Inflammation: A Key Component of Many Diseases–Including Asthma

Inflammation of the airways is a major component of asthma. Face it, the typical American diet is designed to produce inflammation. There are literally hundreds of studies demonstrating that improving the diet improves asthma symptoms. Several studies found that asthma symptoms improved for patients following the Mediterranean diet and the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables1,2,3.

5 Ways to Improve Asthma Symptoms

  1. Reduce inflammation with diet: Consider following the Roadmap to Health.
  2. Pancreatic enzymes: Although enzymes are used primarily for pain, many doctors trained in natural healthcare sometimes use proteolytic enzymes as part of a program to reduce inflammation. Although enzymes have not been extensively studied for asthma, some clinicians report good results. There is some evidence to support this4,5.
  3. Hidden food sensitivity: Sometimes a good food can be bad for you. Click here to read about this in detail. One study found that 62% of patients experienced complete symptom relief after following an elimination diet for six weeks. Twenty-eight percent experienced partial relief.
  4. Magnesium: Magnesium is nature’s muscle relaxer. It turns out that it also relaxes the bronchioles. IV magnesium has been used to effectively treat asthma attacks, reducing the need for hospitalization7,8,9. Several studies have shown that magnesium supplementation can improve symptoms and quality of life10,11,12,13,14.
  5. Quercetin and Vitamin C: Quercetin has generated some interest because of its potential to help allergy and asthma patients. Combining it with vitamin C makes it more effective. Studies have shown that quercetin reduces inflammation in the airways15,16,17,18,19,20. It has also been shown to improve breathing.

Start with 3 Simple Changes

If results are less than ideal, you can add the enzymes and check for hidden food sensitivities. Remember, this is not a complete list. Some patients will need to address stress/adrenal function, the microbiome, or digestion in general before their symptoms clear up.

Try this: Talk to your doctor first. He or she should be pleased with this approach.

  1. Roadmap to Health diet: This diet will reduce inflammation. It also avoids foods to which people are commonly sensitive (like gluten, dairy, soy, and corn). The Coca Pulse Test may help you to find problem foods—try it out.
  2. Take Magnesium: Start with 400 mg. Take if right before bedtime on an empty stomach. If stools become soft, take less.
  3. Take Vitamin C & Quercetin: Take 500 mg of each, 3x/day.

If results are less than ideal, do not despair. We are not treating asthma, we are just trying to fix enough of your body’s infrastructure to relieve the symptoms. Sometimes more needs to be done. These are some issues that may be in play (look them up on WholeHealthWeb.com).

Selected References.

  1. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2024 Feb;75(1):4-30. Greater fruit and vegetables consumption, and adherence to a Mediterranean type of diet reduces the risk for asthma in children; a systematic review and meta-analysis
  2. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2013 Jun;24(4):330-8. Influence of Mediterranean diet on asthma in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  3. Nutr Rev. 2014 Jul;72(7):411-28. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of wheezing and asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  4. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Sep 1;172(5):559-65. Differential proteolytic enzyme activity in eosinophilic and neutrophilic asthma
  5. Aesthetic Plast Surg. Jan-Feb 1999;23(1):41-4. Orally administered proteases in aesthetic surgery
  6. Ogle KA, Bullock JD. Children with allergic rhinitis and/or bronchial asthma treated with elimination diet. Ann Allergy 1977;39:8-11.
  7. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2018 Jun;34(6):390-395. Intravenous and Nebulized Magnesium Sulfate for Treating Acute Asthma in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  8. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr 29;4(4):CD011050. Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating children with acute asthma in the emergency department
  9. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2016 Feb;17(2):e29-33. High-Dose Magnesium Sulfate Infusion for Severe Asthma in the Emergency Department: Efficacy Study
  10. J Asthma. 2010 Feb;47(1):83-92. Effect of oral magnesium supplementation on measures of airway resistance and subjective assessment of asthma control and quality of life in men and women with mild to moderate asthma: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
  11. Eur Respir J. 1997 Oct;10(10):2225-9. Investigation of the effect of short-term change in dietary magnesium intake in asthma
  12. Medical Principals and Practice Vol 27, Issue 2, May 2019. The Relationship between Hypomagnesemia and Pulmonary Function Tests in Patients with Chronic Asthma
  13. Natural Medicine Journal Jan 15, 2014 Effect of Oral Magnesium Supplementation on Asthma
  14. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan;61(1):54-60. Oral magnesium supplementation in asthmatic children: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial
  15. Rogerio AP, et al. Anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin-loaded microemulsion in the airways allergic inflammatory model in mice. Pharmacol Res. 2010;61(4):288–97.
  16. Nanua S, et al. Quercetin blocks airway epithelial cell chemokine expression. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2006;35(5):602–10.
  17. Harwood M, et al. A critical review of the data related to the safety of quercetin and lack of evidence of in vivo toxicity, including lack of genotoxic/carcinogenic properties. Food Chem Toxicol. 2007;45(11):2179–205.
  18. Nanua S, et al. Quercetin blocks airway epithelial cell chemokine expression. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2006;35(5):602–10.
  19. Townsend EA, Emala CW Sr. Quercetin acutely relaxes airway smooth muscle and potentiates β-agonist-induced relaxation via dual phosphodiesterase inhibition of PLCβ and PDE4. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2013;305(5):L396–403.
  20. Impact of quercetin on systemic levels of inflammation: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled human trials Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2020 Mar;71(2):152-163
  21. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2010 Feb;20(1):56-62 The dietary flavonoid quercetin increases VO(2max) and endurance capacity