rate of lung cancer progression in mice when administered in nanocapsules.
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4. Beets
If you are mentioning veggies that improve lung function, you will be well within your rights to mention beets. These vegetables boast an impressive composition of carotenoid antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and Vitamin C.
Now, as we all grow older and blow out birthday candles, respiratory muscle function naturally degrades. This explains why the diaphragm in older people tends to be weakened.
This obstructs airway clearance, leading to breathing difficulties, and cumulatively degrading the quality of life of such individuals.
But here is the good news. Beet’s luxurious wealth of nitrates enhances diaphragm functionality. This is by improving muscle contractions, resulting in enhanced breathing and overall lung function.
In a mice study, researchers from the University of Florida confirmed that dietary nitrate supplementation triggered improved contractile function of the diaphragm.
READ: Eating More Fruits & Vegetables: Radical Indeed!
5. Onions
When it comes to improving lung function, onions are at the top of the list. For decades, onions have been readily resorted to in treating respiratory handicaps like colds and cough.
Onions contain a broad spectrum of lung-enhancing nutrients like vitamin C, dietary fiber, and calcium. According to the National Onion Association, organosulfur compounds in onions can improve inflammation related to asthma.
Onions also contain critical antioxidants like quercetin. Quercetin helps to reduce the rate of oxidative damage to cells.
Quercetin also has a hand in strengthening capillary walls. The latter is crucial to safeguarding the lung linings while also protecting the bronchial tubes from pollution-inspired damages.
So there we have it, five vegetables your lungs will thank you for. As always, the lung restorative capacities of these veggies are best derived when consumed modestly.