Breathing is the process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. This is known as your body’s respiration process, whereas the lungs are utilized to facilitate this exchange of gas within the body. The technique of breathing is extremely important for the survival of the body. Breathing is the fundamental aspect of life. Healthy breathing is necessary to allow this transaction to proceed.

Therefore when the body’s airway system is hindered with health issues like chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, asthma, heart disease, lung disease, or a condition of low red blood cell’s (RBC’s) known as anemia, then the act of breathing will become extremely difficult and may have disastrous results. This is the reason why creating and maintaining a daily practice of healthy food intake with the following foods is beneficial to your breathing:

1. Acidic foods and drinks

Foods that contain a high amount of acidity like coffee, fruit juices, citrus fruits, spicy foods and tomato sauce will cause the body to be acidic. The problem with this is that accelerated rates of acid in the body will cause your body to have elevated levels of breathing rates. The need for the body to breathe heavily to survive could result in conditions of congestive heart failure (CHF).

2. Carbonated beverages

Research information indicates that drinks with a high concentration of carbonation will invoke a shortness of breathing conditions such as COPD and asthma. Carbonated drinks contain carbon dioxide, which causes an unwanted buildup of gas in the body. This unwanted buildup of gas promotes coughing and an uncomfortable burning feeling in the chest area. The heart and lungs work hard to relieve gas pressure and bloating from the body, the excessive stress on these organs causes damage to them.

3. Dairy products

Consumption of dairy foods could result in poor breathing conditions. Some people may experience a medical condition known as Anaphylaxis. This situation occurs when a person expresses an allergic reaction involving the swelling of the throat. Clinical studies have learned that this is an effect that people have experienced, after eating foods made with dairy. This condition should be taken very seriously because it could result in low blood pressure and could send the body into shock, medical attention should be sought immediately.

4. Cold cuts

These foods are referred to as convenience foods, but the negative effects that they have on the body are far from convenient. Cured foods have a high concentration of sodium and nitrates. It’s the nitrates that are used in the curing of the meats that help to preserve the meats, but they do little to preserve one’s health. These types of foods exacerbate the symptoms of COPD because they cause the chest to experience feelings of tightening and they cause the lungs to fight hard to move oxygen throughout, resulting in a shortening of breath.

5. Excessive salty foods

An excessive amount of sodium and excessive salt intake will cause the body to retain fluids. Retention of fluids in the body will demand the heart to beat harder to move the blood throughout the body. High blood pressure could result from this practice.