For those living with a chronic lung disease like COPD, every breath matters—and so does every bite. While nutrition is important for everyone, it plays an especially critical role when managing the daily challenges of lung disease. Yet, as Jenna Zaffino, a consultant to the American Lung Association, notes, “There is often a gap for people in understanding how food relates to lung health.”
Fay is honored to partner with the American Lung Association to help close that gap. Together, we are committed to raising awareness and empowering individuals to use nutrition as a proactive tool to support their respiratory well-being.
The Challenge: When Eating Becomes a Balancing Act
Your body uses food as fuel, but for people with lung disease, the process of breathing itself requires significantly more energy. In fact, the muscles used for breathing may need up to 10 times more calories than those of someone without COPD.
This creates a difficult balancing act. Symptoms like bloating, shortness of breath during meals, fatigue, and lack of appetite make eating a challenge. As the ALA article highlights, this can feel overwhelming. The solution lies in a strategic approach to nutrition, focusing on nutrient-dense foods that provide maximum energy with minimum "exhaust" in the form of carbon dioxide.
Why This Partnership Matters: Creating a Personalized Plan
There is no one-size-fits-all nutrition plan for lung disease. The experience is highly individualized, which is why working with a professional is so important. This partnership connects the American Lung Association’s community to a network of credentialed experts who can provide that vital, personalized support.
A Registered Dietitian can help individuals with lung disease:
- Create a balanced eating plan with the right mix of carbs, proteins, and fats to make breathing easier.
- Develop strategies to manage symptoms like bloating and fatigue around mealtimes.
- Achieve and maintain a healthy weight to reduce strain on the lungs and diaphragm.
Fay’s mission is to make this connection seamless, removing barriers like insurance confusion and the difficulty of finding the right specialist.
Looking Ahead: Empowering Your Health Journey
Managing a chronic lung disease is a lifelong journey, but nutrition is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Our collaboration with the American Lung Association is a commitment to empowering people to take an active role in their health. By making expert nutrition guidance more accessible, we can help more people improve their energy, enhance their quality of life, and breathe a little easier.
