Lungs

Sunny-Side Wellness
Jan 28, 2021
5 min read

Updated: Jan 7, 2022

Second to the heart, the lungs are the most vitally important organ in the human body. Consisting of the bronchial tree surrounded by delicate sacs (alveoli), and protected by the rigid outer ribcage, the lungs act as a leading source of oxygen for the body as well as a detoxifying mechanism, expelling harmful agents. One of the most important actions it is responsible for is the inner balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Breathing Exercises for the Lungs

The therapeutic motion of expanding the lungs, rib cage, and diaphragm are proven to be very healthful for respiratory health.

Try Full Yogic Breathing, Lung Meridian Breathing or Buteyko Breathing techniques.
Take up a musical instrument that requires deep breathing like a flute, clarinet, or accordion even. This study found that orchestra wind instrument players may have suffered more from hoarseness and bronchial issues, but had drastically higher scores on lung function tests.
Practice yoga, tai chi or qigong which focus on conscious breathing.

Lungs & Nutrition

Oxygen is one of the major fueling elements of our body, providing energy to cells which then use the oxygen to break down glucose from food. Diet has had a long-standing link with lung function and health. What we eat clearly affects the many systems of our body, and surprisingly this includes the lungs. Studies show that people with progressive lung deterioration like COPD and asthma experience a decline in lung function after eating refined grains, fried foods, red meats, and processed foods. Alternatively, to improve lung function as well as overall health, a person should consume more fruits and vegetables and less sodium and daily fat. Additives such as aspartame, BHT, nitrates, benzoates, parabens, and sulfites are especially unhealthy for the lungs. An anti-inflammatory diet such as the Mediterranean diet is best for lung function as well as increased antioxidant intake. But above all, the plant-based diet is the optimal diet for any health issue. A group in Sweden examined asthmatic patients who were unresponsive to traditional asthma medications, and initiated a 100% plant-based diet - 70% were better after 4 months and 90% after 1 year.

Broccoli can prevent DNA damage associated with cancer. One study compared smokers who ate broccoli daily versus those who did not & found that broccoli-eaters suffered 41% less DNA mutation then the non-broccoli-eaters. This result is indicative of other veggies in the cruciferous family, so give cauliflower, cabbage & Brussels sprouts a try too. Beets are rich in special nitrates that have shown to be especially advantageous for the human lungs. Research subjects with COPD and pulmonary hypertension who consumed beets or beet greens demonstrated healthier lung function. Nuts - Harvard Nurse’s Health Study found that women who obtained high levels of vitamin E from a nut-rich diet were 50% less likely to develop asthma.

What To Avoid...

You should avoid dairy anyway due to its extremely high fat content and growth hormones that promote cancer - but especially if you have lung issues. Dairy (besides kefir and yogurt) creates excess mucous in the lungs.
Also avoid processed or cured meats like bacon, bologna, ham, hot dogs, sausage and salami. Harvard and Columbia conducted a twin study on the subject, both finding that those who consumed more of these foods were at higher risk of COPD. They attribute this to the nitrates similar to those found in cigarette smoke.
Eggs and sodas are associated with heightened prevalence of asthma attacks in children