Can Your Diet Affect Your Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
You probably know that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been tied with high body mass index (BMI), neck girth, and abdominal fat. You probably also know that losing weight can also help you improve your sleep apnea symptoms. But here are a few things you might not know about sleep apnea, dieting, and weight loss:
- The type of diet you follow could help ameliorate your OSA symptoms.
- Non-overweight OSA sufferers may still benefit from certain types of diets.
- The specific types of foods you eat as well as your caloric may affect your sleep apnea.
Let's take a closer look at three different diet plans that could help you fight back against sleep apnea.
Following A Mediterranean Diet
In 2011, the
European Respiratory Journal published a study focused on the
effects of a Mediterranean diet on sleep apnea. For the study, researchers found 40 participants who were obese and suffered from moderate to severe sleep apnea. Twenty of the participants were placed on a "prudent diet" for six months while twenty were placed on a Mediterranean diet for six months. All participants were counseled to increase their physical activity.
The study found that only those on the Mediterranean diet showed significant improvements in their sleep apnea symptoms. In addition, those on the Mediterranean diet also showed greater reductions in their waistlines.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet, which originates in Greece and Southern Italy, consists of mainly fruits, vegetables, fish, beans, nuts and whole grains. It uses olive oil instead of butter as its main fat and herbs instead of salt to flavor dishes.
Following An Anti-Inflammation Diet
A 2011
sleep apnea case study found that eating a diet that fights against chronic inflammation may be effective in reducing sleep apnea symptoms. The case study followed a 55-year-old white male who had been suffering from sleep apnea for a decade and who used a CPAP device. After following an anti-inflammation diet, along with other anti-inflammation lifestyle changes, his sleep apnea became more mild.
What is an anti-inflammation diet?
This diet focuses on foods that fight inflammation, such as fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and spices. It disallows foods that cause inflammation, including red meats, saturated fats, and alcohol.
Following A Low-Calorie Diet
A number of
sleep apnea studies have found that restricting calories can help fight the symptoms of sleep apnea in obese patients. A 2010 study found that a low-calorie diet helped patients improve their respiratory disturbances, arousal index, daytime sleepiness, metabolic status, and quality of life – although many with moderate to severe sleep apnea still needed other interventions to treat their OSA.
What is a low-calorie diet?
In the study, participates drank 800-calories of a nutrient shake for a short time period before switching to a restricted calorie diet. A restricted calorie diet differs depending on your size and sex, but is usually between 1200 and 2000 calories per day.
Sleep Apnea Surgical Solutions
It is very important to note that lifestyle changes, including changes to one's diet, can often improve but not cure sleep apnea. In most cases, lifestyle changes are used in tandem with other treatments, CPAP for example, in order to minimize symptoms as much as possible. Some patients with moderate to severe OSA, or patients whose OSA does not seem to be connected to weight, or are non-compliant with CPAP, may wish to consider other interventions, including surgery.
To find out more about Surgical Sleep Solutions, please call (855) 560-7378 or request more information below.
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