Asthma
How Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements May Help*
 

"In the United States the incidence of asthma is up nearly four times since 1980," said Paul Epstein, Associate Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.  Asthma is a disease of the lungs, and includes both brochospasms and inflammation of the airways.  Asthma is usually treated by drugs that can open up the airways, but those with asthma should also try to find out what their triggers are and get rid of them, like maybe allergies to certain foods, wall-to-wall carpeting or the fragrance in their laundry detergent. 
 

Common Symptoms Of Asthma
 

Wheezing, coughing and a feeling of not being able to catch your breath.
 

Common Causes of Asthma
 

Immune system weakness, combined with exposure to air pollution or chemicals like those in fragrances, pollen, animal dander or mold.  Food allergies and adrenal exhaustion and imbalance can also cause asthma.
 

Vitamins, Minerals and Nutritional Supplements
 

Although the standard treatment for asthma is drugs, not vitamins or nutritional supplements, some doctors do use vitamins and nutritional supplements in conjunction with drugs to help their asthmatic patients.  According to John Britton, MD, who works in the respiratory unit at City Hospital in Nottingham, England, "magnesium has properties that may help people with asthma."  He says that magnesium can help reduce inflammation and also help the body to get rid of some lung-irritating chemicals.

Vitamin C can help asthmatics in more than one way.  First of all it has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of colds and flus, which tend to make asthma symptoms worse.  In addition, research has shown that vitamin C can help maintain healthy lungs, and in particular, that taking vitamin C as a nutritional supplement on a regular basis can reduce the tendency for asthmatics to have attacks while exercising.  It seems that one of the ways vitamin C helps is by shielding the lungs from some of the detrimental effects of the chemicals contained in polluted air, including air that is polluted from smoke.  In addition, adrenal exhaustion can cause asthma, and vitamin C helps nourish the adrenal glands*.

Other antioxidant vitamins that can be helpful for asthmatics include vitamin E, selenium and beta-carotene*.  Goji and Mangosteen Juice both are high in antioxidants.  Mangosteen Juice has Xanthones which are antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties.  Some B vitamins have also been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, although different studies have shown mixed results.  In addition, some other studies have shown help with asthma with calcium, zinc, copper and vitamin D.  Zinc is important for adrenal health.  Unrefined sea salt also helps to support the adrenal glands.*  This is not your regular table salt, but one like Celtic sea salt or the Premier Pink salt.  Green tea and nettles tea can also sometimes be useful*.  Green tea helps support the immune system and nettles can sometimes alleviate allergies.*  Greens high in chlorophyll can also be useful.*

Recommended Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements:*

• Coral Calcium (a good source of calcium, magnesium and other trace minerals like zinc and copper.
• Natural Vitamin C, as in the form of Camu Camu
• B Complex Vitamins
• Vitamin E
• Goji 100 Juice
• Mangosteen 100 Juice
• Cod Liver Oil (for vitamin D)
• Zinc
• Adrenal Complex (support for adrenal glands)
• Reishi (Mushroom)
• Green Tea Extract
• Chlorella (high in chlorophyll)
   

Food Choices
 

Sulfites can cause asthma attacks, and should be avoided.  Check on the labels with packaged foods (better yet, try not to buy packaged foods!), and avoid things like wine, shrimp and other shellfish, guacamole and salads when you eat out.  Switch to a safe source of raw milk, and stay away for any foods that you know trigger asthma.  Try to eat organically as much as you can, to both avoid chemical pesticides as well as get more nutrients.  Eat food rich in vitamin C like citrus and peppers, and those rich in B and E vitamins like nuts and whole grains.  Excess sugar consumption can make you more prone to asthma, so it is important to reduce the refined sugars in your diet.
 

Other Ideas for Asthmatics*
 

If you are overweight, you need to try very hard to lose some or all of that extra weight, because the extra weight can make it harder for you to breathe easy.  In addition, it's very important for asthmatics to try to reduce their exposure to chemicals in their home at the very least.  Some of the most important are to replace carpeting with hard surface flooring, use all natural bedding and mattresses, and to use all natural non-toxic cleaning and body care products at a minimum.  It is especially important to NOT use synthetic fragrances – this means in your laundry detergent and dryer sheets, body care products like shampoo and lotions and also colognes.  Last but not least, many asthmatics have gotten relief from air purifiers, such as the Austin Air or IQ Air units.  Make sure and get an air filter that filters out smoke, pollution and other chemicals, and not just pollen and dander, as these types of air filters have been shown to work better for asthmatics.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Healthy Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements