A Guide to Eating for People with COPD

Fueling Your Body for Better Breathing

For individuals living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), energy management through diet is essential. The body uses energy from food to perform all functions, including breathing—a process that becomes much more taxing with COPD. By choosing the right foods and adopting beneficial eating habits, those with COPD can help manage symptoms and potentially make breathing easier.

Lesley Williams, a Registered Respiratory Therapist at Apria with 35 years of experience, states, “Managing COPD goes beyond medication—it’s about fueling your body with the right nutrients and adopting mindful eating habits to support easier breathing and sustained energy.”

Here’s a comprehensive guide to eating well with COPD, including food choices, eating habits, and the science behind how certain foods impact your breathing.

Why Nutrition Matters in COPD

Breathing requires significant energy for people with COPD, as their bodies struggle with reduced ability to expel carbon dioxide. Since certain foods produce less carbon dioxide for the amount of oxygen used, nutrition plays a direct role in managing COPD symptoms. Specifically, focusing on a diet lower in carbohydrates and higher in healthy fats can support easier breathing, as the metabolism of fats produces less carbon dioxide compared to carbohydrates. However, simply choosing healthy fats over unhealthy ones isn’t enough—other factors, such as bloating and nutrient balance, can also influence breathing comfort.

Eating Tips for People with COPD

Managing COPD symptoms goes beyond just food choices; how you eat and timing can significantly impact your comfort and energy levels. Here are some practical tips:

• Eat Slowly and Hydrate Later: Many people experience shortness of breath while eating. Take your time with each bite, and if drinking water between bites makes breathing harder, opt to hydrate after your meal.
• Choose Smaller, More Frequent Meals: Smaller meals reduce stomach fullness, allowing your lungs and diaphragm more room to expand, making breathing easier. Eating multiple smaller meals throughout the day also helps maintain steady energy levels.
• Sit Upright in a High-Back Chair: Proper posture is essential. Sitting upright helps relieve pressure on the lungs, enabling easier breathing during meals.
• Prepare Meals in Advance: Cooking can be tiring, so having quick, prepped meals can save energy. Try batch cooking or choosing easy-to-prepare foods to conserve your energy for other activities.
• Make Lunch the Largest Meal: If you plan to have a larger meal, aim to eat it earlier in the day. Eating a larger portion in the morning or afternoon boosts energy and allows for easier digestion, aiding in comfortable breathing later.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water is crucial for keeping mucus thin and easier to expel, helping overall lung function.
• Choose Soft Foods: Foods that are easy to chew, such as soups, smoothies, casseroles, and ground meats, require less energy to consume, which can help conserve energy for breathing.
• Rest Before Eating: Taking at least 30 minutes to relax before meals can help prevent shortness of breath, making the experience more comfortable.

Foods to Avoid with COPD

Certain foods can make breathing harder by causing bloating or requiring more energy for digestion. While these foods aren’t off-limits, they should be eaten in moderation, especially if they trigger discomfort:

• Gas-Producing Vegetables: Vegetables like apples, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower are nutritious but may cause bloating, which can press on the lungs. If you tolerate these foods well, continue enjoying them, but be mindful of portion sizes.
• Fried Foods: High in fat and difficult to digest, fried foods can lead to bloating and make breathing more challenging.
• Processed Foods & Simple Carbohydrates: Processed snacks and simple carbs (like white bread and sugary foods) lack nutritional value and don’t provide the energy that people with COPD need.
• Alcohol and Caffeine: Both alcohol and caffeine can interfere with COPD medications and may lead to dehydration, thickening mucus, and potentially making it harder to breathe.
• Dairy Products: Milk and other dairy products may increase mucus production and bloating, which can impact breathing comfort. If dairy is a trigger for you, try substituting it with alternatives like almond or oat milk.

Foods to Include in a COPD-Friendly Diet

To support lung function, reduce inflammation, and maintain energy, consider incorporating these nutrient-rich foods into your diet:

• Potassium-Rich Foods: Potassium is essential for lung health. Include potassium-packed foods like bananas, avocados, leafy greens, asparagus, tomatoes, and oranges.
• Protein-Rich Foods: Protein helps build muscle and keeps you fuller for longer, which is beneficial for COPD management. Opt for lean proteins like eggs, legumes, and lean meats.
• Complex Carbohydrates: Unlike simple carbs, complex carbs are high in fiber, stabilizing blood sugar levels and sustaining energy. Good options include lentils, whole wheat, bran, peas, quinoa, oats, and beans.

COPD affects every aspect of daily life, including how your body handles food and energy. Focusing on nutrient-dense foods, choosing healthy fats over carbs, and adopting mindful eating habits can help manage COPD symptoms and support better breathing. Remember that dietary needs are individual, so consult your healthcare provider or a nutritionist for personalized advice to help make food work for your health, not against it. Learn more about how Apria Healthcare can support you through your journey to breathing better!

References
Association, American Lung. “Nutrition and COPD.” American Lung Association, May 23, 2023. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/living-with-copd/nutrition.
Cleveland Clinic. “What Does Your Diet Have to Do with COPD?” Cleveland Clinic, August 13, 2024. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/copd-diet.
Foundation, COPD. “Nutrition for Someone with COPD.” COPD Foundation, January 14, 2021. https://www.copdfoundation.org/Learn-More/I-am-a-Person-with-COPD/Nutrition-for-Someone-with-COPD.aspx.
Scoditti, Egeria, Marika Massaro, Sergio Garbarino, and Domenico Maurizio Toraldo. “Role of Diet in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Prevention and Treatment.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 16, 2019. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6627281/. 

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