Ask the doctor.

I've suffered from asthma all my life, and I would like to be less reliant on steroids. Is there anything I can de myself to help control my asthma? --R.S. Destin, Florida

To control asthma, start by limiting a certain kind of oil in your diet called arachidonic acid, which is round in red meat, old cooking oils (smell them, and if they don't smell fresh, then throw them out), pork and, to a lesser degree, chicken. Most arachidonic acid comes from animal and daily products.

Also, decrease your consumption of milk, chocolate, peanuts, wheat, cirrus and food colorings, and increase your intake of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, which contain flavonoids and carotenes. increase your consumption of flax oil, canola oil, walnuts and coldwater fish such as herring, sardines and salmon. These inhibit lipoxygenase and encourage the production of anti-inflammatory factors in the body. Eat more onions and grapes as well because they contain quercetin, which stabilizes mast cells in the lungs.

Avoid environmental offending agents such as rugs, cats, dogs (although some dogs such as poodles and yorkies are ok) and feather pillows. Use air filters and special vacuums that don't recirculate allergens.

Try getting weekly [B.sub.12] shots at doses of 1,000 micrograms (mcg) per week for 4 weeks at a lime. A study published in the Scripps Clinic Scientific Report round [B.sub.12], therapy to be more effective than pharmacologic agents in blocking asthmatic reactions. Also take 50 milligrams (mg) of [B.sub.6], twice daily to control wheezing. ...