A new research warns that eating processed meats four times a week can aggravate asthmas symptoms.
The study suggests that eating a lot of cured or processed meats including ham, salami or sausages can just worsen the condition of asthma patients. If consumed 4 or more times in a week, the symptoms of asthma get triggered, according to the findings published online by the journal Thorax.
French researchers explained that the reason behind this event is because cured and processed meats contain a significant amount of nitrites to keep them from spoiling and nitrites may contribute to the inflammation of the airways, and is a common characterization of asthma, US News cited. Other symptoms of asthma which are triggered by eating cured meats include difficulty in breathing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, Express reported.
The study involved 1000 people with respiratory disease. The researchers discovered that those who consumed more cured and processed meats were 76 percent more likely to suffer from worse asthma symptoms compared to those who ate less.
Processed meats have been associated with higher risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dr. Zhen Li, the lead author of the study also mentioned that these are also the meats that were identified to be cancer-causing by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The researchers said that there is really no definite conclusions yet that can be drawn from the study but it can point out the association of processed meats to lung function and overall human health. Still, Li wants to warn the public about the intake of processed meat.
"Public health strategies are warranted to reduce cured and processed meat intake," Li said.
According to WHO, 235 million people in the world have asthma, and the study on the correlation between eating processed meats and asthma can help raise awareness to help people avoid getting the symptoms triggered. Some of the most common triggers of asthma include outdoor allergens, dust mites and pet dander, tobacco and cigarette smoke, chemical irritants and many others.