Diet linked to lower childhood asthma - goodnews: essential natural health news - Brief Article

Better Nutrition, Jan, 2004

Young adults, whose diets include whole milk and fruits such as apples and pears, are significantly less likely to have or develop asthma, says a study presented in the September 2003 edition of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Australian researchers analyzed the impact of 25 different nutrients and 47 food groups. They found that regular whole milk consumption is associated with a 34 percent lower risk of current asthma; and it reduces the likelihood of doctor-diagnosed asthma and atopy--allergy--by almost 30 percent. Apples and pears also protected against asthma.

Prior research linking fruit and vegetable intake to better respiratory health suggests the high flavonoid content in these fruits could play a role. While whole milk and fruits are nutritious foods for children and young adults, the researchers caution that making dietary changes based on a single study are not advisable.

Asthma is shared by 10 million Americans and is predominantly inherited. Childhood asthma's prevalence and severity have increased immensely in recent decades, and the cause is still unknown.