What You Eat May Trigger an Asthma Attack

Foods Linked to Common Allergens Can Trigger a Flare-Up

Many asthma symptoms are brought on by exposure to an allergen, such as pollen, dust and even food. This can make it difficult to determine whether your symptoms are triggered by what you’re eating or by what you’re being exposed to. Here are a few foods that may trigger asthma symptoms:

Eggs
Allergies to egg are common. Possible consequences to eating eggs include asthma symptoms or skin reactions.

Peanuts
Research has found that children who are allergic to peanuts tend to develop asthma sooner. In addition, those kids were more likely to be hospitalized and need steroids. If you have a reaction to eating peanuts, it could also mean that you have more allergies, especially to grass, weeds, cats, dust mites and tree pollen.

Shellfish
As the third most common allergy, shellfish is one that people don’t tend to grow out of. Avoid crab, crayfish, lobster, and shrimp dishes. Scallops, oysters, clams and mussels might cause fewer reactions. Beware of hidden shellfish in fish stock and other seafood products.

Salt
Fluid retention can contribute to inflammation; and salt can cause fluid retention. This can cause tightening of the airways and promote asthma symptoms. The less inflammation in your body, the easier you will breathe. Watch your salt intake by decreasing the amount of restaurant or processed foods you eat to help keep levels low.

Wine
Wine can trigger asthma attacks in some people. This could be due to the presence of sulfites, a preservative that is also found in dried fruit and shrimp. It could also be the alcohol itself, though this isn’t definitive.