Delhi pollution level enters danger zone: How to save your lungs
Wake up and smell the pollution. It's scary to read headlines like: "Hold your breath, today's air could be the season's dirtiest" early in the morning with your morning cuppa of tea. And then go on to digest lists of primary pollutants in the air, stats about how the pollution is at an all time high, and pore over complicated information like particulate matter (and how it gets lodged in the lungs and cause respiratory and cardiac distress)…
But then we are already aware, aren't we - even without having to read these fancy, technical, deadly sounding words - about the fact that by choosing to live in big cities we "are" breathing in air that is "extremely" harmful for our lungs every second of our life. So we just down the tea, rue the fact that we are helpless about the situation and go out and breathe the same air, we have been warned about (the assault by the way is equally bad even indoors). After all, except requesting those farmers in Punjab and Haryana not to burn their paddy, and to industrialists to begin using better non polluting technologies, and of course stimulating the government by tweeting/posting/writing articles… There isn't much else we can do about it. Except maybe just shift bag-baggage-work to a remote, hopefully less spoilt space. Because come Diwali, the crackers and also the seasonal fog is set to make things worse for our lungs.
But that's not really an option, really!
So while we wait for things to get better I suggest we at least do what we have control on. That is work on strengthening our lungs (so that it can face these rough times better). While exercise (yoga, breathing, cardio) and steering clear of smoke (even passive smoking is bad) are all helpful options, there are some food ways too that we can follow to help this stretched-out organ.
Keep your weight in check
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A study last year showed clearly that overweight or obese adults can breathe 7-50 per cent more air per day than an adult with healthy weight does, which makes them more vulnerable to air contaminants (ammonia, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide are all respiratory irritants) causing asthma and other pulmonary diseases. Simple message here: get your weight in order.
Junk the junk and get fruit power
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I am not just saying it, it's a fact. An analysis done in 31 countries clearly showed a marked increase in the chances of suffering from asthma in junk food-eaters and a remarkable lowering in those who consumed fruits. Even eating three or more weekly portions was linked to a reduction in symptom.
Get apple power for your lungs. A study way back in 2004 found that people who had the greatest lung capacity were those who ate more than five apples a week. Wheezing was also less common in those who ate a lot of apples. That's because apples have quercetin and khellin (both flavonoids), which help open up the stuffed airways.
Load up on vitamin C too. Multiple studies show that this vitamin helps arrest the damage to lung tissue caused by environmental toxins. So target chomping on an amla (Indian gooseberry) or two oranges daily.
Low potassium levels are linked to shortness of breath, so zero in on high potassium foods - banana, coconut water are two very good, easily accessible options.
It's the season for grapes and thank god for that. The component resveratrol in this juicy fruit helps inhibit the release of compounds that cause inflammation on the cell lining of the lungs and help keep the lungs fighting fit.
Pineapple is a good bet too. The enzyme bromelin in it helps clear out the toxic debris that accumulates in the lungs and thus helps it detox naturally.
Simple age-baked tips
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Ginger is a proven remedy (begin your day with a ginger tea cuppa and have another when you get back home after work); it helps stamp out air pollutants out of the air passages before they have time to irritate the lungs. Add mint to your fresh juice and sprinkle oregano in your breakfast omelette (or besan cheela, stir fry's). When pollutants invade our body, the body releases a chemical called histamine to fight them, and the side effects of this fight are symptoms like nasal congestion, mucous formation, and sneezing. Antihistamines in oregano and mint are perfect antidotes for this.
Finally always place a clove under your tongue (and keep sucking on it slowly) when you step out. An organic expectorant, clove helps to break up phlegm in the throat and esophagus, and also help prevent respiratory tract infections. Drinking clove tea too is a great idea.
Go on save your lungs as much as you can.