Doctors have found that eating a Mediterranean diet, high in fruits, fish, and vegetables and low in saturated fat, can reduce the likelihood of asthma in children.
The study reported in the June issue of Thorax showed that eating foods similar to those in a Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of both wheeze and asthma.
The study suggested that certain fish, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the risk of asthma. Furthermore, fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants, which also help reduce the risk of asthma.
In addition, the study found that children who ate burgers at least three times a week had increased risk of having asthma. The team of researchers suggest that it may be the dietary intake of trans-fatty acids that caused this association with fast-food burgers.