Eat to keep your lungs healthy Diet is an important factor for lung patients, which can positively influence the course of the disease and even prevent many diseases. Changing the diet does not necessarily mean dieting.
In addition to abstaining from nicotine, strengthening the immune system, regular exercise and breathing in good, clean air, diet is also considered a decisive factor in keeping the body and thus also the lungs healthy. On the one hand, it is a question of what is consumed and, on the other hand, how much of it is consumed.
Anti-diet day on 6. May
For COPD patients, too much body weight is a factor that can put a strain on everyday life. Obesity – usually a result of an unhealthy diet – is considered a risk factor for lung disease. But going against it with radical diets can backfire. On 6. May is the annual International Anti-Diet Day. On this occasion, it is also explained that healthy eating does not mean starving for an ideal weight. Eating a lung-friendly diet means choosing foods wisely and knowing that they are good for the body. 1)
Dos and don'ts of nutrition
Asthma patients should keep an eye out for glutamate and preservatives, as these ingredients in ready meals can trigger attacks. All foods that can be dangerous for allergy sufferers should be avoided consistently. 2) Among the foods that have a positive effect on lung function are those containing omega-3s. The best sources of omega-3 are fatty fish, but also flaxseed (oil) and nuts. 4) Sufficient drinking is also a must for lung patients. Liquid makes the mucus in the lungs thinner and easier to cough up. 3) Water, unsweetened and green tea are especially good to drink. Numerous spices and medicinal herbs are also among the lung-friendly foods, including turmeric, ginger and – not too spicy – chilies. Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables, but also onions and garlic, carrots, dark green vegetables, apples, berries, apricots, citrus fruits, beans, seeds and nuts, avocados, red peppers, cocoa and poultry have been shown to have a positive effect. Some pulmonary specialists advise an alkaline diet, which can help reduce mucus and improve coughing. They focus on lots of vegetables and low-acid fruit, as well as several small meals instead of three large ones. Fish and poultry are allowed, but coffee, carbon dioxide, red meat, chocolate and fried food are taboo.