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.

Hi everyone,
My name is Suzanne, I am 55 years old and I got diagnosed by Mac Lung Disease. I like to learn more about your experiences, taking the medications and treatments.

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@suzanne11

Hi everyone,
My name is Suzanne, I am 55 years old and I got diagnosed by Mac Lung Disease. I like to learn more about your experiences, taking the medications and treatments.

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Join the Facebook Group named Lung Matters, it is an excellent group also. I've been fighting MAC, Bronchiectasis, cavitation, fungal, and more for over 5 years. We learn to treat it, live with it, and continue our somewhat normal lives.

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HI, are you on meds, or do you just do all the clearance modalities?

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@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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So how are those changes working for you?

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I haven’t thought about that post for a long time but happy to say that I’m feeling better than I was when I wrote it.
Despite occasionally feeling overwhelmed and indulging in my own personal “pity parties”, I’ve been diligent with most of the changes I made back then and made others as I’ve learned more about this disease. I’ve found that getting mac has changed my life, in some ways good and in other ways not so good. I walk a fine line between seeing everything through a Mac lens (and sometimes being impossible to be around) and remembering to get out and enjoy life. This forum has been a lifesaver.

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@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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@kathyhg I am curious to learn about other changes you’ve made aside from diet that have helped?

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@suzanne11

Hi everyone,
My name is Suzanne, I am 55 years old and I got diagnosed by Mac Lung Disease. I like to learn more about your experiences, taking the medications and treatments.

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I take NAC 600

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@thumperguy

Hi CK, you’ve likely heard about, perhaps read about the recognition over the relatively recent past of the outsized role our gut health plays in the regulation of our overall health, including the so-called gut-lung axis. Happily it turns out that actions on our part that foster gut health do the same for overall health. A real “win/win! The ticket: plenty of dietary fiber in the food you chow down. You can amp it a bit more by adding some fermented stuff like unpasteurized sauerkraut and/or kimchi (found in the refrigerator case at the grocery). Amp it even further by ditching all animal protein. Warning: make this change at the risk of becoming as startlingly handsome as me. Don

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Yes! I agree!! I make a big smoothie every morning and rotate some of the good gut choices and lots of organic berries + greens, superfoods...no dairy. (Northwest wild foods has some great berries you probably cannot find in your area, very high in antioxidants ..immune boosting) Avoiding the foods Thumper mentioned can help with inflammation as well!! (which is basically what we are dealing with) All of these changes + many more has helped my conditions and my CT's have even improved. (not expected!) Blessings!

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@kathleenlp

Yes! I agree!! I make a big smoothie every morning and rotate some of the good gut choices and lots of organic berries + greens, superfoods...no dairy. (Northwest wild foods has some great berries you probably cannot find in your area, very high in antioxidants ..immune boosting) Avoiding the foods Thumper mentioned can help with inflammation as well!! (which is basically what we are dealing with) All of these changes + many more has helped my conditions and my CT's have even improved. (not expected!) Blessings!

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Hi Kathleen - I continue to use dairy in my smoothies, homemade Greek yogurt with nothing added. Years ago, due to my thick, sticky mucus, we did a 2 month dairy-free test to see if it would help - no change. So I went back to limited dairy for the calcium and other nutrients. Greek yogurt, hard cheeses, and lactose free milk.
So my smoothies have a big scoop of yogurt as well as whatever I find in the fridge.

We visit our local farmers' markets for fresh local produce and it makes up at least 50% of our daily diet. We have a diverse community near both of our homes, so have added many new and unfamiliar foods at the urging of local producers.
Sue

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I try to use Goat dairy as it is easier to digest (for me). Goat milk, kefir, cheese. I think dairy is very individual. Some bodies do fine with it and some do not! I am glad I tolerate it as there are so many things I do not tolerate!

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