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Nutrition plays a vital role in the growth, development, and maintenance of the pulmonary system throughout the lifespan. Starting in utero, maternal malnutrition can limit alveolarization and pulmonary vascular development in the fetus.
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Lung development continues through childhood and adolescence during which the child’s lung volume expands and respiratory muscle strength increases. By adulthood, respiratory growth and development stabilizes and can begin to decline secondary to aging and comorbidities.
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Pulmonary conditions limit nutritional intake and lead to vitamin deficiencies. COPD is one of the most prevalent conditions affected by this. The diminished respiratory capacity among clients with COPD can limit the amount of food they are able to eat, placing them at high risk for nutritional deficiencies.
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Consuming a nutrient-rich diet boosts the immune system and helps prevent respiratory tract infections and pneumonia. An anti-inflammatory diet can also minimize the impact of infections. High-fat diets can exacerbate asthma and pulmonary fibrosis symptoms.