Meat And Fish - Friend Or Foe To Your Asthma?

Many people see meat and fish as dietary archenemies, competing against each other like matter and antimatter or good versus evil. What if I said that you can have your meat and eat it too? There's nothing wrong with a little meat; I just want you to eat more fish and less meat. One of the primary factors in recommending a diet with smaller amounts of meat is fat. There are good fats and bad fats, and meat tends to contain the bad fats, whereas fish usually contains the good fats. One study from Taiwan found a link between asthma and consuming meat, with teenagers who ate meat or liver having over 1.5 times the risk of asthma.

 

Fish are frequently rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that may improve your lung function and help you live longer. Just to give you a taste of the benefits of eating fish, one Harvard study examined the dietary habits of 84,688 women and found that those who ate fish two to four times a week decreased their risk of heart disease by 31 percent. Several studies also demonstrate that the more fish you consume, the better your lung function and the lower your risk of asthma, a finding that appears to be strongest in children. One Australian study examined the effect of consuming oily fish—defined as fish containing greater than 2 percent fat—in 574 children. Researchers found that children who ate oily fish more than once a week had a 75 percent reduction in asthma risk.

 

Another Harvard study examined the diets of 2,526 adults who took part in the First National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES I). These scientists reported that high fish consumption had a "protective association with FEV)." Specifically, they found a 115 milliliter difference in FEV1 between those eating fish less than once a week and those eating fish more than once a week. The authors concluded that dietary intake offish is associated with higher levels of lung function.

 

These studies offer encouraging evidence regarding the impact a healthy diet has on asthma. As in all scientific endeavors, especially those that examine the effects of diet on a medical condition, there are conflicting studies; however, this should not dissuade asthmatics from increasing their fish consumption. Considering the important role fish oils play in preserving overall health, eating fish is a win-win situation.

 

Of course, there are exceptions. Some farm-raised fish are bred to have a higher "bad" fat content to improve taste (and sales), but they are simply fatty fish. Included on the list of farm-raised fatty fish are salmon, trout, and catfish. So, before you plunk down a hunk of money for "healthy" fish, ask your grocer where the fish hails from. Wild fish, with their higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, give you the most bang (more healthy fat) for your fish buck.

 

Like fish, not all meats are of equal nutritional value. There is little question that meat contains vital proteins and nutrients. What you want to do with all your food choices is gain as much nutritional value as possible with a minimum amount of fat. In this regard, chicken and game meats are better choices. Chicken, especially without the skin, has much less fat than the average steak. If you can't live without red meat, consider naturally lean meats like venison and ostrich, which pack a low-fat but high-nutritional punch. Adding steak or barbecue sauce will do wonders to improve the flavor of these low-fat game meats. If you can't find game at your local grocery store, ask your grocer about availability. There are also several websites that, for a few spare bucks (pun intended), will ship you all the game you want. If you insist on beef, buy lean cuts and have the excess fat trimmed away.