When you are living with a chronic lung disease, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), every breath matters and so does every bite. While nutrition is important for everyone, it plays an especially critical role in your health and quality of life when you are managing the challenges of lung disease. Jenna Zaffino, consultant to the American Lung Association’s Patient & Caregiver Network, notes, “There is often a gap for people in understanding how food relates to lung health.”
Why Nutrition Matters for People with COPD
Your body turns the food you eat into energy through a process called metabolism. This process uses oxygen and nutrients to create energy and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product, which you then breathe out. For people living with COPD, breathing itself requires more energy, which means your muscles may need up to 10 times more calories than those of someone without COPD.
The type of food you eat can make a difference in how easy it is to breathe. Foods contain a mix of carbohydrates, fats and proteins but your body processes each one of these differently. Think of it like fueling an engine, some fuels burn cleaner and produce less exhaust. Choosing foods that create less “exhaust” in your body can make breathing feel a little easier. These types of food are often part of the best diet for someone living with COPD.
When Eating Becomes a Challenge
“Nutrition can be completely overwhelming when you are living with a chronic lung disease,” says Jenna. “Managing your diet while dealing with the day-to-day realities of COPD can feel like a balancing act.” Registered dietitians and physicians help patients work towards optimal healthy outcomes.
Symptoms such as abdominal bloating and shortness of breath during and after eating can make mealtime uncomfortable. Excess mucus, lack of appetite, and fatigue may also interfere with your ability to eat enough to fuel your body. Many people with COPD live with other health conditions, called comorbidities, which may require special dietary needs. On top of that, some medications can cause side effects like dry mouth or changes in taste, making healthy eating for people living with COPD even more challenging.
Steps You Can Take
Because every person’s experience with COPD is unique, there’s no one-size-fits-all nutrition plan. That’s why it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about your diet and work with a registered dietitian who understands the needs of people living with chronic lung disease.
“Living with lung disease is challenging and is a highly individualized experience that differs from one person and one disease to the next,” Jenna explains. “Getting a plan that considers your situation is vital.”
Here are some strategies that may help make eating easier and more effective for your body’s needs. Sitting upright during meals can help your lungs and diaphragm work more freely and pausing between bites to practice deep breathing can be useful if you become short of breath. You may find that eating more in the morning, when you have the most energy, works better than waiting until later in the day. Smaller, more frequent meals, ideally four to six throughout the day, can also make it easier for your diaphragm to move and your lungs to fill and empty comfortably while you are eating. Your healthcare provider or dietitian can also help you identify foods that:
- Provide the energy your body needs
- Reduce the likelihood of bloating or discomfort
- Support overall lung health
You don’t have to figure the right diet out on your own. Along with the recommendations provided by your healthcare team, there are resources available to help you manage your nutrition. The American Lung Association’s Patient & Caregiver Network offers a free Wellness Hub, which includes the Empowered Kitchen. Here you will find recipes, cooking tips and practical advice for healthy eating when living with a chronic lung disease.
Jenna also shares that patience and time are important components of making some changes in your dietary habits. “What can initially feel like restrictions, can also end up opening up new options,” and lead to a more enjoyable food experience.
Taking Control of Your Health Journey
COPD is a lifelong condition, but there are many ways to take an active role in managing it and nutrition is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. By learning how certain foods affect your breathing and working with your healthcare team to create a plan that fits your needs, you can improve both your energy levels and quality of life. As Jenna reminds us, “Empowering yourself is an important part of taking control of your health journey.”
Learn more at Lung.org/copd.
Educational content supported by Fay.
Blog last updated: September 5, 2025
