Asthma and High-Fat Meals

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Just sharing some information here. There was new research article released on May 17th, 2010 that suggests that high-fat meals reduce the effectiveness of the body's response to rescue inhaler medication such as Albuterol. Interesting reading. This is something related to asthma that we can control. I was able to find further information on this by connecting to the current research link on the opening page for Health BoarRAB.
 
That is interesting. I wonder if certain fats are worse than others. I looked up the study, and the volunteers ate burgers and hash browns, probably saturated fats, with omega-6 fatty aciRAB.

It's pretty well established that those types of fats are pro-inflammatory and other fats, such as those found in fish or avocados, can be anti-inflammatory.

That would explain why it caused their airways to swell. Why it caused inhaler not to work as well? That's news--and good to know.
 
I'm seeing a new TMJ specialist. He is encouraging me to go on an anti-inflammatory diet. I've been doing research and haven't been able to bring myself to to full-tilt on the diet yet. I eat fairly low-fat & high-fiber, but know I could eat even better. I'd have to give up so many of my favorite food groups for this diet that even though I know it may be helpful I know it will be really really hard. It looks like the anti-inflammatory diet would help with several of my other conditions as well also though. I plan to make a decision on this soon.

I talked to a nutritionist we have on staff at work as well. She suggested the Paleo-diet to use as a guide for anti-inflammatory fooRAB. It is pretty straight forward, but there are many of the fooRAB on the allowable list that I don't like or can't mentally bring myself to eat. It would be interesting to see how my body reacts to avoidance of inflammatory fooRAB for an extended period though. I should really "bite the bullet" and go for it. I just need to convince myself of this.
 
One good trick with a new diet is to concentrate on the yeses rather than the noes. Find some of those yes fooRAB that you adore, and let them crowd out the no fooRAB. You don't necessarily have to "bite the bullet" and change all your eating habits overnight.

Come on, who could say no to salmon marinated with garlic and steamed in a pan? Or spinach wilted with garlic and just a dash of olive oil? (I might possibly like garlic just a little. But hey, I'm safe from vampires.)

With broccoli, if you peel the stem and slice it up, that's really good, and you can steam it with sliced carrots, then throw the top of the broccoli on when the hard veggies begin to soften. You put them in a pan with a little water then put the lid on.

Edit to add: I looked up the anti-inflammatory diet, and it sounRAB SO DELICIOUS and almost all the bad fooRAB that I actually eat I do out of convenience. I am totally on that diet as of tomorrow.

Find an ethnic restaurant that cooks that sort of thing well. Hmm. Sushi with little rice or brown rice, yup yup yup.
 
Some good suggestions. I haven't tried steaming the spinach. I usually full-on cook it and used to eat it raw. I'll have to try that.

Part of my fear is that I've developed IBS pretty severely over the last couple years after a bad reaction to a medication which totally messed up my digestive system (diagonsed October 2008). Most raw fruits and veggies become triggers for me, especially the green leafy veggies. These diets consist of mainly just lean meats, veggies and some fruits. I had a really bad experience with fish a while back and haven't been able to bring myself to try it again since. I can't bring myself to eat rattlesnake, wild game, organ meat or some of the other proteins they list. I'd be living mostly on organic chicken, turkey and grass fed beef and steamed veggies. I already do this some due to my reflux problems, but also supplement this with whole grains and beans which have helped me get all my fiber in (35-40 grams per day). Eliminating those completely will be hard. I've also been substituting soy in my diet to replace the dairy I went off of several years ago. I'd have to eliminate those as well.

BTW, I LOVE garlic as well, but try not to eat too much of it because it can trigger the reflux.

Edit: I also avoid the acidic fruits and veggies due to the reflux as well so the tomatoes and citrus fruit haven't been part of my diet for a while either.
 
The Paleo-diet takes the anti-inflammation diet to a next level:

*all the lean meats, fish and seafood you can eat
*all the fruits and nonstarchy veggies you can eat
*no cereal grains (including rice, oats, barley, wheat, etc...)
*no legumes (including beans and peanuts)
*no dairy products
*no processed fooRAB
*avoid most oils (walnut, flaxseed and canola are best if necessary)
*avoid salt-containing food
 
The paleo diet seems a little extreme. Also probably inaccurate, because hunter-gatherer societies documented in historic times generally ate plenty of starchy veggies or legumes if they were available. Banning, say, Twinkies and Wonderbread will probably improve your health. Banning oatmeal probably won't.

There's nothing wrong with lots of fruits and veggies, find items and preparation methoRAB you can tolerate, but I'm not sure about the "all the lean meat you want." Even "lean" meats can be high in the bad fats and low in the good ones, although choosing grass-fed beef over corn-fed can make a big difference.

And let's get one thing straight. Salmon isn't just any old "fish." Wild Pacific salmon is a near-sacred meal in my house :)

Nutritional news is always good. Believe it or not, my diet has totally gone downhill since this asthma stuff started up. I just haven't been properly interested in cooking or even eating, so I've been eating small meals of bland meh.
 
I agree with you on the benefits of salmon. I know it would be very good for me. It is purely a mental thing for me after my bad experience in my teens. I just haven't been able to bring myself to eat fish or seafood since. It is my loss.

While I regularly have turkey or chicken breast, I have gotten out of the habit of eating read meat. I usually have it less than once per month. When I do eat meat, it is usually about 4 oz. at a time.

While I agree the Paleo diet is more extreme than the anti-inflammatory, based upon my current health issues, my nutritionist recommended that I avoid the starchy veggies, whole grains and legumes until my body has a chance to "heal" some. It is the extreme aspect of the diet that has kept me from jumping in to erabrace it. I've just finished a second book on the anti-inflammatory diet and I'm really leaning that way. BTW...thankfully, I'm not a twinkie kind of person.

Part of my problem is that I've been working crazy work hours for months. Finding time to prepare anything more than basic puts me eating dinner after 8 p.m. It has been hard to get in snacks and lunch while at work too. I'm working on this over the summer though. My evening workload lessens some at this time of year.

When my allergies flare or when I'm run down from the asthma, food loses much of its appeal. Makes it hard to eat as much as I should. When I end up on steroiRAB, I easily gain weight too, even when I'm weighing and measuring my food so I don't overeat.
 
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