.Your lungs are a really vital organ in the body. Every single cell in the body depends on the lungs for oxygen. This is why it is very important to take care o your lungs and take your lung health seriously.
The lung capacity is likely to decrease with age and in addition to regular exercise and zero smoking eating the right kind of food is an excellent way to keep healthy over time.
The best chest specialist in Pakistan says that a lot of people don’t consider the lungs to be that important and they neglect lung health big time. They start to remember taking care of them when their health starts to deteriorate. So, let’s have a look at all the food options that are beneficial for lung health.
1- Beets
Beets and beet greens are full of nutrients that help in lowering inflammation that may support lung health. Beets are also rich in dietary nitrated that can help in improving exercise tolerance in people that have COPD.
It has also been seen that the dietary nitrates from beet juice and beets can help in reducing blood pressure, especially among people with pulmonary hypertension. Beets are also available in canned form nowadays but the best way to consume them is in their fresher form.
So, try and consume them as much as you can if you are dealing with lung issues or diseases.
2- Tomatoes
Tomatoes are full of a carotenoid called lycopene which has shown great results in reducing airway inflammation. A study has also shown that those who ate two tomatoes per day were able to show less lung decline compared to those who ate less than one tomato every day.
Tomatoes are also full of vitamin C which has been great in reducing inflammation and autoimmune diseases. While tomatoes in any form are good for lung health but it has been observed that the human body absorbs lycopene from tomatoes when they are cooked.
So, the best way is to eat both cooked and fresh tomatoes together. You can make gravies, and soups or add them to the salads that you eat with your meals.
3- Beans
Beans including red, white black are so full of nutrients that they can support overall health including lung health. Beans are full of dietary fiber that can impact gut health overall.
A number of studies have shown that the addition of dietary fiber is really good for great lung function. And just like that diets low in fiber are linked with reduced lung function.
It has also been said that plant-based diets are great in reducing the risk of lung cancer among other cancers. If you are someone that doesn’t like consuming beans, then start adding them to your everyday diet. Make them a part of your soups, pasta, or stews.
4- Salmon
Salmon is one of the fish that has essential amino acids that the body uses t make proteins in order to absorb nutrients and repair the body tissues among other things.
The body cannot produce essential amino acids so it needs to consume all of them that are required from consuming salmon. Two other important nutrients for lung health that salmon has are omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Now, omega-3 fatty acids decrease inflammation in vitamin D and improve respiratory muscle strength. It is also high in fats and protein and low in crabs. This can help people with COPD breathe better because carbs produce the most amount of carbon dioxide.
5- Walnuts
Walnuts are a great source of magnesium which is an important electrolyte that helps in supporting muscles in your lungs. Plus, walnuts are also great in omega-3 fatty acids that act as an anti-inflammatory that reduces lung inflammation and improves your ability to breathe.
The main role is in the compounds derived from the omega-3 fatty acids that help in combating lung infections. So, make sure that you consume essential nuts including walnuts as these are extremely helpful in keeping your lung health intact.
Add them to your diet as a morning snack or add them to your cereal bowls for better taste.
Conclusion
What we eat has a great impact on the overall health of the body and the functioning of different organs. So, when it comes to the lungs, make sure that you consume the right kind of food that is helpful in every way. With that, do not forget that a healthy lifestyle also plays a very important role in keeping the health of the lungs in check.
In the end, if you have both lifestyle and food options sorted. It is important to follow the preventive measures and take treatment seriously. If you think that your health is deteriorating with each passing day then make sure you visit a lung doctor as soon as you can.
