1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis and diet

Posted by ckscoville @ckscoville, Jul 26, 2020

I’ve heard and read conflicting views and recommendations regarding the best diet for those of us with Bronchiectasis, esp. regarding dairy products and whether they contribute to mucus production. What have you found out regarding diet and foods that trigger problems?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

kathyhg | @kathyhg | Jul 31, 2020

My simple understanding is that bronchiecstasis is an enlargement (kind of like scar tissue) in the airways in the lungs. For me, the best I can guess is that it is from pneumonia.

MAC is a bacteria that finds a nice comfy place to settle in the enlarged airway so that it can grow and wreak havoc on your lungs and your life.

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1 reply
Barb | @1065408 | Jul 31, 2020
In reply to @barbb "Thanks for your explanation. Now that you have explained that so well....can you or anyone explain..." + (show)
@barbb

Thanks for your explanation. Now that you have explained that so well....can you or anyone explain what the relationship is between MAC and Bronchiectasis? Obviously there are similarities but beyond that?

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Bronchiectasis does not allow lungs to clean themselves as normal healthy lungs. Therefore the MAC bacteria once in the lungs is not cleared out as it would be in otherwise healthy lungs, leaving a nice comfy home for the MAC bacteria to settle.

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1 reply
annfl | @annfl | Jul 31, 2020
In reply to @beatrixflower "Some dairy is actually beneficial. Most of the organic cheeses are "raw" or "unpasteurized". This is..." + (show)
@beatrixflower

Some dairy is actually beneficial. Most of the organic cheeses are "raw" or "unpasteurized". This is different or safer somehow than raw milk but still contains all of the lung benefits of raw dairy. Also organic whey protein powder is one of the best food sources of glutathione. Glutathione is something I learned about in this group as being a powerhouse for the lungs.

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Are glutathione capsules any good or is the organic whey protein better? Also I haven’t heard of raw organic cheese as being good for the lungs.

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beatrixflower | @beatrixflower | Jul 31, 2020

I believe many folks take NAC which is very high in glutathione. I don't like pills so I try to find food sources.

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Jul 31, 2020
In reply to @kathyhg "Would you share your recipe for kimchi and let us know how you manage to eat..." + (show)
@kathyhg

Would you share your recipe for kimchi and let us know how you manage to eat 2-3 ounces a day? Thanks!

I also try to drink kombucha every day, kefir when I can and I keep a good supply of probiotics capsules to take every day. I’ve basically given up dairy, gluten, sugar and alcohol except for the odd glass of red wine. I was never much of a meat eater so that’s been easy. My beverages of choice have become filtered water with apple cider vinegar and/or tea made from fresh lemon juice and ginger root.

Since this is a thread on diet, I won’t even start on other ways I’ve changed my life since I decided to try to take control of my “recovery”. Thanks again to everyone on this forum for all the helpful information that has enabled me to do this.

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I eat a “weird” prelim breakfast ‘cause my wife’s a night owl and sleeps late and also because I take a morning pill which is done with food per directions. The “weird” part is the ingredients I’ve assembled: a slice of Ezekiel Cinnamon/Raisin toasted topped with a schemer of peanut butter with a “patina” of fruit jam and a handful of fresh blueberries. Between “bites” I have spoonful of kimchi; it clears the palate. Recipe to follow. Don

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Jul 31, 2020
In reply to @poodledoc "Don, I concur with the gut-lung axis theory. I have been on a WFPB (whole food..." + (show)
@poodledoc

Don, I concur with the gut-lung axis theory. I have been on a WFPB (whole food plant based) diet for a couple of years now, and recommend it for general good health. We have been trained for decades to believe animal protein is essential to good health, not true in my opinion. There are a couple of good books out there that explains the WFPB diet very well, "How Not to Die" and "The China Study". Also a good documentary is "The Game Changers" on Netflix. Bill

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Poodledoc, what you read and what you watch makes clear you know your way around the world of healthful eat ing. Don

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barbb | @barbb | Jul 31, 2020
In reply to @kathyhg "My simple understanding is that bronchiecstasis is an enlargement (kind of like scar tissue) in the..." + (show)
@kathyhg

My simple understanding is that bronchiecstasis is an enlargement (kind of like scar tissue) in the airways in the lungs. For me, the best I can guess is that it is from pneumonia.

MAC is a bacteria that finds a nice comfy place to settle in the enlarged airway so that it can grow and wreak havoc on your lungs and your life.

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Thanks Kathy for your reply. I did have pneumonia and I have heard that, at the least pneumonia can be a contributor to bronchiectasis.

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barbb | @barbb | Jul 31, 2020
In reply to @1065408 "Bronchiectasis does not allow lungs to clean themselves as normal healthy lungs. Therefore the MAC bacteria..." + (show)
@1065408

Bronchiectasis does not allow lungs to clean themselves as normal healthy lungs. Therefore the MAC bacteria once in the lungs is not cleared out as it would be in otherwise healthy lungs, leaving a nice comfy home for the MAC bacteria to settle.

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Hi another Barb 🙂 looks like you have now explained why MAC can be mentioned in the same breath as bronchiectasis!

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thumperguy | @thumperguy | Jul 31, 2020
In reply to @barbb "Thanks Kahyhg for asking my questions re Kimchi! Is having bronchiectasis your primary motivator for the..." + (show)
@barbb

Thanks Kahyhg for asking my questions re Kimchi! Is having bronchiectasis your primary motivator for the diet you speak of?

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I’d not thought of it being the primary motivator but it certainly contributes to continuing to use it.

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Aug 1, 2020
In reply to @poodledoc "Don, I concur with the gut-lung axis theory. I have been on a WFPB (whole food..." + (show)
@poodledoc

Don, I concur with the gut-lung axis theory. I have been on a WFPB (whole food plant based) diet for a couple of years now, and recommend it for general good health. We have been trained for decades to believe animal protein is essential to good health, not true in my opinion. There are a couple of good books out there that explains the WFPB diet very well, "How Not to Die" and "The China Study". Also a good documentary is "The Game Changers" on Netflix. Bill

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Am watching 'The Game Changers' now.

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