From the ‘British Lung Foundation’
During the winter months, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy diet. But there are lots of good reasons to eat a balanced diet, one being that it can help keep your symptoms under control.
A balanced diet
Food and drink contain essential nutrients to help prevent infections and keep your lungs healthy – but it’s important to have these in the right amounts. You can find out what a balanced diet looks like on our health advice pages.
Moist foods
You might find that sometimes, you feel too breathless to eat very much. If you struggle to eat and breathe at the same time, go for softer, moist foods that are easier to chew and swallow. You could also try having more nourishing liquids, such as milk, smoothies, juice and soups.
Stay hydrated
You might also find you have a dry mouth, which can happen after taking some inhaled medications or using oxygen. If this happens to you, it’s important to drink enough fluid and try to eat soft or moist foods, or foods with sauces. You can find more advice on these and other commonly asked questions about diet and lung conditions on our health advice pages.
Vitamin D
During the winter months, the NHS recommends taking a daily vitamin D supplement, as this helps to keep your bones healthy. This is especially important at the moment, as more people have been staying indoors or shielding. However, for some conditions, such as sarcoidosis, you shouldn’t take a vitamin D supplement unless it’s specifically recommended for you by your specialist. If you are in any doubt if you should be taking a supplement or not, speak to your health care professional for their advice.