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Nutrition & Eating

One of the best things you can do if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is try to maintain a healthy weight. This will help your immune system work efficiently and make it easier to breathe and to move around.

You can be too thin

Many people with COPD — especially those with emphysema — don't weigh enough. It's thought that people with COPD require 10 times as many calories to breathe as healthy people. And because they may lack the energy to cook or eat substantial meals, people with COPD often can't keep up with that demand. They may lose between 10% and 50% of their ideal body weight over the course of their illness.

At the other end of the spectrum, extra pounds can put stress on your lungs, especially if they sit around your mid-section. The good news is that even a modest weight loss can help you breathe better. And healthy weight loss is slow — no more than 2 pounds a week.

What's in a healthy diet?

Here's what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that most adults eat each day:

• 6-8 servings of grains, such as cereals, bread, rice, potatoes, and pasta (1 serving = 1 ounce or ½ cup cooked grain, 1 cup cold cereal, 1 slice bread).
• 4-6 servings of vegetables (1 serving = ½ cup, cooked or raw)
• 3-4 servings of fruit (1 serving = ½ cup or one medium fruit)
• 1-2 servings of protein, including beef, pork, poultry, dried peas or beans, nuts, and eggs (1 serving = 2 ounces meat or fish, 2 eggs, ½ cup cooked dry beans or tofu, 2 tablespoons of nut butter, or 1 ounce nuts or seeds)
• 3 servings of dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt (1 serving = 1 cup)

Tips for eating a healthy diet

These tips are general guidelines only. Ask your doctor for specific dietary recommendations that take your specific health issues into account. You may want to ask your doctor to recommend a dietitian, who can help you devise a healthy eating plan just for you.

• Eat foods from each of the basic food groups: fruits and vegetables, dairy products, cereal and grains, and proteins.
• Limit salt intake. Too much may cause you to retain fluids, and this may interfere with breathing.
• Limit caffeine. It may interfere with medicines and make you jittery.
• Avoid foods that produce gas or make you feel bloated.
• Try to eat your main meal early, so you have energy for activities.
• Avoid eating too close to bedtime. Lying down after eating puts pressure on your lungs and may make it harder to breathe.
• Choose foods that are easy to prepare.
• Avoid foods (like chips or soda) that have little or no nutritional value.
• Eat 6 small meals instead of 3 large ones, so you don't overfill your stomach and make breathing harder.
• If you are using supplemental oxygen, wear it while you eat and after meals, too, to help with digestion.