The Right Nutrients Can Help Improve Lung Health
One of the leading global causes of adult deaths is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that harms overall lung function and causes various breathing problems, such as excessive coughing and shortness of breath. Smoking is the main behavioral factor that leads to COPD, but its progression is also heavily influenced by environmental factors that are harder for individuals to control, such as air pollution and exposure to dust or fumes in the workplace.
Thankfully, maintaining a healthy diet may reduce the risk of developing COPD by improving lung function. A Korean study published in 2021 collected data on the diet habits and symptoms of 1439 subjects twice over five years, once in 2012 and again in 2017. Both smoker and nonsmoker subjects who ate diets with less fiber, folic acid, and vitamin C displayed worse symptoms during the five-year check-up than patients who maintained a healthy diet that included those three nutrients.
COPD is a chronic disease that currently has no cure. Once it appears—typically in adults around 30–40 years of age—its progression needs to be treated continuously into old age. The study notes that as people age, they encounter challenges preventing optimal nutrient intake, like eating less food at each meal. Starting around age 50–60, older adults display a significant decrease in their intake of nutrients such as vitamin C and folate. A diet with decreased nutrients is ultimately associated with worsened health. For example, 5.29% of participants in the study experienced new cases of airflow limitation, or difficulty exhaling, after decreasing their vitamin C intake over the course of five years. In the same five-year time period, only 1.67% of participants who increased their vitamin C intake experienced these difficulties. As a result, it is important for older adults with or at risk for COPD to stay conscious of their nutrient intake to prevent increased harm to lung function.
Thankfully, maintaining a healthy diet may reduce the risk of developing COPD by improving lung function. A Korean study published in 2021 collected data on the diet habits and symptoms of 1439 subjects twice over five years, once in 2012 and again in 2017. Both smoker and nonsmoker subjects who ate diets with less fiber, folic acid, and vitamin C displayed worse symptoms during the five-year check-up than patients who maintained a healthy diet that included those three nutrients.
COPD is a chronic disease that currently has no cure. Once it appears—typically in adults around 30–40 years of age—its progression needs to be treated continuously into old age. The study notes that as people age, they encounter challenges preventing optimal nutrient intake, like eating less food at each meal. Starting around age 50–60, older adults display a significant decrease in their intake of nutrients such as vitamin C and folate. A diet with decreased nutrients is ultimately associated with worsened health. For example, 5.29% of participants in the study experienced new cases of airflow limitation, or difficulty exhaling, after decreasing their vitamin C intake over the course of five years. In the same five-year time period, only 1.67% of participants who increased their vitamin C intake experienced these difficulties. As a result, it is important for older adults with or at risk for COPD to stay conscious of their nutrient intake to prevent increased harm to lung function.
Smoking is the leading behavioral cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Breathing in harmful cigarette smoke particles causes oxidative stress in the lungs.
Image Source: ColiN00B
On the other hand, including nutrients such as fiber and antioxidants in daily meals is associated with better lung health. Fiber gets broken down by bacteria in the gut, which then produces helpful metabolites—substances that help the body to convert food and nutrients into energy through metabolism. These metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, reduce inflammation throughout the body. The anti-inflammatory benefits of these high-fiber diets have been shown to protect against asthma and chronic lung disease. In addition, vitamin C and folic acid are antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in the lungs. Free radicals, molecules with an unpaired electron, create this oxidative stress by binding to and damaging DNA or other parts of the cell. Particles inhaled through smoking or air pollution bring more free radicals into the body, causing more oxidative stress, so antioxidants can help reduce the harmful effects of these substances.
It should be noted that this study only established a correlation between a nutrient-rich diet and improved lung health. Additional factors may contribute to this trend as well. For example, people who eat healthy foods tend to be more health-conscious and are less likely to smoke. Eating well does not stop COPD, but it can help decrease the severity of symptoms by providing the body with essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain proper function.
It should be noted that this study only established a correlation between a nutrient-rich diet and improved lung health. Additional factors may contribute to this trend as well. For example, people who eat healthy foods tend to be more health-conscious and are less likely to smoke. Eating well does not stop COPD, but it can help decrease the severity of symptoms by providing the body with essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain proper function.
Featured Image Source: Alena Darmel
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