Mixed
Adherence to a high-quality diet, specifically the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
To lower your risk of COPD, adopt a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats (like omega-3s), while minimizing processed meats, sugary drinks, and trans fats. This dietary pattern is associated with a 33% lower risk of developing COPD, even among smokers and ex-smokers. You don't need to track every nutrient; simply prioritize whole, plant-based foods and limit processed items.
A higher AHEI-2010 diet score (reflecting high intakes of whole grains, polyunsaturated fatty acids, nuts, and long chain omega-3 fats and low intakes of red/processed meats, refined grains, and sugar sweetened drinks) was associated with a lower risk of COPD in both women and men.
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort study (N=120,254) with long follow-up, adjusted for major confounders, but relies on self-reported dietary data and self-reported COPD diagnosis.
Source
Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among US women and men: prospective study
Raphaëlle Varraso et al. · BMJ · 2015
DOI 10.1136/bmj.h286
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