EATING RIGHT WITH COPD
Tips on easing mealtime difficulties
BY:MARGARET FARLEY STEELE
Many individuals with COPD become malnourished because they lose interest in food or lack the energy to eat, says Karen Novak, a registered dietitian and nutrition educator at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT. But helping your loved one with COPD maintain proper body weight with a diet rich in vitamins and minerals is important, she says. Someone too thin will lack energy and resistance to disease, while excess weight further strains the heart and lungs, which compromises breathing.
To ease breathing difficulties and avoid infection in those with COPD, Novak suggests these mealtime tips:
Offer a varied diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Such foods are rich in antioxidants, which enhance lung function.
Keep the calorie content up with nutrient-dense foods. Avoid snacks that lack nutritional value.
Serve six small meals rather than three large ones. Feeling too full makes one feel short of breath.
Provide fluids to thin mucus. Eight cups daily, served between meals, should help allow the mucus to be coughed up more easily.
Serve the main meal early for all-day energy.
Formulate a healthy eating plan with a dietitian or physician.
Keep meals relaxing. A calm, attractive setting helps one, quite literally, breathe easier.
Reduce salt intake. It causes water retention, which makes breathing more difficult.
Avoid foods that cause gas or bloating, such as apples, avocado, beans, broccoli, cabbage, melon and soda.
Continue oxygen use during and after meals to ease digestion.
Have your loved one rest between bites. Chewing can be exhausting if it interferes with breathing, so cut portions into small bites or serve soft foods.
Avoid meals that are too hot or cold. Excessive temperatures can trigger coughing.
For more caregiving advice for those caring for someone with COPD, check Caring Today's COPD Caregiver Guide.