Looking to improve your lungs and breathing? These 14 foods are great for promoting healthy lungs and improved breathing.
1. Water
Pure, clean water is essential to keeping blood flowing to and from the lungs. It also keeps our lungs moist and helps mucus move through them. Mucus is important, and the cilia need to be able to move it, along with toxins, microbes, and pollutants, out of the body. The body is mostly made up of water. When our bodies aren’t getting enough water, we start to feel it.
2. Garlic and Onions
They fight infection, lower inflammation, and lower cholesterol. Garlic is well known for how well it fights inflammation. One study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that people who smoked and ate raw garlic had a 40% lower risk of getting lung cancer than those who didn’t eat raw garlic.
3. Ginger
This spice can reduce inflammation and help the body eliminate lung toxins. Ginger has many benefits for the whole body, not just the lungs. Ginger can help open up and clear out your airways, improving lung health and making breathing easier.
4. Chili Peppers
Capsaicin, a compound with a spicy taste, is what gives peppers their bite. Capsaicin increases blood flow, loosens mucus, and fights infection.
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5. Cruciferous Vegetables
It has been shown that cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale can stop lung cancer from getting worse and cut the risk of getting lung cancer in half. They have a lot of chlorophyll, which cleans and builds blood, and many antioxidants that work well.
6. Pomegranates
Lung tumors grow slower when pomegranate juice is drunk. There are many antioxidants in pomegranates, such as ellagic acid, which is making progress in cancer research.
7. Turmeric
This ginger-related spice has similar properties. Curcumin stimulates cancer cell self-destruction. Curcumin reduces asthma-related chest tightness and inflammation. Seventy-seven asthmatics administered curcumin pills for 30 days in research, and the supplements lowered airway blockages and may help asthma patients.
8. Apples
The lungs work best when they have enough flavonoids, vitamin E, and vitamin C. Apples are full of all of these, and people with healthier lungs eat several apples a week. Apples are full of antioxidants, which can help keep your lungs healthy.
9. Grapefruit
Grapefruit has a flavonoid called naringin that stops an enzyme that causes cancer from working. This flavonoid is found in large amounts in white grapefruit. Pink grapefruit also has some of it, along with the antioxidant lycopene. Grapefruit is great for cleaning the lungs, especially after you quit smoking.
10. Beans, Seeds & Nuts
All of these have a good amount of magnesium, a mineral that helps the lungs work well. They also give you essential fatty acids, which are suitable for your heart. Flax seeds are a good choice because they have a good amount of vitamin E, which boosts the immune system and increases the number of red blood cells in the body.
11. Carrots
These roots are full of antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C, and lycopene, which are all good for your lungs and make it less likely that you will get lung disease. Researchers found that carrot juice may help smokers avoid a type of damage to their lungs that can lead to lung cancer.
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12. Oranges
Citrus contains vitamins C and B6. These aid in lung oxygenation. Oranges include antioxidants that are excellent for your lungs and vitamin C, which fights infections and swelling. An analysis of research indicated that vitamin C might reduce exercise-induced asthma by 52%.
13. Pumpkin
Like carrots, pumpkin is full of beta carotene, and vitamin C. Pumpkin has a lot of antioxidants, which may help fight cancer, especially prostate and lung cancer. It is also a good source of potassium and fiber.
14. Red Bell Pepper and Cayenne Pepper
Mild peppers are high in vitamin C, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Carotenoids reduce lung cancer risk, and Cayenne pepper’s capsaicin content helps preserve lung mucous membranes. Try cayenne tea. It’s rich in beta-carotene, which reduces asthma symptoms.