Lungs are one of the most important organs of the human body. They play a key role in taking the oxygen from the air and passing it on to the bloodstream, along with collecting carbon dioxide from the blood and expelling it out. In short, lungs are what will help you breathe and keep you alive! Along with cutting down smoking and exposure to environmental toxins, it’s essential to eat a diet rich in foods for healthy lungs.

With the pandemic playing havoc with our lungs, it’s wise to act immediately and try out these 20 foods that boost lung health! Some of these foods are even proven to combat chronic respiratory issues like COPD, asthma etc., and enable us to breathe freely & normally again!

20 Best Foods To Keep Lungs Healthy:

Here are some of the best foods which increase the efficiency of your lungs and enable you to breathe better:

1. Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are known for preventing respiratory problems by improving the health of your lungs. Tomatoes contain beta-carotene and a key antioxidant called lycopene, which can slow down the rate of the lungs ageing process. Lycopene also fights free radicals that damage lung cells and minimize the risk of airway inflammation which cause asthma and breathing problems. Additionally, Experts recommend consuming more than two tomatoes per day to keep a check on respiratory ailments.

2. Pumpkin:

Pumpkin is another bright-coloured food that can boost the health of your lungs. The vegetable is a rich source of beta-carotene and other carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, which reduce inflammation and fight free radical cells. A study also shows that carotenoids like beta-carotene have lung-protective properties, both in healthy people and smokers as well (1). Additionally, Vitamin C and E present in Pumpkin can improve pulmonary health by reducing oxidative stress in the body.