Home | health | 10 Foods That Can Help Prevent Lung Diseases

10 foods that can help prevent lung diseases

10 foods that can help prevent lung diseases

Lung health is essential for one’s overall well-being. While not much can be done about environmental pollutants that can increase the risk of lung diseases, one can follow a nutrient-rich food regime to promote lung function and reduce the impact of free radicals on them. Let’s explore ten foods that can help reduce the severity of lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis and improve one’s quality of life.

Beets
Beetroots and beet greens are a great source of nitrates, which can help improve lung function. Nitrates help relax blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, and improve oxygen intake. This can improve lung performance among those with chronic lung conditions such as COPD and pulmonary hypertension. They are also a source of magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and carotenoid antioxidants, which can boost immunity.

Apples
Regular intake of apples may help boost lung function. This is because apples contain high amounts of antioxidants such as flavonoids and vitamin C, which can reduce the risk of asthma, lung cancer, and COPD, and improve lung performance.

Turmeric
Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food that is popularly used in several cuisines around the world. According to some studies, the main active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, may help enhance lung function by 9.2%.

Blueberries
Blueberries are a rich source of anthocyanins such as malvidin, cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, and petunidin. These have antioxidant properties that can shield the lungs from oxidative stress, and reduce the rate of lung function decline by up to 38%.

Green tea
Green tea contains a catechin known as Epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC), which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that ECGC can reduce the risk of fibrosis or tissue scarring in the lungs, helping promote lung function.

Red cabbage
In addition to its fiber content, red cabbage is a great source of anthocyanins. These properties may make the vegetable a great option to keep one’s lungs healthy and disease-free.

Coffee
A cup of coffee is a refreshing way to start one’s morning. Coincidentally, coffee can also help protect lung function, as it contains caffeine and antioxidants. Coffee acts as a vasodilator, which means, it helps expand blood vessels to improve blood flow in the body. This can help reduce symptoms of asthma temporarily. Most healthy adults can have up to 400 milligrams of caffeine (or four cups of brewed coffee) per day.

Whole grains
Whole grains are a rich source of fiber, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They also contain vitamin E, selenium, and essential fatty acids, which can help promote lung health. Some healthy options to include in one’s meal plan are brown rice, whole wheat bread or pasta, oats, quinoa, and barley.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the best sources of the carotenoid lycopene, which is known for its powerful antioxidant properties. It can help reduce airway inflammation among people with asthma and decrease the risk of COPD complications. It has also been associated with less decline in lung function among young adults.

Leafy greens
Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, and broccoli are rich in carotenoids, a powerful antioxidant that can protect lung function. Due to their nutrient profile (vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium), they can also help build immunity and reduce the risk of infections.

Our
Blog.

9 most common types of depression you should know about

9 most common types of depression you should know about

All of us feel low, upset, and unmotivated at some point in our life, but this isn’t classified as depression. Depression is a mood disorder that overshadows a person’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. Signs and symptoms of this grave disorder can range from feeling hopeless and tired to completely losing the will to live. There are several types of depression and they are listed below so you can understand depression and people suffering from it better. Major Depression (Clinical Depression) The hallmark trait of this type of depression is the constant feeling of sadness or loss of interest in social life or any outside stimuli. It often lasts for two weeks or more in which a person can experience symptoms such as hopelessness, fatigue, and suicidal thoughts. Dysthymia (Persistent Depressive Disorder) Dysthymia lasts for years and can disrupt daily life and interfere with personal and professional relationships. Individuals with dysthymia are often seen as dark, pessimistic, or complainers by others, and they have a hard time being happy in typically pleasant situations. Manic Depression (Bipolar Disorder) People with manic depression experience high degrees of mood swings. Their train of thought can take them from feeling euphoric to feeling suicidal in just a few weeks.
Read More
Simple and practical guide points for expecting parents

Simple and practical guide points for expecting parents

Pregnancy is a new experience in every couple’s life, and one should understand a few things to ensure that the nine months are smooth and stress-free. Simply being prepared for pregnancy and looking forward to the joy of parenthood is not all there’s to childbirth. As a couple, you must understand, review, and adjust your lifestyle. Expecting mothers become their child’s nurturers and supporters from day one, but the expecting fathers, close relatives, and friends must also understand the key roles they will play right up to the due date. Here are a few simple family and pregnancy guide points to help you and your folks get started: Staying healthy Physical and mental wellbeing is extremely crucial for the expecting mother to ensure both her and the baby’s health. Diet plays a crucial role in this process, as the mother is now providing nutrition for the developing fetus as well as herself. As a family, you can take turns to ensure that the to-be mother is staying physically active, eating healthy and regularly, and not cultivating any bad habits. More importantly, family and loved ones should be prepared for the changes to come in the upcoming trimesters. Coping with changes – what to expect Morning sickness in the first trimester is quite common and can put a woman’s body under tremendous stress.
Read More