It should go without saying that our lungs are one of the most important organs in our body. Every day the average human takes around 20,000 breaths. Each one of those breaths is powered by our lungs, which work 24 hours a day to suck in the atmosphere and extract the necessary gasses for survival.
Lung diseases are some of the most common medical conditions worldwide. Respiratory ailments range from mild to life-threatening, and include conditions like asthma, pneumonia , lung cancer, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and more.
Exercise, not smoking, and avoiding pollution are all common ways for people to ensure lung health. But did you know that a proper diet could also play a big role in looking after your lung health? This is why it’s important to incorporate the following top foods for lung health into your diet to keep your lungs clean and fresh for life. Below is the bests foods to cleanse your lungs:
Cruciferous Vegetables
A cruciferous vegetable is any food that is a member of the cabbage family. They are generally packed with antioxidants that naturally help your body cleanse toxins. Some of the most popular choices for people pursuing lung health is broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Read also my article about the incredible health benefits of cruciferous vegetables.
Foods With Carotenoids
Carotenoid is an orange antioxidant pigment that have been shown to cut the risks of developing lung cancer. Carotenoids are found in fruits and vegetables characterized with orange or red colors. Carrots are a great option because of the beta-carotene in them. This antioxidant is converted to vitamin A which can help reduce the incident of asthma.
Foods With Omega-3 Fatty Acids
This fatty acid is crucial for your overall health. Preliminary studies suggest that foods that are rich in the fatty acid have beneficial effect on asthma. If you can’t get enough of it through fish, nuts or flaxseed, try taking one of the many supplements available. See also my article about the amazing health benefits of omega 3 fish oil.
Foods With Folate
These foods are great for fighting the process of lung carcinogens and preventing forms of cancer. Some great choices include spinach, asparagus, beets, and lentils.
Garlic
Garlic has remained a staple for various natural health practices because of its anti-inflammatory properties. The high level of allicin reduces inflammation and fight infection. It destroys free radicals and may help to improve asthma. You can also read here how it can help to reduce the risk for lung cancer.
Foods With Vitamin C
Foods that contain high amounts of vitamin C help your lungs effectively transport oxygen throughout the body. Foods that are good sources of vitamin C and popular choices for lung health are: kiwifruit, oranges, red and green capsicums (bell peppers), citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, vegetable and tomato juice, strawberries, broccoli, pineapples, mango and cantaloupe melon.
Berries
Berries are one of the richest antioxidant fruits, containing the polyphenols anthocyanins and the flavonoids beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants protect your lungs from cancer, disease and infection. Livestrong website mentions that fruit juice that contains dark berries such as raspberries, blackberries or blueberries, may help to reduce the risk of developing lung cancer. You can find more information about the amazing healing properties of berries in my e-book The Healing Berry Guide. This e-book will teach you how to transform your health with berries, and is a must for berry lovers.
Apples
Now we have yet another use for this nutrient packed fruit. The flavonoids and variety of vitamins maintain healthy respiratory function and prevent the development of lung diseases.
Ginger
This spice is incredibly easy to incorporate into your meal for an added flavor and health boost. The anti-inflammatory function clears your lungs of lingering pollution that could lead to health issues. You may also be interested to read my article how to use ginger as a medicine for great health.
Turmeric
This spice is similar to ginger in its lung health benefits with anti-inflammatory properties. As an added bonus the high amounts of curcumin can lead to the elimination of cancer cells. Find here more about the fantastic health benefits of turmeric.
Grapefruit
If you can stomach the bitter taste of this fruit, you will benefit from the wealth of lung supporting vitamins and minerals in it. Health experts suggest that the flavonoids in the fruit are great for cleaning out lungs that have been effected by carcinogens.
Pomegranates
This fruit contains many antioxidants that are good to include into your diet. The nutritionally dense properties of this tasty fruit can slow down the development of lung issues including tumor development.
Foods With Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that is commonly recommended to people who suffer from asthma issues. It can increase lung capacity and build on the efficiency of the respiratory process. An easy way to get this mineral is through seeds, nuts, or beans.
Water
Once again, when it comes to natural health the number one remedy will usually be water. Though it may seem bland, our bodies crave it for many different reasons. More water in your diet can make your circulatory process working while keeping your lungs hydrated and ready to flush out unwanted toxins.
The American Lung Association say that most people are surprised to learn that the food they eat may affect their breathing. And indeed once again we see that diversifying our diet is important to our health, as no single food will supply all the nutrients we need. So if you want to cleanse your lungs, don’t forget to consume in your diet lots of variety of the above foods to maintain the health of your lungs.
Another technique for cleansing your lungs is through deep breathing. We can breath deeply and fully exhale to maximize the cleansing effect. Deep breathing and fresh air is very helpful in keeping the lungs healthy and free from toxins. If you are interested in cleansing your body, you can find more useful information in The Detox Guide. This guide will teach you how to use detox to cleanse and energize your body naturally and safely:
Source: healthyandnaturalworld.com