COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. People suffering from this pulmonary disease need to be careful regarding the type of food they consume. Alleviating COPD with diet helps improve the quality of life and aids in preventing complications. A holistic diet plan helps them feel better, stay active, and breathe easier. It eventually reduces the intensity of symptoms, improves lung function, and slows disease progression.

• Start with small and frequent meals
  Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Slowly introduce wholesome meals with nutritional supplements since your body will not be able to digest food very easily. Start with food high in carbohydrates. Consume plenty of grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, potatoes, and bananas.
• Consume a diet with protein content
  Studies state that people with COPD should consume more protein-rich foods at meals and snacks. Protein sources such as cheese, milk, tofu, eggs can help increase muscle mass and improve nutritional status.
• Consume a diet rich in fiber
  Alleviating COPD with diet is possible if you consume fiber-rich foods in the right quantity. It is essential to include at least 20 to 30 grams of fiber every day in your diet. Consume whole wheat bread, oats, pasta, nuts, quinoa, beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables, Greek yogurt, and pumpkin seeds.
• Eat meals with complex carbohydrate content
  Foods rich in carbohydrates provide a sustained release of energy throughout the day. Eat various complex carbohydrates, including starchy vegetables such as potatoes, zucchini, whole grain bread and pasta, beans, and lentils. Alleviating COPD with a diet rich in complex carbohydrates is ideal and will also improve general health.
• Consume a diet rich in mono and polyunsaturated fat
  Mono and polyunsaturated fat are healthy fats. These include olive oil, canola oil, avocado oil, and flaxseed. These will give the required energy as COPD takes a heavy toll on the body. Eat healthy salads such as quinoa salad made with olive oil, fish, salmon, grilled chicken burgers, and avocados. Avoid bacon and other processed foods along with fried foods. This will also improve the weaknesses in the breathing muscles.
• Limit the consumption of simple carbohydrates
  Simple carbohydrates have fewer nutrients than complex carbohydrates. Avoid consuming chocolate, sugar, cakes, candy, sugary drinks, processed foods, and desserts or sugary pastries.
• Do not evade any meal
  This is one of the important factors in alleviating COPD with diet. It is important to eat all meals regularly to ensure that energy levels do not dip, and you do not feel fatigued.

The best diet for a person with COPD depends on the person’s weight and lifestyle. Alleviating COPD with diet and integrating healthy lifestyle changes go a long way to help you manage this energy-depleting condition in a better way. A good diet improves metabolism and helps open up the airways. A healthy diet can help people live comfortably with some of the adverse health effects of COPD.