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Australian scientists believe high-fiber diet combats asthma

Xinhua, June 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian researchers specializing in respiratory illnesses are investigating a theory that a high- fiber diet can help asthma sufferers.

They believe such a diet can reduce airway inflammation in people with the disease, which causes sufferers periods where they can barely breathe.

University of Newcastle Associate Professor Lisa Wood, Dr. Katherine Baines, Dr. Bronwyn Berthon and Professor Peter Gibson believe simply eating more dietary fiber may help control the symptoms.

They will run a clinical trial to investigate their theory, they said in a statement on Friday.

"What you eat when you have asthma is important," lead researcher Associate Professor Lisa Wood said. "Some foods may be detrimental for asthma sufferers, such as fast foods that are high in saturated fat, while things like fruit and vegetables are beneficial."

"We know from other trials that we've done that people with asthma may not eat enough fiber, and that more fiber in the diet is related to better lung function and less inflammation in the airways."

Patients in the trial will drink a powdered fiber supplement.

"When we eat soluble fiber, the healthy bacteria in our gut break fiber down to create compounds that travel into the bloodstream and have positive effects throughout the body," Associate Professor Wood said.

"Because there is currently no cure for asthma, the more we know about the effects of diet in asthma, the more we can help people to get their asthma under control." Endi