Running on empty?
Fuel your body
with food...

Eating and breathing are two life requirements you
obviously cant do one without the other. When you
have COPD, though, you literally eat to breathe, and
breathing takes energy. Energy requires fuel. Fuel comes from
food. Heres how:
When you eat, food is converted to energy as part of a process
called metabolism. Because you burn a lot of energy just
breathing, your respiratory muscles may use up to 10 times
the calories used by someone without COPD. As a result, you
may find that you lose weight without trying. Dont let your
body run on empty provide it with the important fuels
listed below.
Carbohydrates, protein and fat are important sources of food
energy:
Carbohydrates can be simple or
complex. Simple carbs are really just
sugar. They come in foods like candy,
table sugar and non-diet soft drinks.
Complex carbs are found in
vegetables and whole-grain breads and
pastas. They provide good-for-you dietary fiber.
Protein is essential to maintaining strong respiratory
muscles, and protein needs generally increase with age.
Good protein sources include milk, eggs, fish,
poultry and nuts. Too much protein, though,
can make breathing harder. Check with your
doctor or dietitian to see whats right for
you. If you need more protein, try
adding grated cheese to sauces, soups
and casseroles; add skim milk powder to
scrambled eggs, hot milk or cold cereals, or add ground
meat or cooked chicken to soups and casseroles.
Fat is an excellent source of energy and produces
very little carbon dioxide when your body processes
it. If you need to gain weight, eat more fat; if you
need to lose weight, reduce the fat in your diet.
The kind of fat you eat is important too. Limit
animal fat, and cook with canola or vegetable
oils instead.

While being underweight is common in COPD, being
overweight also creates problems. Extra weight causes your
heart and lungs to work harder to supply oxygen to your
body. Extra fat around your abdomen can crowd your
diaphragm, making it difficult for your lungs to fully expand.
Losing weight through diet and exercise can make it easier to
breathe and give you more energy.
If your body is well nourished, youll be better able to fight
infection and prevent illness. Good nutrition can also help
maintain your lung function. The American Association for
Respiratory Care offers these tips for eating well:

1. Eat foods from all the basic
food groups.
2. Limit salt and caffeine
intake.
3. Avoid gas-producing foods.
4. Eat six small meals a day
instead of three large ones.
5. Choose easy-to-prepare
foods.
6. Choose soft foods that are
easy to chew if you become
short of breath.

Your respiratory muscles
may use up to
10 times the calories
used by someone
without COPD.


Hope this helps someone here.

Have a wonderful day,
Holly