Our lungs play a vital function in our respiratory system by taking in oxygen and filter out toxins from the air. Keeping your lungs healthy and working properly is essential to make sure all cells and tissue in your body get fed by oxygen-rich blood.
One way to improve the health of your lungs is to include lung cleansing foods in your diet. Some of the best foods that can help cleanse your lungs are also great for your general health and will help boost function of your other organs.
Of course, exercise, stopping smoking, and avoiding air pollution are all important ways to ensure lung health. This can help you avoid and reduce your risk of pulmonary diseases like bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer. However, there are also many foods that act as lung cleansers and strengthen your lungs. Foods like green leafy vegetables, garlic, citrus fruits, berries, and ginger are great foods for detoxing the lungs and keeping them healthy.
Below Foods that Cleanse Your Lungs
What can you eat to help detox your lungs and boost the health of your respiratory system? Please read on to find out the best lung-cleansing foods to incorporate into your diet.
(1). Green leafy vegetables
Green leafy vegetables contain many compounds that are great for maintaining healthy lungs. Most green leafy vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables, contain antioxidants that help rid your body of harmful toxins. Cabbage, kale, broccoli, kohlrabi, and cauliflower are vegetables that help to cleanse your blood as well as your lungs.
Cruciferous vegetables have also been shown to reduce the risk of lung cancer. The Journal of Nutritionreported that increasing the amount of cruciferous vegetables may help reduce the risk of lung cancer among nonsmokers.
(2). Foods with carotenoids
Another food group that will help detox your lungs and improve their capacity are foods that contain carotenoids. Carotenoids are antioxidants that have a cancer-preventative effect on cells and tissue. Tomatoes, carrots, kale, red pepper, sweet potatoes are all rich sources of these antioxidants that will boost your lung health.
Various studies have been carried out on carotenoid-rich foods and their effect on lung health. For example, the journal Frontiers in Bioscience published a report about the connection between carotenoids and lung cancer. The researchers stated that the actions of carotenoids are essential in the prevention of lung cancer.6 Other studies have shown that lycopene in tomatoes helps to boost lung health and, although more research should be done, tomatoes have an antioxidant effect on the lining of the lungs.
Regarding ways to prevent lung cancer, the journal The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society reported that high intake of vegetables and fruits may provide protection against lung cancer.
(3). Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids
Eating foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can help cleanse your lungs and keep your pulmonary system working effectively. Foods rich in omega-3 are oily fish like mackerel and salmon, seeds and nuts, and eggs. It is known that omega 3 foods help reduce inflammation in the body and boost cognitive power.
The Journal of the American College of Nutrition published a study showing the connection between omega-3 and respiratory health. Researchers found that a diet rich in omega-3 helps the blood to flow through the lungs effectively and can help prevent some inflammatory and infectious respiratory diseases.
Taking omega-3 supplements or eating a diet rich omega-3 fatty acids benefits your general health as well as keeping your lungs healthy.
(4). Foods containing flavonoids
Many fruits, berries, and citrus fruits contain flavonoids which are great for lung cleansing. These naturally-occurring compounds have an antioxidant effect on many organs in the body, including your lungs.
Some great foods to eat that contain flavonoids are apples, blueberries, oranges, lemons, tomatoes, and cabbage.
How can food containing flavonoids help detoxify your lungs and prevent different types of lung disease? The journal 3 Biotech reported that flavonoids have a therapeutic effect and help prevent various cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
(5). Garlic
One of the many health benefits of using garlic as a medicine is that it can help keep your lungs healthy. The benefits to your health by consuming garlic come from a compound called allicin. Allicin acts as a powerful natural antibiotic agent in the body and can help kill off respiratory infections that can clog your lungs.
One study from 2013 found that consuming raw garlic can also help prevent lung cancer. Researchers also found that garlic can help to reverse lung damage caused by pollution, smoking, and poor air quality.
For more information on using garlic for its medicinal properties, please read my article about the 6 common mistakes when using garlic as an antibiotic and how to consume garlic to prevent cancer.
(6). Drinking green tea
One way to keep your lungs healthy and free from excess mucus is to regularly drink green tea. Extracts from green tea contain powerful antioxidants, which according to the University of Maryland, are more potent than vitamin C.12 The beneficial properties of green tea are also used to boost cardiovascular health, protect against various cancers, improve brain function, and protect against infections.
Studies have also shown that drinking green tea has a preventative effect against lung cancer. Researchers from China found that, just like with garlic, green tea helps to repair lung damage caused by smoking and can have a protective effect against lung cancer.13
(7). Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another antioxidant that is good for respiratory health and your lungs. Regular intake of vitamin C helps to rid the body of toxins and can keep your skin looking youthful and healthy.
In its role in helping to detoxify your lungs, Dr. Emily Wax on MedlinePlus reports that vitamin C helps to destroy free radicals that develop when your lungs are exposed to tobacco smoke. Dr. Wax also says that vitamin C helps to prevent certain cancers, heart disease, and arthritis.
There have been studies connecting vitamin C and reducing the risk of lung cancer. The journal Scientific Reports says that initial research shows that increasing your intake of vitamin C can help protect against lung cancer.
Foods rich in vitamin C include kiwifruit, red capsicum (bell pepper), citrus fruits, papaya, strawberries, broccoli, pineapples, mango and cantaloupe melon.
(8). Ginger
If you have respiratory problems due to cold or flu infections, eating more ginger can help to clear out your lungs and improve your immune system. Ginger is a natural cleansing food that has anti-inflammatory properties. The power of ginger to reduce inflammation helps to speed up the recovery of respiratory infections and reduce the amount of mucus clogging your bronchial tubes.
A review on the medicinal properties of ginger said that ginger is used to reduce the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.16 Other clinical studies into the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger have shown potential in inhibiting lung cancer cells.17
Please read my article about the amazing health benefits of ginger to find out more uses and benefits of this amazing herb. You could also try my anti-inflammatory ginger and lemon tea recipe to help detox your body and lungs.
(9). Turmeric
Turmeric is closely related to ginger and it another great food to cleanse your lungs. There are many reasons to increase your intake of turmeric and keeping your lungs healthy is just one of them. You can also make a delicious anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger tea for its lung cleansing effect and to help boost your respiratory health.
Turmeric also acts as a lung cleanser because it offsets the harmful effects of breathing air pollutants, cigarette smoke, and other lung irritants. For example, the journal Advances in Experiential Medicine and Biology reported that curcumin can help prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic asthma, and other respiratory diseases.18
When consuming turmeric, you should remember to add black pepper to turmeric to boost its bioavailability and make it even more effective.
(10). Foods high in magnesium
Foods containing magnesium can maintain your lung health and help ensure they function properly. It has been reported that a deficiency in magnesium can affect pulmonary function and could result in lung complications.19
Research into the role of magnesium in keeping lungs clear and healthy found that magnesium affects pulmonary muscles. Clinical trials found that treating asthmatic conditions with magnesium could have therapeutic potential.
(11). Water
Drinking enough water is necessary to keep your body healthy and your lungs working effectively. There are many side effects of dehydration including fatigue, irritability, joint pain, and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Researchers have found that one of the signs of dehydration is an increase in bronchitis and asthma. Drinking enough water helps to regulate inflammation in your lungs and prevents certain broncho-pulmonary disorders. Having enough water in your body is essential for lung health because it regulates the proper distribution of minerals and salts.
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