Facts

• Asthma is a growing problem amongst Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 23 million people in the United States are suffering from asthma, with 12 million of those people having had an asthma attack within the last year. This chronic disease inflames the airways, causing them to narrow. Asthma can be a deadly condition if the symptoms are not properly managed.
  
  

Beneficial Foods

• Foods rich in vitamin C can help keep asthma symptoms at bay. These foods include: strawberries, kiwi fruits, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, watercress, green peppers, cauliflower, raw cabbage, parsley, brussel sprouts, squash, broccoli and spinach. Vitamin B6 can also benefit you greatly when it comes to your symptoms. Foods rich in vitamin B6 are: liver, cod, turkey, hazelnuts, peanuts, cashews, chicken, pork, beef, potatoes, bacon, fortified breakfast cereals, wheat germ and wheat bran. Oher foods that will help keep you symptom free are: figs, honey, bitter gourd roots, garlic, bishop's weed, safflower, raw onion, salmon, mackeral, Brazil nuts, oysters and halibut.
  
  

Foods to Avoid

• Just as certain foods can keep your asthma flareups down, there are certain foods that can make you more prone to an attack. Food allergies can cause problems with asthma sufferers. Some foods that are known to cause allergies are: nuts, shellfish, fish, soy, dairy products and eggs. Sulfites are food preservatives and can cause an adverse reaction in asthma patients. Sulfites include: bottled lemon or lime juice, wine, beer, dried fruits, dried vegetables, pickled foods, shrimp and processed foods. If sulfites affect you, pay special attention to the labels while you're grocery shopping and avoid foods that have these ingredients: sodium sulfite, potassium bisulfite, sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and potassium metabisulfite. A diet high in salt also causes problems with asthma patients. According to MicroNutra Health Journal, more than 75 percent of salt consumed by Americans comes from processed foods, which contain sulfites and can trigger asthma symptoms. Heartburn can also bring on symptoms, so avoid foods that aggravate acid reflux, such as: chocolate, fatty foods, carbonated beverages, tomato sauce, caffeine, mint, onions and spicy foods. Be sure to eat smaller meals, as large meals can cause heartburn, which in turn causes asthma flare-ups.