Changing the way you eat can be difficult, but remember that it is not only a daily activity, but also a part of your therapy for COPD. Eating right can help you feel better and is a way you can be in control of your treatment.

Eating and digesting food requires energy. Eating a big heavy meal will require more energy to digest and put more pressure on your chest and diaphragm. This can make you feel breathless and tired after eating.
 
Avoid breathlessness while eating

One way to avoid feeling drained or short of breath while eating is to eat smaller meals more often throughout the day. Instead of 3 big meals a day, try eating more frequent mini-meals that are rich in calories. For example, whole-milk, cheese with crackers, whole-milk pudding, peanut butter, and ice-cream are all good options. Smaller meals are also usually easier and quicker to prepare so you won’t get as tired getting your food ready.

If you like the routine of eating 3 meals a day, try eating softer foods that are easier to chew and swallow. These can include food like mashed potatoes, bananas, soups, and puddings. When eating any kind of meat, the typical serving size for one person should fit in the palm of your hand. Start by cutting that in half and then have more if you’re still hungry. Take small bites and give yourself some time between each bite so you don’t get too tired while you eat.

Since eating and digesting take up a lot of energy, giving yourself 15-20 minutes to rest after a meal can help get you ready to go again. Relax sitting up instead of lying down as lying down after eating puts more pressure on your lungs and makes it harder to breathe.

Note: If you use oxygen make sure you wear it while you are eating, it will help reduce breathlessness.

Drink lots of water

Most people with COPD and the general population should drink 6-8 glasses of water a day unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise. Drinking water helps thin out the mucus which can help clear your airways and reduce coughing. It is also good if you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight because it makes you feel full. However if you are underweight or having difficulty with your appetite, make sure you are saving your water for after your meal so you don’t feel too full to finish your food.

Hold the Salt:

Even a moderate amount of salt can cause fluid retention (aka bloating). This can make it more difficult to breathe. Too much salt can also cause high blood pressure. Avoid using the salt shaker while cooking and at the table and stay away from really salty foods like ham, pepperoni, pretzels, and potato chips.

Limit Carbohydrates

Most doctors recommend that their patients with COPD limit simple carbohydrates (usually found in snack foods like cookies, chips and candy) and snack on proteins or foods with healthy fat instead. Carbohydrates create more carbon dioxide in your bloodstream than proteins and fats and when COPD is already making it difficult for you to expel carbon dioxide and intake oxygen, it makes sense not to put more carbon dioxide in your body than you have to. Your body does need some carbohydrates for energy; just make sure they are complex carbohydrates like whole grain breads, fruits, and vegetables.

High Calorie COPD snacks

If you’re underweight or experiencing abnormal weight loss with COPD, make sure your snacks are loaded with calories.  A healthy snack for someone underweight with COPD may not be what would usually consider healthy. Foods like ice-cream, pudding (made from whole milk and real eggs), eggs, cheese (made from whole milk), and popcorn with butter are all good snacks to pack on the calories.

Dairy Products

Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt can be excellent sources of nutrition. Unfortunately some people with mild to severe COPD find these foods difficult to eat. Dairy can cause more mucus to be produced and make it difficult to swallow. To counter this effect, try drinking water after eating or drinking dairy foods. This should help decrease the amount of mucus.

Limit foods that cause bloating

Some foods cause more gas or bloating than other foods and this can make it harder to breathe. Fruits and vegetables are important for your health and immune system but you may find some don’t agree with you as well as others. Melon, raw apples, radishes, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers cabbage, beans, and onions have been known to cause bloating in some people. Try preparing them different ways or eating smaller amounts mixed with different kinds of fruits or vegetables if you are experiencing trouble digesting any of these foods. If you find you are having significant problems however, it may be best to just avoid that food. Fizzy drinks and grape juice are known to cause bloating as well.

Fried, greasy, or spicy foods can also leave you feeling bloated and make it more difficult to breathe. Limit your intake of these foods, try to use milder spices, or try mixing the spicy food with blander items to reduce the impact of the spice.

Nutritional Supplements

If you find it difficult to eat enough to get all the vitamins and calories you need, adding a liquid nutritional supplement, like Boost or Ensure, can help fill in the gaps. Taking a multi-vitamin may also be beneficial. Whether you have mild, moderate or severe COPD, talk to your doctor before starting any supplements to make sure they don’t interfere with your current medications.