Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was on to something when he famously said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Foods can be used to fight, prevent and reverse disease. Here, adapted from my forthcoming book, The Healthiest Meals on Earth are some foods that are great for asthma.

1. Salmon:  The omega-3 fats in salmon (and other cold water fish) are anti-inflammatory. So are the omega-3’s in flaxseeds.  Asthmatics will benefit by having more anti-inflammatory compounds in their diet. Wild salmon fits the bill, as do sardines.
2. Spinach and kale: People with asthma tend to have lower levels of magnesium, and these foods are magnesium heavyweights. By one survey, over 70% of Americans don’t get the optimal amount of magnesium in their diet. Magnesium relaxes muscles (think Epson salts!) and may relax the upper respiratory muscles that tend to spasm in asthma.
3. Red peppers: They’re high in vitamin C, which is particularly helpful in reducing the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma. Like many asthma drugs, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) inhibits production of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase, and lowering levels of this enzyme has a broad range of anti-inflammatory effects.  Red peppers are also high in vitamin A, which is often low in people who suffer from asthma attacks.
4. Chinese cabbage: A great source of vitamin B6, a vitamin which appears to help correct abnormalities in metabolism frequently found in asthmatics. Stress is a big trigger for asthma, and vitamin B6 is a great “stress-buster”. Brewer’s yeast, bananas, garbanzo beans and chicken are other good sources.
5. Onions: Onions are another great source of anti-inflammatories, particularly the wonderful flavonoid quercetin, which has anti-allergic properties as well. (Quercetin is one of my favorite supplements for allergies and it has anti-cancer properties as well.) According to Dr. Alan Gaby, onions also contain compounds that relax the bronchial passageways.

Remember too that asthma attacks can be brought on by stress or by food sensitivities — common offenders include wheat and dairy products.

[Ed. note: Dr. Bowden is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition and health. He's a board certified nutrition specialist with a Master's degree in psychology. Dr. Bowden is also a life coach, motivational speaker, former personal trainer and author of the award-winning book, Living the Low Carb Life.  For more information, click here.]

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