The lungs are essential for human life. They work almost tirelessly, pulling in air and dumping out what can’t be used over and over, day and night. Breathing brings in oxygen and expels carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism. Breathing is also essential to our ability to talk and sing.
To keep our bodies in optimum condition, your lung health is critical. Some nutrients, in particular, can help improve breathing conditions and may help you to breathe better. By following a healthy diet, you can keep your lungs healthy and protect your health for the future. The lungs are made of hundreds of thousands of branching tubes that end in tiny air sacs, or alveoli. There are over three hundred million of these tiny sacs in our lungs, offering roughly the surface area of a tennis court to keep up with the respiratory demands of the body. The membranes of these tiny air sacs are also thinner than tissue paper to maximize the exchange of gases.
Our lungs make up a large part of our immune system. Pollutants and infection-causing microbes and viruses are captured by mucus in the lungs and shuttled upward by tiny cilia for us to cough out or swallow. Sneezes are another way the lungs help rid us of infection or pollution, often before these invaders even pass beyond the sinuses.
* GarlicGarlic has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties which are beneficial in disease conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and lung cancer. Recent studies have concluded that garlic has protective effects in lung cancer patients and it can be a chemopreventive agent for lung cancer.
* TurmericTurmeric is commonly used in various Indian food preparations. Curcumin is an important content of turmeric that has anti-inflammatory properties. Clinical research suggests that curcumin is effective in pulmonary conditions with abnormal inflammatory responses, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary fibrosis, and acute lung injury.
* GingerWe use ginger very commonly in our foods and drinks. Ginger offers many health benefits to our lungs. Due to its anti-inflammatory qualities, ginger causes bronchodilation in asthmatic patients. Various animal and human clinical studies have demonstrated the bronchodilatory effects of ginger. Ginger also breaks down the thick mucus and helps to expel out the mucus.
* FishFish oil is rich in omega -3 fatty acids that are beneficial for patients with chronic lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Omega -3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the inflammation of the lungs in COPD patients. Also, fish oil gives protection against lung infections by a bacterium called Haemophilus influenzae.
* Citrus fruitsFruits like orange and lemon are a good source of vitamin C and anti-oxidants. Vitamin C helps to boost our immunity and fight against respiratory infections. Recent studies concluded that fruits rich in vitamin C reduce wheezing in children and improves lung function and breathing in COPD patients.
* OnionOnion is one of the commonly used vegetables by the Indian population. It contains a lot of micronutrients and vitamins. It has been used as an herbal remedy for years for colds, influenza and bronchitis, and whooping cough. Onions also have anti-inflammatory and anti-asthma activity.
* AppleThe famous adage says “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Recently, many clinical studies have provided scientific evidence for this common phrase. Many clinical studies have demonstrated that the consumption of an apple regularly reduces the risk of lung cancer. In one study conducted in Australia, apple intake was associated with reduced risk of asthma. Apple helps to maintain the overall well being of our lungs.