You might have never thought that the foods you eat may affect your breathing. However, eating, just like anything else in your body, requires oxygen. So breathing enough of oxygen while eating is necessary. Now, there are foods that may cause excess mucus production, spur allergic reactions, crowd your lung and diaphragm, and tax your lungs to overwork, thus worsening symptoms due to existing COPD, asthma, and allergies.

These inflammatory lung conditions inflame lung tissues already, constricting the chest and airways necessary for breathing. Read on the discuss some common foods that may trigger breathing problems:

1. Acidic food and drinks
The upper and lower esophageal sphincters act as valves to the esophagus, blocking and managing the entry of air and the reflux of gastric contents via the pharynx and oesophagus. When these valves become faulty, gastric acids can spew up into the esophagus, causing a condition known as acid reflux disease. When chronic in nature and left untreated, acid reflux may result in lung disease and breathing difficulties. Thus, limiting and avoiding acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomato sauce, and others is important as it reduces the symptoms of asthma and improves lungs health.

2. Dairy products
Dairy products are known to worsen the symptoms of asthma for people with lung disease. Well, we all know that milk is a whole food that is nutritious and packed with calcium. But very few know that it contains a compound known as casomorphin which increases the mucus in the small intestines. An increase of the mucus in the intestines inhibits the functioning of the diaphragm resulting in difficulty in breathing. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid all food types that raise the level of the mucus in the stomach, and dairy products are one of them.

3. Excessive salt
While a small pinch of the salt in a huge pot is usually no problem. Issues arise with a salt-heavy diet. Excess salt in your diet causes the body to retain water, which causes bloating and often, breathing problems. If you have to use salt, just use a small pinch. Alternatively, you can use salt substitutes, such as salt herbs to add flavour to your food.

4. Carbonated beverages
Yes, even though they contribute indirectly to breathing problems, carbonated beverages have made it to our list. These beverages have lots of carbonation, which often leads to excessive bloating and (with sugary sodas) weight gain. Increased gas caused by bloating pressurizes your lungs. If you find yourself with this problem, the best thing is to avoid carbonated drinks altogether.

5. Cured meats
The negative thing in cured meats is the nitrates. Meats such as bacon, hot dogs, cold cuts and often feature added nitrates to improve color and to extend their shelf life. According to the European Respiratory Journal, the added nitrates in the meat increases the breathing problems, particularly in patients with existing lung issues, such as COPD.