Being a chronic lung disorder, asthma creates breathing problems in an individual who is diagnosed with it. As asthma lasts for a very long time, sometimes as long as the person lives for, one should always keep track of the diet being followed. You must also know the type of food items that can aggravate this condition and you need to stay away from.

Here is a list of some foods to avoid if you have asthma

Wine and beer
Sulfur dioxide, or sulfites as it is commonly known as, is a type of preservative which is found in several food products including alcoholic beverages like beer and wine. Sulfur dioxide proves to be harmful for people who have asthma. And, if you suffer from coughing or wheezing after consuming a glass of wine or beer, then you must know that it is acting as a trigger for the condition you have. The presence of another element called histamine in wine has also been known to cause symptoms like sneezing and watery eyes.

Shrimp
As delicious as might be, shrimp is one of those foods that should be avoided by asthma patients. Frozen shrimps are even more harmful as they contain preservatives like sulphites in high quantity. Since such frozen food items are stored for a very long time, generous amount of sulphites is added to preserve them and prevent the growth of certain black spots on them. If you visit a restaurant to eat, ensure that the food you are ordering does not have any shrimp or other kinds of shellfish in it.

Dried fruits
Sulphites are also found in many varieties of dried fruits. Unlike regular fruits, dried fruits are supposed to have a long shelf life. Thus, such preservatives are added to make sure that they remain in good condition in stores for several days. If you intend to buy dried fruits, read the list of ingredients mentioned on the label carefully and buy only if does not have any amount of sulphur dioxide in it.

Maraschino cherries
Maraschino cherries certainly look alluring, to say the least. They taste even better. However, it should be avoided when you have asthma. Maraschino cherries mostly come in cans and contain preservatives that can be harmful to a person suffering from asthma.

Foods that cause allergy
Different people are allergic to different kind of foods. If one is suffering from asthma, he/she must make a list of food items that they are allergic to and do not consume them. A food item, which you are allergic to, can be found as a minor ingredient in a dish that seems harmless. So, you have to be careful in that regard too.