Your lungs provide oxygen for every cell in your body to survive. Problems with the lungs can prove fatal. If you want to enjoy breathing deeply and naturally all your life, then you have to make certain changes to your diet. Here is a list of foods that you should stay away from when it comes to breathing difficulties and food.

1. Cold cut meats
Cold cut meats are popular choices as they are easy to buy and use. These also have very long shelf lives. However, these can be harmful to your lungs in the long run. According to experts, most of these cold-cut meats have nitrates added to them as a preservative. Nitrate can induce lung damage and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

2. Dairy products
An important group of food on the list of breathing difficulties and food is dairy. Dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese may be healthy for the body, but these can increase mucus production in the intestines. Some experts believe that such excess mucus may trigger breathing difficulties in those with existing lung problems.

3. Fried foods
If you have problems like COPD, then fried foods are not your friend. While such foods don’t directly affect the lungs, they can lead to excess gas formation and bloating in the stomach. The bloating pushes against the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.

4. Broccoli
Broccoli may be one of the healthiest vegetables, but it does make to this list of breathing difficulties and food that causes them. Broccoli increases gas and bloating in the stomach, and this ends up affecting the lungs, as mentioned above.

5. Pickles
Pickles are usually vegetables or meats that are soaked in saltwater. Salt is not a friend of those with existing lung conditions. Salt increases water retention in the body. Such excess fluid can leak into the lungs and aggravate the lung problem.

6. Beer
Beer may be your drink of choice on a hot summer afternoon. However, do know that beer does more harm to your lungs if you already have breathing problems due to conditions like asthma. Beer promotes inflammation in the body, including in the airways, and this can worsen breathing problems.

7. Aerated drinks
Aerated drinks are some of the worst beverage choices for those who have breathing difficulties. These also cause bloating and add pressure to the lungs, worsening the condition. Excess sugar in these drinks also adds to the trouble by promoting inflammation in the body.

Breathing difficulties and food are directly related, and the food you eat matters a lot. If you have existing lung problems or if you want to keep your lungs healthy for a longer time, stay away from the above list of foods.