- With Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist
James T. Li, M.D.
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James T. Li, M.D.
James T. Li, M.D.
"People with allergy or asthma can lead full and healthy lives." — Dr. James Li
Dr. Li is chair of the Division of Allergic Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine and a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist. He hopes his expertise and the information on the site educates health care consumers in an area of rapid change both in medications and diagnoses.
"There are a lot of misperceptions about allergy and asthma," says Dr. Li, a New York City native who has been with Mayo since 1985 and works with a group of subspecialists in allergy, asthma and immunology. "I believe it's important to provide truthful, accurate information about allergy and asthma to the public. The more people know, the better they can take care of these conditions."
Dr. Li is a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is a past director of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and is a director of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. He is a fellow in the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and is a director of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology honored him with the Distinguished Service Award and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology with its Special Recognition Award.
Symptoms (2)
- Asthma without wheezing: Is this possible?
- Vocal cord dysfunction: Is it a type of asthma?
Tests and diagnosis (1)
- Reactive airway disease: Is it asthma?
Lifestyle and home remedies (3)
- Ozone air purifiers: Can they improve asthma symptoms?
- Asthma diet: What you eat can affect asthma symptoms
- Asthma: Why are symptoms worse during my period?
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Question
Asthma diet: What you eat can affect asthma symptoms
Can foods I eat affect my asthma symptoms?
Answer
from James T. Li, M.D.
More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between diet and asthma, but it appears that what you eat can have an effect on your symptoms. Unfortunately, there's no specific asthma diet that will eliminate all of your symptoms or cure your asthma. But eating certain foods — and avoiding others — may help reduce the airway reaction (inflammation) that leads to asthma symptoms. The best asthma diet involves eating foods that promote a healthy immune system and avoiding foods that seem to worsen your symptoms. When it comes to keeping asthma under control, no asthma diet is a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a doctor, but here are a few things that might help:
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These are a good source of antioxidants such as beta carotene and vitamins C and E as well as other nutrients that boost the immune system. While a multivitamin or supplement pill may help you get enough of these nutrients, the best source is a varied and healthy diet.
- Get a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids. Found in fish, flaxseed and other foods, these healthy oils may reduce the inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms.
- Avoid saturated fat. Saturated fats, such as found in red meats and butter, may cause an immune system response that leads to asthma symptoms.
- Cut back on salt. High sodium levels may aggravate the immune response that causes asthma symptoms.
Asthma: Why are symptoms worse during my period?
- Mickleborough TD. A nutrition approach to managing exercise-induced asthma. Exercise Sport Science Review. 2008;36:135.
- Smit HA, et al. Dietary influences on chronic obstructive lung disease and asthma: A review of the epidemiological evidence. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 1999;58:309.
- Romieu I, et al. Diet and obstructive lung diseases. Epidemiologic Reviews. 2001:23:268.
- Denny S, et al. Dietary factors in the pathogenesis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports. 2003;3:130.
