I was diagnosed with emphysema last Nov. I stop eating refine sugars, and carbohydrates. I started a strict diet of vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, nuts, and a small orange, kiwi daily. I also started with some supplements and exercise at least five days a week. I have research all these are major when it comes to this disease. So far I have not had any major problems. Phlegm built up around my throat it;s mainly white some black specks at times and sometimes I feel a little tightness on my upper chest. I drink Cayenne pepper with green tea and it helps release my chest and I breath better. I am looking at starting a supplement called MSM which may help with the longs healing. God bless U, always. By the way, do you have any symptoms yet???

Hi Motsy !!
A low carb-high protien diet is good for you. Cut out refined sugar, and fats and concentrate on vegatables, fruits, and very lean meat if any.
There is a dietition at the hospital where I go to see my pulmy, and she said the "Mediterranean diet advertised is a great diet. It has a lot of fish and poultry, fruits, veggies, and green leafy veggies.
Please do not grab for a supplement or health food fad , but stick to basic food, and supplements your pulmy has ok'd. A lot of the supplements can interfer with your meds, and if your blood tests do not show you need a certain thing, why take it?
I do my calcium, omega 3--6-9, b12, vitamin d (VERY important)
Flax seed and Kale are excellent for their anti inflammatory and other beneficial things. I put flax seed on my yogurt and it is delicious!!
any kind of nuts are good for you, and you can get the spread if unable to chew the nuts. Protein bars, grapes, raisens for snacks.
You might just want to contact your pulmonary department and see if they have a dietitian who can set you up with a diet just for you. You know different strokes for different folks, so get something that will work for you and keep in mind your allergies.
NEVER eat or drink the juice of grapefruits, especially if you take certain meds and high blood pressure meds. Something in that fruit will bottom out your bloodpressure. I will see if I can locate a few reliable web sites for you..

Hugs
Brenda (BJ)

http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/more-essential-dietary-guidelines-for-copd-patients Here is one to start with
BJ

http://www.everydayhealth.com/copd/a-copd-diet.aspx

http://www.everydayhealth.com/copd-pictures/10-best-food-choices-for-copd.aspx#/slide-1

BJ

Thanks for your replies- Ozambrana11, I have had symptoms for years. Diagnosed a few years ago with exercise induced asthma, then through a series of gyn problems ended up at a pulmonologist for lung nodules (probably harmless at this point)- told him about SOB and had lung function tests- I am stage 3 and started pulmo rehab a couple of weeks ago. I am supposed to be meeting with a nutritionist at rehab on April 9, so I will see what that brings. In the past, I have done a high vegetable version of Atkins and felt much better in general- joint pains lessened, rosacea reduced- I have been tested for allergies, all negative. The more I read, the more conflicting information I find. I guess I will take all the advice I can get and see what works for me...I am convinced that I have a number of inflammation related ailments, mostly nuisances, but really want to work on anything I can to slow the copd. hugs to all of you...

I dug this thread back back because I wanted to share the McDougall diet with you. Contrary to conventional advise, Dr. McDougall recommends a low fat, low protein and high carbohydrate diet. By carbohydrates he means only complex carbohydrates like potatoes, brown rice , whole wheat flour etc, not white and bleached stuff. Absolutely no sugar.Ad lots of vegetables and fruit. Fruit juices are out because they contain too much sugar. This diet is animal product free!
Here is a video explaining how this diet helps you breath better.
https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2010nl/may/breathing.htm

oops, my last link was to an article , not a video !

Just as the post on wasting muscles were talking about, copd people have a hard time breaking down protein, and they need protein to build up muscles, so therefore they need a high protein diet, Carbs can contain starches that can turn into sugar, which is not good, except maybe a quick energy jolt. The diet you mentioned sounds interesting, and when you find it, I will check it out, how ever I prefer the Mediterranean diet, but won't hesitate to try something different if it sounds ok. There are a million and one diets out there....The lo fat sounds good, and lots of fruits and vegetables.....
BJ

Well, I read the article, and it is all about asthma, so I understand. He does not seem to be a real medical doctor, he said COPD was a complication of GERD. And folks in the US that smoke(ed) got lung cancer and breathing problems mostly because of their diet. Interesting....
BJ

BJ..and others. Please don't make a quick judgement . He is a real doctor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._McDougall
On the wikipedia website you'll find links to other publications and his website if you are interested.
The article is about asthma and "other lung conditions". It is true that there is a connection between GERd and asthma and COPD. I had 2 doctors tell me to try to control my GERd because some of the stomach acid drips into the windpipe and scars the lung. Thanks to his diet and other life style changes I 'm doing much better and off all GERD medications.
I found this doctor several years ago when my husband found out he had a blocked artery in his leg, also high cholesterol. He did not want to take medication or end up having a stent put in and so I was looking for other solutions. Dr McDougalls promises sounded too good to be true but we gave it a shot. Within 21 days our cholesterol values dropped by 60 points. My husband also started an extensive exercise program, mostly walking which puts a lot of pressure on the arteries in the leg. Within 2 months of walking an hour a day he had no more symptoms of the disease. He still has the narrow artery but many others formed around it. Before he did not even have a pulse in his foot and his foot turned blue.His cholesterol now is 160, mine is 151 ! The vascular surgeons were very impressed with the results and told us that no surgery is necessary, Stents are risky procedures and only help temporary., sooner or later even the stents get plugged up with fat . We tried several times to spread the news about this diet but always get laughed at, is pretty discouraging :(

I read the article and part of what he wrote may well be true. However, I have had Asthma as a child.

3 Doctors, the Plumy, Endo and Internist have told me my SOB is coming from GERD, not COPD. I am beginning to believe them. I follow a Diabetic Diet, its high fiber; I know I need protein so I do smoothies with Whey Protein Powder.

As long as I stick to my diet I do OK, minute I sway I get the SOB episodes. So maybe worth a try to those of you that have SOB to just try to change your diet...if it works great, if not, go back to eating the way you want to.

Very interesting. I saw a new pulmonologist a few months ago because I'm shopping for a replacement for the current one that I'm firing. He asked me if I have a problem with reflux. He said that the meds we take to open up our airways opens them a bit too much, which can cause reflux problems. I had often wondered if there was a link between reflux & SOB because of issues I've had. But never asked any of my docs and they never asked me that question.

Try reading 'Whet Belly" by Davis available on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Wheat-Belly-Lose-Weight-Health/dp/1609614798/ref=sr_1_1/180-5728950-7206565?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408065833&sr=1-1&keywords=wheat+belly

Lost 30 pounds in 4 months without trying and got rid of most upset stomach problems . . . replaces all wheat products with vegetables, ice cream, eggs etc. - Worked for me and ben on it for 1 year /hank

great2bme...That's interesting. I have read several articles about reflux and asthma and there seems to be disagreements what comes first the asthma or the reflux. I think a lot of doctors are not aware of it at all.
Here is one study that showed that asthmatics have more reflux than non asthmatics, but it did not seem to have anything to do with bronco dilators.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2364839
Hanko..so glad your diet works so well for you.. I know a lot of people who can't tolerate wheat very well.

heike, if the others say it sounds good, then it must be something worth trying. Sometimes I do jump before I look. I re read it, and understand it a bit more....
BJ