For those that suffer with asthma, every day can seem like a challenge. You are probably always worried about what type of allergen, food allergies, environmental, or harsh chemical will set your asthma off and cause an asthma attack. While this condition can be managed with an asthma inhaler, it is not something that is good to depend on every day. The great thing is that certain dietary changes can help reduce the amount of asthma attacks.

Here are a few foods to stay away from for asthma attack prevention:

1. Peanuts
Many asthma sufferers have some type of nut allergy. Most of them are a peanut allergy. While there are varying degrees to how much exposure can cause an attack, it is a good idea to stay away from all types of peanut products. This involves items cooked in peanut oil. Even though the peanut taste is refined from the oil, there is no true way to tell how much is left.

2. Shellfish
Just like peanuts, shellfish is a common allergy that affects many asthma sufferers. Shellfish includes seafood such as crawfish, lobsters, mussels, and even the beloved crabs. It is not clear why, but the overexposure to the shellfish really upsets the respiratory system and is very serious. Many people die from asthma attacks and allergy attacks from this type of seafood.

3. Sulfites
While it is technically not a food but a preservative, sulfites are very triggering to people with asthma. They can cause mild attacks like wheezings up to more serious ones that can cause the lungs to close completely. Sadly, sulfites are in many of our favorite foods, such as pickles in brine, dried fruits, packaged potatoes, maraschino cherries, and even some wines.

4. Allergenic foods
Because most people associate asthma symptoms with being triggered by the environment, this is not always the case. This is why it is always a good idea to know which foods you are allergic to as asthma suffers, and write them down just in case you forget. While you allergen may not be something as common as shellfish or peanuts, your body does not know the difference. Please take them seriously, because it could really save your life one day.

It is impossible to list all the foods that can trigger asthma attacks. However, this list can give you a baseline on what to look for the next time you reach for a snack or go out to eat. Don’t worry, it is not the end of the world, and you are not suffering alone.