Diet, exercise, and avoiding pollutants are the top ways to care for yourlungs.
An inflammatory diet can take a toll on your organs over time.
Systemic (body-wide) inflammation is associated with lung conditions likeasthma.
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However, lifestyle modifications, like diet, can help protect the lungs.
This article discusses foods that promote healthy lungs and which foods to avoid.
Proteins
Proteinhelps keep your respiratory muscles strong and healthy.
Research shows that diets high in protein are associated with good lung function.
When choosing carbs, stick tocomplex carbs, which take longer to digest than simple carbs.
Some good choices are whole grains, starchy vegetables, lentils, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans.
Fresh Produce
Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins that are good for the lungs.
Good potassium food sources are bananas, avocados, milk, legumes, and salmon.
A study found that apples and tomatoes might delay lung function decline in adults, particularly among ex-smokers.
Beets
Try beetroot juice for healthy lungs.
The beetroot juice group had improved lung function compared to placebo.
Pumpkin
Pumpkinis rich in antioxidants, zinc, and iron.
Researchers found this vegetable may help acute respiratory illnesses likeCOVID-19, due to its immunity-boosting properties.
Researchers believelycopene(a plant chemical called a carotenoid) in tomatoes is to thank.
Leafy Greens
High consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with lower risk of lung disease.
Leafy green vegetables are the primary dietarynitratesource in the human diet.
Most of these food types are less nutritious in general.
When choosing dairy, stick to low-fat options.
Researchers believe this could be due to the nitrites in highly processed meats, causinglung inflammationand DNA damage.
White Bread
White bread is considered a simple carb, which breaks down and digests quickly.
This makes milk chocolate a poor choice for the lungs.
Since alcohol is an inflammatory food, it can lead to inflammation, including the lungs.
If you have lung disease, it may be best to abstain from alcohol.
Cold Cuts
Lunch meats fall on the highly processed meats list.
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