Food for Lungs

Doctors, researchers, parents and basic common sense all remind us that eating right is good for us and important for longevity. Few, however, realize the impact of foods on vital parts of the body. The lungs enable us to breathe and oxygenate our blood. Caring for your lungs means not smoking, avoiding damaging pollutants and incorporating some very specific foods into your diet.

Nutrients

Foods contain specific nutrients that are the driving force behind their defensive abilities. Antioxidants, such as lycopene, are shown to decrease the risk of many cancers, including lung cancer and, in some cases, improve respiratory function. Phytoestrogens are a chemical substance found in many natural foods and have been shown to have an inverse relationship to lung cancer. Finally, plant pigments, called flavonoids, also contain antioxidants and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the lungs.

Benefits

Eating specific foods containing these nutrients can have tremendous benefits for your lungs. Most notably, they reduce tumor growth and cancer cells throughout the body. They also demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects on tumors and can increase overall body function. Even your natural ability to breathe can be improved when you eat foods filled with these nutrients.

Research

The most popular food and lung study, published Sept. 28, 2005, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is authored by Dr. Margaret R. Spitz, MD, MPH from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The study involved 3409 lung cancer patients and healthy subjects and concluded that those with diets high in phytoestrogens lowered their risk of lung cancer by 46 percent.

Other studies, such as those cited in Thorax magazine, reveal the antioxidant and phytoestrogen benefits of natural foods. The Apple Products Research and Education Council conducted a study outlined in the September 2007 issue of Thorax, involving 1200 mothers and their children. The study revealed that children whose mothers ate four or more apples a week, had a 27 percent lower risk of wheezing and nearly half the risk of childhood asthma than those whose mothers ate one apple or less per week. Though only studied in animals, there is even evidence that certain oils in foods like parsley can prevent tumors from developing in the lungs.

Best Foods

The simplest way to protect your lungs is to stick with the basics. Tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, tomato juice and ketchup are the most popular sources of lycopene, but many fruits such as watermelon, pink grapefruit, papaya and guava will do the job. As for phytoestrogens, they are found practically everywhere in the produce aisle. Carrots, sprouts, peas, broccoli, spinach, legumes and most brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain them. Many plant-based foods such as soybeans, soy products and chickpeas also contain phytoestrogens. Flavonoids are present in several fruits and vegetables too, but are found most prominently in Brussels sprouts, onions, apples, strawberries, and beans. Green and black teas also serve up a healthy dose of flavonoids.

Amounts

Getting your daily dose of these nutrients means eating enough of the core foods to make a difference. The rule of thumb is that you should consume at least three of the recommended fruits and vegetables a day to reap the rewards of their powerful nutrients. A full glass of tomato or vegetable juice can also count as a serving.

References

• The Journal of the American Medical Association
• Cancer Recovery Foundation
• SixWise

Resources

• WH Foods