Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which an individual suffers from irregular breathing while sleeping in the night. One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring loudly while sleeping and feeling a sense of fatigue during the day, even after sleeping for long hours. Here, we will discuss a few dietary tips for sleep apnea.

Foods to eat for sleep apnea patients

• Vegetables and fruits
  Eating vegetables and fruits is one of the most important dietary tips for sleep apnea patients. Most varieties of vegetables and fruits consist of fibers and nutrients in high quantities. Most people, who suffer from sleep apnea, tend to overeat and gain a lot of weight subsequently. The presence of fiber ensures that your stomach feels full after consuming a healthy meal, consisting of fruits and vegetables in controlled portions. If you do not get hunger pangs sporadically, you will refrain from overeating.
• Dairy products that are low-fat
  You must consume dairy products that have low-fat content in them. These products are also rich in vitamin D, calcium, and protein. All these factors help in making the stomach feel full for a long time after consuming them. If you swap dairy products like heavy cream, cheddar cheese, and whole milk with low-fat milk or mozzarella cheese, which is partially skimmed, you can manage and maintain your weight, which in turn helps in taking care of sleep apnea.
• Oil extracted from plants
  Sleep apnea patients find great relief from oils that are extracted from plants. These oils also work as a good substitute for saturated fat content that is found in margarine and butter. These natural oils are found in different kinds of plants like safflowers, canola, flaxseeds, olives, and sunflowers, among others.

Foods to avoid for sleep apnea patients
Here is a list of food items that prove detrimental to your health when you are suffering from sleep apnea.

• Bananas
  Most fruits prove to be beneficial for the health of a sleep apnea patient but the same cannot be said about bananas. Bananas lead to an increase in the production of mucus, which causes breathing problems. Bananas that are very ripe and soft contribute greatly to this problem.
• High-fat meals
  Food items or full meals, which are rich in fat content should be avoided when you are suffering from sleep apnea. You must also stay away from meat products like fish, chicken, beef, and pork, as they may prove to be harmful to you.
• Refined carbohydrates
  Refined carbohydrates contain sugar in high quantity and, thus, must be avoided during this condition. Even people who suffer from some dental issues are advised not to consume food items that are rich in refined carbohydrates. The more you consume such food items, the more weight you will gain. This will increase the symptoms of sleep apnea.