Sleep apnea causes a person’s breathing to stop and start at intervals. To avoid it from turning potentially dangerous, one can make dietary changes to manage symptoms of sleep apnea. Avoiding certain foods can induce deep sleep and may help regulate breathing too. High-fat food and refined carbs can disturb sleep. This can further worsen one’s condition. Let’s look more closely at foods to avoid if one is diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Bananas
Eating fruits like bananas are often considered healthy. But this is not the case with those with sleep apnea. Bananas are instrumental in inducing more mucus production in the nasal tract. Especially the overripe and mushy ones. More mucus means more chances of the nose getting blocked. This can cause breathing problems while sleeping and worsen symptoms of sleep apnea. So, avoid eating bananas if diagnosed with sleep apnea.

Junk food
Junk food has refined carbs that can lead to unhealthy weight gain. This can increase sleep apnea symptoms. Junk food like crisps, fries, sweetened cereals, and pasta, should be avoided. Sodas and flavored candies should be kept at bay too. Refined carbs are also present in white flour and white rice, so they should be avoided as well. Making such dietary changes can also improve sleep quality and overall health too.

High-fat dairy
Heavy cream, processed cheese, and butter may taste delicious, but it is all bad for sleep apnea. It can cause immense weight gain if consumed regularly. Sleep apnea and obesity are related, so it’s essential to avoid fattening foods like high-fat dairy. Instead, use low-fat dairy products. Low-fat milk or skimmed milk are good alternatives for whole milk. Also, use part-skim fresh mozzarella cheese. These are good sources of calcium and vitamin D and may help the management of sleep apnea.

Red meat
Red meats like beef and pork are high in fat and must be avoided when possible. Especially processed and packed red meat products like cold cuts. These can increase the fat content in the body, which causes discomfort to those with sleep apnea. Even white meat can be bad if it’s deep-fried. With sleep apnea, it’s important to curb fat intake when one can. A healthy alternative to maintaining the fat content in the body can be fresh salmon which has heart-healthy fats.

Refined sugar
Refined sugar should be avoided to manage sleep apnea. It increases mucus production. Foods like salad dressings and pasta sauces may create more phlegm in the body. This can thicken the mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe. It can also cause throat irritation. Avoid foods that have refined sugars and also skip adding sugar to morning beverages. This can help one manage sleep apnea symptoms and improve sleep quality gradually.