Nutrition plays a big role in maintaining healthy lungs. For some people, especially those dealing with respiratory disease, certain foods or ingredients can trigger a symptom flare-up, requiring immediate medical attention. Therefore, being vigilant about one’s eating habits and trigger foods is necessary. To help you, here are six top foods that could be worse for the lungs and cause breathing difficulties.

1. Cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables cause excessive gas and bloating. These include veggies like cabbage, broccoli, radish, and cauliflower. While one is encouraged to include these vegetables in their regular food regime, their propensity for bloating is a huge concern for anyone dealing with breathing problems.

2. Dairy
Dairy is worse for lungs for anyone with respiratory issues. It is known to increase mucus production, causing inflamed tissues in the respiratory tract that lead to breathing difficulties. Look out for symptoms like excessive phlegm, sinus irritation, and stuffy nose on consuming dairy. Consult your doctor on alternate food for similar nutrition.

3. Fried foods
Just like some vegetables like broccoli, fried foods too can cause bloating and lead to discomfort in breathing. It is no surprise that fried foods have unhealthy fats that are responsible for increasing bad cholesterol levels in the body. Unhealthy fats can also be worse for the lungs as they can increase the risk of phlegm accumulation. There are several alternatives to fried foods these days. However, it is best to eliminate fried foods from daily meals completely.

4. Salt
Excessive salt is never a good idea. Not only does it lead to lung issues, but it also increases blood pressure, leading to cardiovascular problems. Salt is also responsible for causing water retention that can leak fluid into the lungs. This can be harmful if a patient is already suffering from respiratory issues.

5. Carbonated drinks
Beverages like sodas, cold drinks, beer, or sparkling cider are simply sources of unhealthy weight gain and excessive bloating. This can put unnecessary pressure on the lungs, leading to several health issues. Not only are these beverages highly carbonated, but also they have high amounts of sugar, making them a bad choice for overall health.

6. Ingredients to avoid
Sulfites and salicylates are the two primary ingredients that can trigger symptoms in people already suffering from breathing problems. Sulfites are found in shrimp, alcohol, lime juice, and even in some pickled foods. For some people, red wine can be a trigger, so it is important to be observant of what one is consuming. Salicylates are found in tea, coffee, and even in some herbs and spices.

It is advisable to speak to your doctor and get a definitive list of foods and ingredients that are safe to consume on a daily basis.