Here are five questions about COPD and nutrition based on common myths.
Myth: COPD affects only the lungs, so does it really matter what I eat?
Fact: Yes, what you eat matters a lot! Food is the fuel your body needs to perform all activities, including breathing. Food provides your body with nutrients such as carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The foods you eat affect how much energy you have and how much carbon dioxide is produced. Carbon dioxide is a waste product that leaves your body when you breathe out, and if there is too much carbon dioxide in your body, you may feel weak. That’s why it’s important to think about what you eat, so you can get as much benefit as possible and not waste your energy eating foods with little or no nutritional value.
Myth: Is it okay for me to take off my oxygen cannula when eat? I think that keeping it on might spoil my appetite.
Fact: Wear your cannula while eating if continuous oxygen is prescribed. Chewing and digesting food -- like anything else you do – requires energy, and it is oxygen that helps give you that energy. Note: Sometimes, poor appetite is due to depression. The appetite is likely to improve after depression is treated. If you have no appetite or feel depressed, talk with your doctor.
Myth: Should I make sure to drink a lot of liquids along with my meal?
Fact: Drinking water while eating is important as it aids digestion. This helps break down the food and helps nutrients be absorbed by the body. However, don’t drink large amounts all at once because this can fill up the stomach and make you feel full or bloated. Take in small amounts of water as you go through your meal and if you’re not too full, try drinking liquids at the end of your meal. Note: Alcoholic beverages do not have much nutritional value and can interact with the medicines you are taking, especially oral steroids. Too much alcohol might slow your breathing and make it difficult for you to cough up mucus.
Myth: I’ve lost weight and now I’m thin. Should I just stay this way and try to not gain any weight?
Fact: Being underweight may make you feel weak and tired and might make you more likely to get an infection. People with COPD use more energy to breathe than the average person, maybe up to 10 times the calories needed by a person without COPD! It is important for you to take in enough calories, and to produce energy in order to prevent weakening of your diaphragm (your main breathing muscle) and other muscles.
Myth: I’ve heard that I should drink plenty of fluids, at least 6-8 glasses (8 ounces per glass) a day. Do all kinds of fluids count? I love my coffee, wine, and soda pop!
Fact: You should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses (eight ounces per glass) of non-caffeinated beverages each day to keep mucus thin and easier to cough up. Limit caffeine (found in coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages such as cola) as it might interfere with some of your medicines. Note:Some people with COPD who also have heart problems may need to limit their fluids, so be sure to follow your doctor's guidelines.
Source: Cleveland Clinic Website. Nutritional Guidelines for People with COPD. Diet and Nutrition for Energy with COPD (clevelandclinic.org). Accessed March 2, 2021.