Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a chronic condition that obstructs air circulation in and out of the lung. Some of the symptoms of COPD include difficulty breathing, mucus secretion, wheezing, and coughing. The leading causes of this condition includes exposure to irritating chemicals or gases for a long time and smoking cigarettes. People suffering from COPD can develop other conditions such as lung cancer and heart disease after sometimes if the condition is not well managed.

The following are foods that worsen the symptoms of COPD:

1. Acidic foods and drinks
Acidic foods and drinks increase acidic concentration in the stomach. Consequently, during the opening of the esophagus valve, this stomach acid might get into the esophagus hence causing heartburn conditions. Frequent heartburn is associated with acid reflux disease that increases the symptoms of lung disease such as COPD. Therefore, vulnerable people should minimize acidic foods and drinks such as coffee, fruit juice, citrus, and spicy foods.

2. Carbonated beverages
Carbonated beverages contain a lot of carbonation and sugar but have got no calories. A higher concentration of carbonation in the stomach results in stomach bloating. This increases difficulties in breathing hence cumulative COPD symptoms. Therefore, high carbonated beverages such as beer, wine, sparkling cider, and soda should be minimized to reduce the symptoms.

3. Cold cuts
Cold cuts are among foods that cause an increase in COPD symptoms. Most processed cold cuts contain a high concentration of nitrates, which is added as an additive during processing. Nitrates are also added to supplement cold cut colors. According to the European Respiratory Journal, a high amount of nitrates in cold cuts increases COPD symptoms.

4. Dairy
Dairy products such as milk and yogurts contain a high amount of nutrients but worsen lung disease symptoms. They increase the production of mucus in the intestine due to the availability of casomorphin, an end product of milk. According to scientific research, an increased amount of casomorphins in the body increases mucus production in the respiratory system hence worsening COPD symptoms.

5. Excessive salt
Salt is an essential spice in food. It may be fine in the body when it is used in small quantities, but a high amount of salt in the diet affects the normal function of the body. For instance, high salt content increases water retention in the body, which results in breathing difficulties. Therefore, a salt-heavy diet should be avoided by using herbs and other spices for improvement of food flavor.

6. Cruciferous vegetables
Some of the nutritious and fibrous cruciferous vegetables include cabbages, radishes, broccoli, and cauliflower. They produce a lot of gases in the stomach when taken in large quantities, which causes stomach bloating. Consequently, higher stomach bloating results in uncomfortable and painful breathing hence not suitable for people with COPD. However, cruciferous vegetables can be used in a limited amount to prevent severe symptoms.

7. Fried foods
Fried food takes a longer time to digest due to high fat content. More extended digestion periods result in bloating in the lower abdomen. This results in breathing difficulty among patients suffering from COPD, because the diaphragm hurts during breathing due to extra gases secreted by digestive enzymes. Fried food also increases weight in the middle torso causing discomfort in the diaphragm due to high weight. Therefore, fried food such as chicken, onion rings, deep-fried pickles, and fried fish should be avoided.