Having a healthy diet is vital to both your physical and mental health. Weight, lung capacity, skin tone, among other things are just some of the many things that are affected by what you eat. Furthermore, certain foods affect your lungs in different ways. Some fruits have been proven to have significant benefits for lung health but there are some foods which you need to exercise caution with. In this article, we’ll talk about the 8 best fruits good for lungs and also talk about some of the worst foods for lungs.
Are Fruits Good For Lungs?
Fruits are rich in fiber, water, and certain vitamins and minerals. Fruits are among the healthiest foods on the planet. These beauties can help you lose weight, maintain healthy blood sugar levels and lower your risk of cancer.
We already know that breathing exercises can improve your lung capacity, but did you know that the right diet consisting of fruits can also improve the health of your lungs? So, let’s take a look at this fascinating fruit category to see what they have to offer.
8 Best Fruits Good for Lungs
1) Grapefruits
Grapefruits are a highly recommended fruit for people with lung problems. It is actually considered a superfood because of its many health benefits. In addition to being one of the best fruits good for lungs, it also helps with treating hypertension, diabetes, and constipation.
What makes it so great for sufferers of lung diseases is that this citrus fruit contains some chemicals and antioxidants which help to repair and regenerate damaged tissues and cells in the lungs. Moreover, some studies have shown that grapefruits help to remove heavy metals from the body.
2) Strawberries
Strawberries are a fruit that’s been proven to be one of the best fruits good for lungs. They contain a compound called pectin which helps strengthen lung tissue. This healthy fruit also helps prevent cancer, regulates blood pressure, and controls diabetes mellitus.
3) Apples
Apples are also referred to as one of the best fruits good for lungs because they contain chemicals that help fight off bacteria, viruses, and even fungi growing in your body. It is recommended that you eat apples daily if you want to protect yourself from potential lung infections.
Furthermore, apples contain the antioxidant known as flavonoids which help to prevent oxidative damage that can occur in the lungs when breathing in air pollutants.
4) Oranges
Oranges are good for lungs because they’re known to provide a high source of antioxidants and they help stem inflammation and relieve arthritis in your joints.
5) Blueberries
Among the nutrients that give red and blue fruits their color are flavonoids called anthocyanins, which are also strong antioxidants. This pigment has been shown to delay the natural decline of your lung tissues with age. In one study, older men who ate at least two servings of blueberries a week enjoyed a remarkably diminished decline in lung function compared with those who ate no blueberries or fewer servings.
6) Grapes
Grapes are one of the best fruits good for lungs because this fruit helps to prevent cancer. Each serving of grapes is said to be able to protect your body against cancer with the help of its antioxidants. It has been shown that grapes contain resveratrol which can fight off tumors and even destroy them.
However, you need to consume the seeds and skin with the flesh of grapes for maximum health benefits.
7) Pomegranates
Pomegranates are not only delicious but they’re good for lungs as well as your heart. This healthy fruit is very high in fibers and antioxidants, which help to prevent and heal lung damage. Pomegranates are also known to be effective at fighting cancer as well as reducing inflammation in your body.
8) Mangoes
Mangoes, while delicious, are great for lungs because they contain a vitamin known as vitamin A. This particular vitamin helps to prevent lung cancer, lower cholesterol levels and even protect your body against harmful pollutants in the air.
Worst Foods for Lungs
Besides smoking, there are some foods that can cause lung cancer. Stop by to learn about the top ten food items that can cause lung cancer.
- Sugar
- Alcohol
- Fried foods
- Red meat (especially processed red meat)
- Grilled food (or charred food)
- Deep-fried dishes (often in batter)
- Fast foods
Those are the worst culprits in terms of their potential to cause lung cancer. If you don’t smoke then just avoid these items in your diet because it’s recommended that you limit carcinogens in your diet if you’re trying to avoid getting lung cancer.
High sugar consumption is a common habit, especially with children. That’s because the tastes of sugar and sweet taste buds are often confused. The sweetness of a substance can even be a powerful addiction for some people, causing them to crave more and more of the substance until it’s all they want to eat.
Other common food items that have been linked to lung cancer include smoked foods, grilled foods (or charred foods), chicken skin, fried chicken skin, barbequed beef or ribs, salted fish/seafood, fast food, and foods with nitrites from processed meats such as bacon from meats.
Don’t include these foods in your diet to improve your lung health!
Conclusion
Healthy lungs can change your life and, eating a good diet can provide that! Be sure to eat these fruits every day to start improving your lung health and avoid the foods that we listed under the worst foods for lungs section.
Also, if you want to improve your breathing capacity with yoga, check the article below:
7 Best Yoga for Asthma Poses – Increase Your Lung Capacity!
Thank you for reading.
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