Following a healthy diet can help you breathe better and sometimes even fight the symptoms of chronic breathing disorders like COPD and asthma. While certain foods can fight the symptoms, several others cause breathing problems. So, here is a list of top foods that cause breathing difficulties that should be avoided completely by asthma or COPD patients.

1. Fried foods
Fried foods become greasy in excess and can cause extra pressure on the digestive system. The digestive system has to work harder to break down the fats and thus, it can cause bloating in the belly. This bloating often becomes a reason for discomfort in many people. Since the digestive juices are producing gas to digest food, breathing becomes difficult as it hurts the diaphragm. Fried foods also lead to extra weight gain. The fat accumulation caused due to fried foods usually happens around the middle part of the body. This again puts excessive pressure on the diaphragm, which further causes breathing problems. Therefore, fried foods are one of the top foods that cause breathing difficulties and must be avoided. These foods include french fries, jalapeno poppers, fried chicken, fried pickle, and fried fish.

2. Foods that lead to the production of gas
If you are asthmatic, you need to avoid foods that produce gas in the body. Eating these foods can make you gassy and bloated which further causes breathing difficulties. This can trigger asthma symptoms and cause tightness in the chest. Some of the foods that can cause gas include onions, garlic and beans.

3. Dairy products
Dairy products such as milk are often associated with a wholesome meal since they contain calcium and other vital nutrients in abundance. However, during the breakdown of milk, casomorphin is produced. This chemical is responsible for producing mucus in the intestines. This results in an excessive buildup of phlegm in the body which needs to be removed. Coughing is one of the primary ways in which the body disposes the phlegm. But due to excessive coughing, COPD patients experience a series of discomforts. Therefore, COPD patients should not have milk before going to bed at night. Other foods that should be avoided include yogurt, ice cream, butter, cheese, buttermilk, among others.

4. Carbonated beverages
These beverages contain no nutritional value and are loaded with calories and carbonation. They are responsible for excessive weight gain and bloating. When there is increased production of gas or bloating in the body, it can cause excessive pressure on the lungs and flare up the symptoms of COPD and asthma, leading to breathing difficulties. Therefore, drinks that should be avoided are beer, soda, sparkling wine and sparkling cider.
These drinks also lead to dehydration. Therefore, never try to quench your thirst with these drinks.