Lungs do a lot for us and it is a fact that cannot be denied by anyone. But we have no idea how air pollutants or artificial scents can irritate the lungs and end up breathing issues. Even household air pollution which is caused by the burning of fuels like charcoal, kerosene, etc., is the most common lung-damaging reason says Dr Noor ul Arfeen who is one of the top pulmonologists practicing in Lahore and Gujranwala.
We do not care about our lungs, not even consider a healthy diet for lungs which is crucial to avoid breathing issues. Studies reveal that foods are good for lungs and breathing issues preventions.
According to the world health organization WHO, 2.78 billion people rely on polluting fuels for lighting and cooking worldwide.
According to experts, major lung diseases are developed by the poor consumption of fuels. These fuels cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, pneumonia in kids, lung cancer, and heart-related issues.
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What WHO Says About Lungs?
Around 4 Million individuals die every year due to household air pollution.
Nearly 27% leave this world because of pneumonia.
20 % of people die due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Lung cancer takes the lives of nearly 8% of people every year.
What’s More?
Common air pollutants, toxic compounds, dust particles, and habits like smoking and vaping can damage our lungs. But researchers believe that foods are good for the lungs and breathing. A nutrient-rich diet protects the lungs and overcomes the symptoms of lung diseases. Intermittent fasting can help to improve your lung health.
People who are living with lung disease should be more careful during fasting during Ramadan. If you want to maintain an ideal weight without being affected by any potential disease, you should know how to lose weight in Ramadan with a healthy diet and exercise.
Here are some questions that people often ask:
How can I make my Lungs Stronger?
Apart from the healthy diet plan, you can keep your lungs strong with some effective tips, such as:
- Laughing
- Join a Breathing Club
- Keep yourself hydrated
- Practice deep breathing
- Stay active
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- By focusing on your body posture
What Foods are Bad for Lungs?
As you want to learn a healthy lung diet, you should also focus on what food you need to avoid.
Here is a list of foods that can be harmful to people who are living with lung diseases.
- Fried foods
- Acidic foods
- Cold cuts
- Dairy products
- Excessive intake of salt
- Carbonated beverages
What Vitamins Repair Lungs?
Body-damaging molecules can harm your lungs, but consuming vitamins can help you to flush them out. Studies reveal that vitamin C fights off toxins and radicals. Experts believe that vitamin C helps to reduce damage to the lung
tissues and allows your body to repair them once again.
What Herbs Heal the Lungs?
Everyone wants healthy lungs, but you need to make some effort. Researchers have come up with some proven herbs that have incredible lung health benefits.
- Astragalus
- Mullein
- Osha root
- Peppermint
- Plantain leaf
- Lungwort
Are you looking for plants that clear the air and give you healthy lungs? Well, you are in the right place to find out. Here is the list of plants for the lungs.
Plants for Lungs and Improve the air quality
- Bamboo Palm
- Spider plant
- Ficus
- Aloe Vera
- Ferns
- Flamingo Lily
- Snake Plant
To boost your pulmonary function, you need to rely on healthy lung food.
7 Best Healthy Lungs Food You Should Consider
Peppers
Vitamin C which is known as a powerful antioxidant helps a lot to improve the lungs’ health. It is a water-soluble nutrient that is crucial for people who smoke. If a person smokes a cigarette, then the body requires 35 mg of vitamin C per day.
Studies reveal that smokers can get benefits from vitamin C because it allows the lungs to function properly. Only medium-sized sweet red pepper provides 169% of the vitamin C intake. So, we can say that it is a healthy diet for the lungs.
Pumpkin
Foods that promote lung health should be highly preferable. The brightly colored flesh of pumpkins is rich in carotenoids that contain powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Higher blood levels are directly associated with better lung function as fruits are good for the lungs.
Carotenoid-rich foods can also help smokers to avoid breathing issues.
Tomato
Studies say that tomatoes and their products are highly rich in dietary sources of lycopene. It is considered a powerful asthma home remedy that can help to reduce airway inflammation.
From preventing skin cancer to developing the immune system, tomatoes, and their products should be in your meal as it is one of the best healthy lungs food. To restore lung function in people who quit smoking, tomatoes can be a supportive fruit with many other health benefits. If you want to reverse the lung damage that is done by cigarettes, you should refer to a diet high in tomatoes.
Green Tea
Studies show that green tea has multiple health benefits as it is an epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) concentrated. We should not forget about its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that inhibit scarring of tissues and fibrosis.
EGCG also helps to deal with pulmonary fibrosis, which is a disease of lung-affected lung tissues. If you have inflammation in your lungs, why don’t you try green tea?
Yes, it’s been proven that it reduces the inflammation of the airways and lets you live a life without breathing issues. Moreover, it also deals with type 2 diabetes, bronchitis, and emphysema. Hot drinks are good to make the mucus thin and ease flu symptoms, like green tea.
Eat Red Cabbage
I always prefer natural ways to reduce the symptoms or to prevent any diseases. The other reason is that home remedies are affordable and easily reachable. Red cabbage is also an option for restoring lung diseases. This summer, you should need a source rich in anthocyanins. To reduce the decline in lung function, you should consider red cabbage in your meal. What else will you get from cabbage?
They are highly rich in fiber which is crucial for improved lung function. If you are an ex-smoker, make sure that you restore your lung function with a healthy diet for your lungs. Experts say that cabbage also helps to gain weight.
Olive Oil
Studies show that olive oil has beneficial properties to deal with asthma symptoms. Experts have proved the fact that olive oil consists of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, such as vitamin E and polyphenols. In summer, the symptoms of asthma increase and can interrupt daily activities. People often suffer from shortness of breath, but you can manage it with olive oil intake.
A study claims that people who continue the intake of olive oil have experienced lower symptoms of asthma. It also has beneficial properties for those who are living with COPD. People get excited about the summer season, but if you have asthma or suffering from COPD, you should be more careful as it may worsen during hot days. Make sure that you intake olive oil and promote healthy lung function.
Yogurt
Believe it or not, my favorite snack is yogurt and one of the best healthy lung foods. Yes, it treats many health issues and lets you live a healthy life by preventing many potential physical problems. It consists of fiber and is also rich in phosphorus, selenium, calcium, and potassium. Experts believe that a high intake of these nutrients is directly associated with better lung function markers. Living with COPD is not easy but can be controlled by the intake of yogurt. You can eat yogurt with fries or make its drink as it also helps to improve digestion.
Final Thoughts
You need to be smart to develop healthy lungs with healthy lungs food. I have shared some healthy foods that can prevent lung infections. In drinks, you can try coffee, ginger drink, carrot and beetroot smoothie, green tea, etc. The breathing Technique can also give you healthy lungs.
