Any idea which foods trigger asthma?

[yellowflowers]

My asthma is being triggered by more and more foods whilst pregnant but I can't work out which ones - anyone got any ideas what they could be?

My mum & three aunties have varying intolerances to wheat, soya & dairy that have brought on their asthma & arthritis. All found out what they can / can't take by doing an elimination diet - starting with something v simple (poached fish & boiled potatoes i think) then addding one thing at a time and seeing what happens. Prob worth a chat with the midwife if you're going to try that. Don't know if being pg makes you more sensitive to foods?

Red Wine. Big no no for anyone with asthma.

my DH finds that milk and yoghurt are the worst culprits for his asthma He's ok with red wine!! white is not good though! Gives him cramp.

Yellowflowers have you studied Buteyko? he has simple things to do such as breathing through yr nose ALL the time instead of gasping for breath which has really kept DH's asthma under control.

Check the additives and colourants ...(sulphates??)

Thanks. Last culprit was a chicken burger - probably lots of additives in that. Red wine is a no go for me too and currents and dried fruit. But recently I am starting to suspect bananas - is that possible?

I'm not sure it's safe to do an elimination diet while pregnant. I don't know, but it's worth checking.

I have bad wheat and dairy intolerances which spark off asthma. I don't drink red wine but that's because I don't like tannin - I have my tea super weak too! I don't know if it's related to my asthma as I drink it only in very rare social situations where refusal is simply too much effort.

Sulphites are a common trigger. You'll quite often see food labelled with this because of it. They are used as preservatives. Orange dried apricots are preserved with sulphites. The brown ones are not (they are much tastier and much more expensive). It could be that they are used to preserve the other dried fruit you have been eating?

Do you read labels carefully?

It can't hurt to follow a simple clear diet for a while, with lots of fresh veg and nothing processed.

Is it asthma or do you also have reflux which is making you cough??

They can be very similar. For me it was coffee, chocolate (sob), very spicy curries and red wine. but my problem is asthma being triggered by reflux

Elimation diet certainly safe to do whilst pregnant [safer than eating foods which trigger your asthma] as long as you include foods from all the food groups in the food you eat - protein, carbs, fruit and veg, calcium. If you cut out dairy be careful to get enough calcium, or take supplements.

Sulphites/sulphates are a trigger for me. Milk can be if I have a chest infection. I seem to have a problem with pineapple and pineapple juice.

I don't know about bananas. There is this about banana allergy, which is apparently quite rare.
here

I have been eating bananas all my life - was one of my first words apparently, so would be very surprised if it was.

Think it is asthma not reflux and doctor has ruled out chest infection.

Will try eliminating things though - always so hard especially when people cooking for me so much in attempt to help me put my feet up!

I will say getting a good air purifier has helped my asthma no end. Off inhalers now, and even have chest infection, which usually means I am on double doses.

what is an air purifier and where do you have it - in the bedroom?

Actually I had a drink of yoghurt (that new activia strawberry pouring yoghurt) this evening and half an hour later symptoms started so maybe it's that. I've been having some most days or past week and a half and I think my symptoms have been bad for that time. Once I've coughed so much I'm sick I'm usually better again.

Is yoghurt likely? Or maybe it has a colouring in it as it's pink and I've suspected red food colouring in the past (cherry drops make me cough and my throat closed significantly when inhad a sweet and sour a while ago).

My dd gets a bit wheezy if she drinks lemon or orange squash .

I actually have one in the bedroom and one in the sitting room - I recently got the second one and it has made an even bigger difference. Sharp are doing a free trial on MN at moment - maybe email Annmumsnet and see if you can get on it? Otherwise they have good ones here

i'll check that out POFAKKEDDthechair.

Just looked at the ingredient list on that yoghurt - loads of additives. hmmmm - could be that I guess given I'm usually fine with yoghurt.

yellow flowers ..Sometimes you become intolerant to a food you've eaten all yr life I don't eat bananas 'cos they give me reflux!!

that's interesting. Annoying though isn't it.
I hope not all yoghurts - it's my main source of calcium because I don't like cheese or drink milk by itself.

I have noticed recently that certain red wines set me off. Never happened before.

yellowflowers - calcium is in lots of other foods as vegans can do fine. If you have a search you'll find a good list. I don't have mine to hand atm but it's stuff like green leafy veg, parsely, humous (from tahini) and wholegrains. Sardines with bones in also have lots of calcium.

Soft fruits (strawberries particularly) used to affect my ds

Thingone is quite right about calcium, think how strong gorillas are who only eat fruit, leaves and a few insects!