once to prevent bloating or shortness of breath.

Vitamins and Minerals

A balanced diet, rich in essential vitamins and minerals, can support immune function and lung health. Foods known to enhance immunity include:

• Fatty fish (salmon, trout, and mackerel)
• Citrus fruits
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Leafy greens such as spinach

Consistently including a variety of these in your diet nourishes the body with immune-supporting nutrients and may reduce the risk of more severe illness.

Eating Tips for COPD Flare-Ups

If you find yourself short of breath or tired when eating, or during a flare-up, some mealtime adjustments can make eating more comfortable.

• Sit upright when you eat, and chew slowly, taking small bites with pauses for deep breathing.
• Try eating earlier in the day when your energy levels are higher. Many people with COPD find this helpful.
• Split up your meals into four to six smaller meals instead of large ones to allow your diaphragm to move more freely and make breathing easier.

Split up your meals into four to six smaller meals instead of large ones to allow your diaphragm to move more freely and make breathing easier.

Consult Your Healthcare Provider About Nutrition and COPD

No one diet or food impacts everyone with COPD in the same way. It’s important to eat a healthy and balanced diet to support your overall health. The best way to do this is by working with your doctor and a registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in COPD. They can give advice on what to eat and what to avoid with COPD according to your preferences, current health conditions, and specific dietary needs.

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Which foods do you avoid to prevent COPD symptoms? Let others know in the comments below.