Our lungs are essential to life, so taking care of them is crucial, especially when flooded with poor food choices, poor air quality and lack of exercise. The lungs come equipped with their own self-cleaning system (the cilia, which move bad stuff out of alveoli – air sacs – into the trachea), however, this system gets clogged up when making poor lifestyle choices. Constant congestion and coughing are signs that your lungs could use some help.
If you are ever feeling out of breath, have a consistent cough that won’t go away, spit up mucus or have repeated chest infections, then you may have un-diagnosed lung damage. Starting from the main cause, and healing from that perspective is your best bet in ensuring your lungs heal naturally – below are some suggestions in healing your lungs!
Eat Lung Healthy Foods
Eating for lung health is one of the main steps to improve the condition of your lungs. Removing highly processed foods, and mucus causing foods (wheat and animal products), as well as refined sugar is the first step. The next step is to load your body with food that contains life and vitality!
These foods include things like watercress, apricots, citrus fruits, apples, broccoli and berries, all of which have been shown to improve the health of our lungs. Not only consuming a large variety of fruit and vegetables, but also aim for drinking about a gallon of filtered water (reverse osmosis), DAILY. Flushing out our system with plenty of fluids will dislodge chemicals from our cells, and help our cilia in becoming more fluid and helping them with getting rid of debris inside the lungs.
Activity
Exercise is incredibly important to keep your lungs strong and healthy (or to repair them from damage done by asthma or smoking for example). Exercise helps loosen mucus build-up, and aids cilia in pushing mucus up and out of the lungs.
When you exercise, your muscles need to work harder and thus every cell in your body uses more oxygen and produces more carbon dioxide. In order to compensate for this demand, your lungs need to work harder, and thus breathing increases from around 15 times a minute (resting state) to 40-60 times a minute (exercise state).
Exercise will help increase your lung capacity too – but so will breathing exercises. Combining exercise and breathing exercises together will help ensure your lungs remain in good health.
Avoid
Avoiding things like cigarettes (whether smoking them, or being around the smoke itself), heavily air polluted areas, chemical products, and checking your basement for radon poisoning are essential.
As we are all aware, cigarette smoke is incredibly damaging to the lungs – it damages your lungs’ natural cleaning and repair system and traps chemicals that cause cancer in the alveoli and bronchioles. It also permanently damages your alveoli, making it very hard to breathe.
Not only does cigarette smoke affect the lungs, but air pollution and chemical products (like paint, cleaners, fragrances, etc.) are toxic to our body’s natural system. All of these products slowly destroy the tiny hairs (cilia) which line your respiratory tract and which naturally aid in the pushing of debris out of the lungs. Damaging this repair system means that all the dirt, germs and chemicals stay inside your lungs, putting you at risk for developing chest infections, lung cancers and chronic cough.
Checking your basement for radon poisoning is also important. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in the ground. It can leak into your house through cracks in the foundation of walls, especially of those buried in the ground (like the basement). In fact, radon is the main cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and the second leading cause of disease after smoking.
Lungs are the most essential and chief breathing organs in the human body. The two lungs are located on either side of the heart, near the backbone. They have the key role of transporting oxygen from the surrounding environment into the bloodstream. Similarly, they release carbon-di-oxide from the bloodstream back into the atmosphere. For this process to take place, large surface area is needed, and it is accomplished by the cluster of specific cells, which are very tiny and have a very thin wall, and are called alveoli.
It is very essential to keep the lungs functioning efficiently as improper functioning can lead to a number of dangerous lung diseases, including asthma, bronchiolitis, asbestosis, etc. Below are some superfoods that are highly nourishing and are loaded with essential vitamins and nutrients that ensure the proper functioning of lungs.
1. Filtered Water (non-fluoridated)
Dry lungs are more likely to get irritated as the alveoli get constricted due to the lack of adequate water. Water is the quintessential drink to keep the lungs well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water in a day is good not just for your kidneys, but also for lungs and the whole body. It is advisable that one should drink at least 10-12 glasses of water in a day for the proper functioning of lungs and other body parts. Filtered water through the process of reverse osmosis is recommended to avoid the toxicity of fluoride and other toxins.
2. Garlic
Garlic is not just used to make a dish piquant, but also for various therapeutic benefits. It has been used for more than 100 years as a superfood to treat various ailments and disorders. Garlic is an anti-bacterial and helps to clear pathways of bronchioles. Besides, it also helps to flush out mucus and cough; thus, making the nasal air passage thoroughly clear and making the process of respiration easy.
3. Apples
Studies have revealed that consuming juice from organic apples daily can keep children away from wheezing. Apples introduced into your daily diet will significantly increase the health of your lungs. An apple a day....
4. Apricots
Apricots are rich in vitamin A and hence, associated with the healthy functioning of lungs. Vitamin A is responsible for linings of the respiratory tract and thus, keeps lung disorders at bay.
5. Ginger
Ginger is another blissful food that when added to your diet can help you detoxify your lungs. Ginger also helps in improving the circulation of blood and thus, keeps the body healthy and fit. Ginger has also been proven to aid in digestion along with curing bronchitis and making your immune system much stronger than before.
6. Chili Peppers
For some people, hot and spicy chilies are a great addiction during a meal, but very few know that it is equally beneficial when it comes to keeping the lungs healthy and disease-free. Chilies also help to remove tars and chemicals that get trapped in the mucus, thereby, help in lung detoxification process.
7. Fresh Organic Whole Foods
Processed and preserved foods might be cheap and quite convenient to buy, but they certainly do not add to the health benefits of your body. In fact, they play a dominant role in destroying and weakening your body from the core. They contain harmful chemicals that interfere with the various metabolic functions of the body and blood sugar levels, thus, harming the body in many ways. So, it is highly advisable to consume fresh fruits and vegetables to keep the inner body clean and clear. At the same time, you will notice a drastic difference in the health of your lungs, as well.
8. Broccoli
Broccoli has high levels of antioxidants and thus, it is highly beneficial and one of the best veggies for keeping up the lungs’ health. Studies have also proven that broccoli is an effective remedy for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
If you are ever feeling out of breath, have a consistent cough that won’t go away, spit up mucus or have repeated chest infections, then you may have un-diagnosed lung damage. Starting from the main cause, and healing from that perspective is your best bet in ensuring your lungs heal naturally – below are some suggestions in healing your lungs!
Eat Lung Healthy Foods
Eating for lung health is one of the main steps to improve the condition of your lungs. Removing highly processed foods, and mucus causing foods (wheat and animal products), as well as refined sugar is the first step. The next step is to load your body with food that contains life and vitality!
These foods include things like watercress, apricots, citrus fruits, apples, broccoli and berries, all of which have been shown to improve the health of our lungs. Not only consuming a large variety of fruit and vegetables, but also aim for drinking about a gallon of filtered water (reverse osmosis), DAILY. Flushing out our system with plenty of fluids will dislodge chemicals from our cells, and help our cilia in becoming more fluid and helping them with getting rid of debris inside the lungs.
Activity
Exercise is incredibly important to keep your lungs strong and healthy (or to repair them from damage done by asthma or smoking for example). Exercise helps loosen mucus build-up, and aids cilia in pushing mucus up and out of the lungs.
When you exercise, your muscles need to work harder and thus every cell in your body uses more oxygen and produces more carbon dioxide. In order to compensate for this demand, your lungs need to work harder, and thus breathing increases from around 15 times a minute (resting state) to 40-60 times a minute (exercise state).
Exercise will help increase your lung capacity too – but so will breathing exercises. Combining exercise and breathing exercises together will help ensure your lungs remain in good health.
Avoid
Avoiding things like cigarettes (whether smoking them, or being around the smoke itself), heavily air polluted areas, chemical products, and checking your basement for radon poisoning are essential.
As we are all aware, cigarette smoke is incredibly damaging to the lungs – it damages your lungs’ natural cleaning and repair system and traps chemicals that cause cancer in the alveoli and bronchioles. It also permanently damages your alveoli, making it very hard to breathe.
Not only does cigarette smoke affect the lungs, but air pollution and chemical products (like paint, cleaners, fragrances, etc.) are toxic to our body’s natural system. All of these products slowly destroy the tiny hairs (cilia) which line your respiratory tract and which naturally aid in the pushing of debris out of the lungs. Damaging this repair system means that all the dirt, germs and chemicals stay inside your lungs, putting you at risk for developing chest infections, lung cancers and chronic cough.
Checking your basement for radon poisoning is also important. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in the ground. It can leak into your house through cracks in the foundation of walls, especially of those buried in the ground (like the basement). In fact, radon is the main cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and the second leading cause of disease after smoking.
Lungs are the most essential and chief breathing organs in the human body. The two lungs are located on either side of the heart, near the backbone. They have the key role of transporting oxygen from the surrounding environment into the bloodstream. Similarly, they release carbon-di-oxide from the bloodstream back into the atmosphere. For this process to take place, large surface area is needed, and it is accomplished by the cluster of specific cells, which are very tiny and have a very thin wall, and are called alveoli.
It is very essential to keep the lungs functioning efficiently as improper functioning can lead to a number of dangerous lung diseases, including asthma, bronchiolitis, asbestosis, etc. Below are some superfoods that are highly nourishing and are loaded with essential vitamins and nutrients that ensure the proper functioning of lungs.
1. Filtered Water (non-fluoridated)
Dry lungs are more likely to get irritated as the alveoli get constricted due to the lack of adequate water. Water is the quintessential drink to keep the lungs well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water in a day is good not just for your kidneys, but also for lungs and the whole body. It is advisable that one should drink at least 10-12 glasses of water in a day for the proper functioning of lungs and other body parts. Filtered water through the process of reverse osmosis is recommended to avoid the toxicity of fluoride and other toxins.
2. Garlic
Garlic is not just used to make a dish piquant, but also for various therapeutic benefits. It has been used for more than 100 years as a superfood to treat various ailments and disorders. Garlic is an anti-bacterial and helps to clear pathways of bronchioles. Besides, it also helps to flush out mucus and cough; thus, making the nasal air passage thoroughly clear and making the process of respiration easy.
3. Apples
Studies have revealed that consuming juice from organic apples daily can keep children away from wheezing. Apples introduced into your daily diet will significantly increase the health of your lungs. An apple a day....
4. Apricots
Apricots are rich in vitamin A and hence, associated with the healthy functioning of lungs. Vitamin A is responsible for linings of the respiratory tract and thus, keeps lung disorders at bay.
5. Ginger
Ginger is another blissful food that when added to your diet can help you detoxify your lungs. Ginger also helps in improving the circulation of blood and thus, keeps the body healthy and fit. Ginger has also been proven to aid in digestion along with curing bronchitis and making your immune system much stronger than before.
6. Chili Peppers
For some people, hot and spicy chilies are a great addiction during a meal, but very few know that it is equally beneficial when it comes to keeping the lungs healthy and disease-free. Chilies also help to remove tars and chemicals that get trapped in the mucus, thereby, help in lung detoxification process.
7. Fresh Organic Whole Foods
Processed and preserved foods might be cheap and quite convenient to buy, but they certainly do not add to the health benefits of your body. In fact, they play a dominant role in destroying and weakening your body from the core. They contain harmful chemicals that interfere with the various metabolic functions of the body and blood sugar levels, thus, harming the body in many ways. So, it is highly advisable to consume fresh fruits and vegetables to keep the inner body clean and clear. At the same time, you will notice a drastic difference in the health of your lungs, as well.
8. Broccoli
Broccoli has high levels of antioxidants and thus, it is highly beneficial and one of the best veggies for keeping up the lungs’ health. Studies have also proven that broccoli is an effective remedy for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
9. Walnuts
As a known fact, walnuts contain a significant amount of omega-3 fatty acids and are quintessential in treating various respiratory disorders, such as asthma. Have a handful of walnuts every day in your breakfast to keep away such disorders.
10. Berries
Berries, specifically blueberries, raspberries or strawberries, are superb source of antioxidants. Amongst all the berries, blueberries are the ones that contain the maximum amount of antioxidants. Besides, cranberries, strawberries and grapes are equally good for the health of your lungs.
11. Beans/Legumes
Like berries, beans also contain high levels of antioxidants. Red beans, black beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc. all are good for lung health and fight off free radicals efficaciously, which could otherwise damage lungs.
12. Watercress
13. Onions
Onions provide vitamin C, vitamin B6, and other critical nutrients. These essential nutrients give the body all the power it needs to heal itself. They also have anti-cancer properties also. Another component in onions is quercetin, a natural anti-oxidant. That antioxidant has research behind it showing it helps prevent lung diseases including cancer.
14. Wheatgrass
15. Fresh Oregano
16. Fresh Rosemary
17. Carrots
Carrots offer vitamin A and Vitamin C. Vitamin A has a direct link to lung health. Scientific studies show that rats with a high level of vitamin A have a lower chance of developing lung disease than those with a deficiency of this essential nutrient. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant. It also has the ability to help the lungs heal from the inside out. Scientific studies continue to show that carrots and other foods rich in vitamin C can help people avoid lung deterioration and can prevent many lung disorders. Carrots also have lycopene, falcarinol, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, all powerful anti-cancer agents.
18. Oranges
Oranges offer Vitamin C, iron and vitamin B6. These nutrients help the lungs transfer oxygen to cells more efficiently. The Vitamin C has the same benefits from oranges as they do in carrots and other orange produce. Oranges also contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a natural anti-oxidant. This combination of nutrients makes oranges a very good food to add to your diet for lung health.
Vitamin D-Sunshine
Vitamin D seems to have a direct link to a person’s lung health. A deficiency of this vitamin indicates the high possibility in loss of lung function. Sweet potatoes and mushrooms are good plant sources. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids provide natural components offering support to the health of the entire body, including the lungs. These fatty acids also provide protection against cancer.
Onions provide vitamin C, vitamin B6, and other critical nutrients. These essential nutrients give the body all the power it needs to heal itself. They also have anti-cancer properties also. Another component in onions is quercetin, a natural anti-oxidant. That antioxidant has research behind it showing it helps prevent lung diseases including cancer.
14. Wheatgrass
15. Fresh Oregano
16. Fresh Rosemary
17. Carrots
Carrots offer vitamin A and Vitamin C. Vitamin A has a direct link to lung health. Scientific studies show that rats with a high level of vitamin A have a lower chance of developing lung disease than those with a deficiency of this essential nutrient. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant. It also has the ability to help the lungs heal from the inside out. Scientific studies continue to show that carrots and other foods rich in vitamin C can help people avoid lung deterioration and can prevent many lung disorders. Carrots also have lycopene, falcarinol, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, all powerful anti-cancer agents.
18. Oranges
Oranges offer Vitamin C, iron and vitamin B6. These nutrients help the lungs transfer oxygen to cells more efficiently. The Vitamin C has the same benefits from oranges as they do in carrots and other orange produce. Oranges also contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a natural anti-oxidant. This combination of nutrients makes oranges a very good food to add to your diet for lung health.
Vitamin D-Sunshine
Vitamin D seems to have a direct link to a person’s lung health. A deficiency of this vitamin indicates the high possibility in loss of lung function. Sweet potatoes and mushrooms are good plant sources. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids provide natural components offering support to the health of the entire body, including the lungs. These fatty acids also provide protection against cancer.