After the fresh air passes through the trachea, it comes to the lungs, and from there to the bronchioles. The oxygen taken from the inhaled air mixes into the blood here. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide is expelled from the blood and removed from your body when you begin to exhale.
The lungs are located in the chest cavity of our body. It has two, right and left lungs. The right lung is larger than the left lung because the left lung shares space with the heart. The right lung consists of three lobes, and the left lung consists of two lobes. A slippery thin membrane called the pleura covers the outside of the lungs. This membrane also undertakes the task of protecting the lung. The structure of the lungs is spongy, flexible and protected by the rib cage. A single lung in an adult male weighs an average of 1,300 grams. The average blood volume is 2-3 liters.
Our lungs, which play a leading role in our respiratory system, have a vital importance for our body as they filter the toxins we take with the oxygen in the air. In order to ensure that all cells and tissues in our body are supplied with oxygen-rich blood, we need to keep your lungs healthy and functioning properly.
Foods That Are Good For The Lungs
Your lungs provide your body with the oxygen it needs throughout your life. They help us breathe 12 to 20 times a minute, that is, 25 thousand times a day, in order to take the clean air and carry the necessary oxygen to all organs and remove the polluted air from the body, and they work non-stop. It is possible for us to breathe more efficiently and freely by eating healthy, natural and correct foods.
The most practical and natural way to improve your lung health is to start feeding with foods that clean the lungs. Foods that can help clean and strengthen your lungs are also very beneficial for your overall body health, while helping to improve and increase the working functions of your other organs.
1. Green Leafy Vegetables
Green leafy vegetables have an important place among the nutrients that strengthen the lungs. These vegetables contain many valuable components for maintaining your lung health. Green leafy and cruciferous vegetables help get rid of toxins in your lungs and body, thanks to their antioxidant properties.
Cruciferous vegetables are among the foods that are good for the lungs. Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli are cruciferous vegetables. In addition to these, foods such as carob and mallow clean the lungs and blood, and correct the harmful effects of smoking.
2. Foods with Carotenoids
Another food group that will help detox your lungs and improve the capacity of your lungs are foods containing carotenoids. To define it briefly, carotenoid is a type of pigment found in the structure of the plant and giving the plant a color between yellow and red. It is found in vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, red peppers, sweet potatoes. Carotenoids are antioxidants that have anti-cancer effects on cells and tissues.
Various studies have been conducted on the effects of carotenoid-rich foods on lung health. Researchers have determined that foods containing carotenoids have important effects in the prevention of lung cancer. It has been observed that the lycopene pigment, which is found in tomatoes and gives their red color, strengthens lung health and tomato skin is a powerful antioxidant.
3. Foods Containing Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Eating foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can help clear the lungs and make them work effectively. Rich in omega-3,
- Mackerel
- Flaxseed and oil
- Fish oil
- Nuts
- Egg
Important nutrients such as reduce inflammation in the lungs while increasing mental strength. Researchers say that eating omega-3-rich foods helps blood flow effectively through the lungs and helps prevent inflammatory and infectious respiratory diseases. Using supplements rich in omega-3s also helps keep your lungs healthy.
4. Foods Containing Flavonoids
To briefly describe the flavonoid, we can say that it is a variety of plant substances found in almost all fruits and vegetables. In addition, flavonoids, along with carotenoids, are a group of plant chemicals responsible for the vibrant colors in fruits and vegetables. Fruits containing flavonoids naturally cleanse the lungs and have an antioxidant effect on other organs. Among the fruits that are good for lung cancer;
Grapefruit: Grapefruit, which is a good antioxidant, prevents the activation of enzymes that cause lung cancer with its abundant vitamin C and flavonoid called naringen. It reduces asthma attacks, which is a lung-related disease, and is good for shortness of breath and bronchitis. It prevents severe cough and nasal congestion. Drinking a glass of grapefruit juice a day is enough to protect against lung diseases.
Pineapple: The bromelain substance it contains stops the development of tumor and cancer cells of lung cancer. Being rich in vitamin C, it also strengthens its antioxidant properties.
Papaya: Because it contains plenty of vitamin A, it protects the body from lung cancer and other lung diseases. It is of great benefit to add it to the daily diet of patients at risk of lung cancer.
Apple: As it strengthens the immune system and has antioxidant properties, we take a precaution against both lung cancer and other lung diseases by eating an apple a day. According to the American Cancer Research Institute, it has been reported that no fruit, except apple, is sufficient on its own to prevent cancer. Again, in a study conducted by Utrecht University on 1200 pregnant women, expectant mothers ate apples regularly during their pregnancy. As a result of this study, it was stated that the risk of developing asthma in the children of the subjects decreased by 50%.
Pomegranate: It has the strongest amount of antioxidants and contains flavonoids and polyphenols. Pomegranate, which supports the immune system and is an anti-cancer fruit, prevents the proliferation of cancerous cells.
Blueberries: It is a fruit rich in vitamin C, which makes the lungs healthy. In addition, being rich in copper and ellagic acid are components needed in the fight against cancer.
Cherry: Cherry, which is a good antioxidant, contains a substance called flavone. Flavones are especially effective in the formation and progression of lung cancer.
Peach: Peach, which plays an important role in scavenging free radicals that damage cells, has an important antioxidant called chlorogenic acid.
5. Garlic
Countless benefits for the body, garlic helps keep the lungs healthy when used as a medicine. The compound called allicin, found in the structure of garlic, acts as a powerful antibiotic in our body. It helps to kill bacterial infections that cause blockage of our lungs. A study conducted in 2013 revealed that garlic consumed raw can prevent lung cancer. Researchers have also discovered that garlic can reverse lung damage from smoking and poor air quality. Therefore, when you ask what is good for lung infection, we can answer garlic.
6. Green Tea
One way to keep your lungs healthy and free of excess mucus is to drink green tea regularly. Extracts from green tea contain more powerful antioxidants than vitamin C. Studies have shown that drinking green tea has a protective effect against lung cancer. Another study in China found that, like garlic, green tea helps repair lung damage caused by smoking.
7. Vitamin C
The lungs continue to work uninterruptedly, even during sleep, day and night. They are also exposed to many harmful substances during breathing. Fruits containing vitamin C come first among the fruits that clean the lungs. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant for respiratory health and your lungs. Helping to detoxify your lungs, vitamin C is involved in destroying free radicals in your lungs exposed to tobacco smoke. Tomatoes, hot peppers, peppers, pumpkins, cherries, carrots, lemons, oranges, mangoes, tangerines, melons and kiwis contain plenty of vitamin C, which strengthens the lungs, ensures healthy functioning, purifies them from harmful toxins and repairs the damage.
8. Ginger
When you have respiratory problems due to cold and flu infections, you can help clear your lungs and strengthen your immune system by consuming ginger. Ginger is a natural cleansing food with anti-inflammatory properties. When you use ginger to reduce inflammation, it speeds up the healing of respiratory infections and reduces the amount of mucus that clogs your bronchial tubes. Studies have shown that ginger reduces asthma and other respiratory symptoms. In addition, it has shown the potential to inhibit lung cancer cells with its anti-inflammatory properties.
9. Turmeric
Turmeric is closely related to ginger and is among the foods that are good for lung inflammation. You can strengthen your lung and body health, especially by adding turmeric and ginger to your tea. Turmeric also balances the harmful effects of cigarette smoke and air pollution on your lungs.
What Is Good For Lung Smog?
The disease, known as tuberculosis in the medical language, is popularly known as lung smoke in the lungs. People with tuberculosis should be fed with energy-rich foods. High-calorie foods can prevent a person from losing weight due to illness over time. In the fight against this disease
- green vegetables
- Oat
- All grain products
- Skim milk and yogurt
- Egg
- Soy
- Nuts like almonds and peanuts
- Apple, banana and pomegranate prevent the patient from losing weight rapidly. In addition, the person should be fed with foods rich in protein. Some patients need to take protein powder mixes and vitamin supplements in addition to their daily diet.
How to Keep the Lungs Healthy and Clean?
- If you have had respiratory diseases such as flu, cold, sinusitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis, you should definitely clean your lungs. Foods that are beneficial to your lungs; It can help remove excess mucus caused by bacteria, viruses and allergens. The foods that clean the lungs that you will add to your diet will also help you stay away from diseases that are likely to be encountered in the future.
- The first step you need to take to have healthy lungs is to stay away from factors that damage the lungs. For your lungs to function properly, your airways must be clear of inflammation, swelling, and congestion from excess mucus. If you smoke, you can take the biggest step towards improving your lung health by quitting smoking. Smoking is the main cause of lung diseases, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases increases your risk of having COPD.
- Avoid cigarette smoke. Inhaling the smoke emitted from cigarettes, in other words passive smoking, is very harmful to your lungs. Cigarette smoke is known to increase the risk of heart diseases and other cardiovascular problems, as well as lung diseases, because it contains chemicals that cause cancer. Even brief exposure to cigarette smoke can damage your lung cells.
- Pay attention to hygiene. An important way to clear your lungs of infections and strengthen your lung health is to increase your hygiene habits. Bacterial or viral infections negatively affect your lung health. Therefore, pay attention to oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day. Strengthen your immune system to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases such as colds and flu.
- Avoid air pollution. Air pollution in your home, work, school, car, dormitory, public transportation vehicles has important effects on lung diseases. Good ventilation of the house ensures the removal of molds that cause respiratory problems and asthma.