I was diagnosed with asthma at the age of nine. I never thought I could do anything about it except go to the doctor and refill my preventer inhaler and rescue inhaler. I really believed that this was the normal routine for a person with asthma until I stopped getting relief from my inhalers.
Around Thanksgiving 2011, I was struggling terribly with my asthma. Wheezing, chest tightness, and panic were daily occurrences. I was inhaling my inhalers to help ease the pain but it was only helpful for about an hour. I was scared. Thirty two years old and my lungs feel useless.
That week I was again in the doctor’s office. We were talking about my symptoms and then we got into the topic of food triggers. I started to tell him that I had noticed some connection between certain foods and asthma attacks to which he replied “hmm, that’s interesting”. But for me, the cartoon lightbulb went on over my head! I screamed in my head “why don’t I stop eating those foods?”
The doctor sent me on my way with another prescription that I filled but never used. I left his office with a rush of adrenaline. I was in control. I was going to stop eating those foods right away, but I knew I could do more than that.
I sat down at my kitchen table, turned on my laptop, and began a self-assessment. I began to list the things I could control that would have an impact and sustainability in my asthma control.
I used a back to basics approach and kept it as simple as possible.
These are the 5 main steps to eliminate asthma:
1. Mindset changes
This was not the life he wanted and he was not going to accept it anymore. I realized for the first time that I could actually make decisions that would eliminate my asthma. If you really hold on to this mindset, it’s liberating!
2. Minimize or completely stop eating foods that can trigger asthma
Foods containing refined sugar, refined white flour, and dairy products are top on my hit list.
3. Eat more vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices that are known to prevent inflammation.
Spinach, romaine lettuce, parsley, celery, kale, apples, ripe bananas, chia seeds, aloe, garlic, ginger root, turmeric, and cloves are known to help fight asthma
4. Drink more water.
I’m talking about H2O, not flavored water, juice, or tea. Real water! I want to emphasize this because it was so simple that I didn’t do it for a long time. I can think of days when I never drank a real glass of water. There are entire books and websites dedicated to the topic of drinking water, so don’t miss this one!
5. Stop breathing through your mouth.
The nose is specifically designed for breathing. It warms, hydrates and filters the air that enters our lungs.
Now my inhalers are sitting on a shelf collecting dust. I have more energy, I am relaxed and I am not afraid of asthma. Making simple changes that have a big impact and can be sustained are key to taking control and eradicating asthma.