It’s always a good time to take care of lungs. They allow you to breathe which allows you to live. Check out these eight ways to improve lung health today.
Most of us are aware of the importance of keeping our hearts healthy. But few of us consider how much of an important role our lungs play in our overall health.
Often, it’s not until we experience breathing problems that we begin to take notice. And when issues occur, it becomes clear that, like every part of our body, it’s crucial to take care of our lungs.
Here are eight simple yet extremely effective ways to improve lung health.
- Get Regular Exercise
Regular exercise supports healthy lungs and a healthier heart. Plus, it’s a great natural mood boost too.
Working out doesn’t directly make lungs stronger, but it does help you to maximize their full potential. During exercise, your heart beats faster and your body needs more oxygen to provide fuel for your muscles. Your lungs then have to step up their game, meaning they work harder to deliver the necessary oxygen while also expelling extra carbon dioxide.
The more you exercise, the more efficient your lungs will become. And, strengthening your lungs through exercise helps you fight off aging and disease. Even if you do develop lung disease, exercise will help to slow the progression and ensure that you remain active for longer.
So, aim to complete 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise each day for optimum lung health. This can be split up into smaller segments of 10 minutes if you find that easier to fit into a busy schedule.
- Stay Hydrated
Another way to boost your lung health is to make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
If sputum isn’t cleared out from your lungs, it can cause inflammation. This can lead to further lung damage. For your lungs to remain healthy they need to be kept as clear as possible, and water plays an important role in that.
Water ensures that blood keeps flowing to and from the lungs, and also increases your body’s oxygen levels, meaning your body and lungs have enough fuel to keep working efficiently.
- Avoid Exposure to Pollutants
Strong and healthy lungs can resist the toxins in air pollutants. But, as you get older your lungs lose some of that resistance, meaning you become more vulnerable to lung infections and diseases.
If you’re concerned with how to improve lung health, try to reduce your exposure to these pollutants as much as possible. Avoid passive smoking and try not to go outside when heavy traffic means high pollution.
If you work in an industrial facility, you could be at risk of dust inhalation. Sneezing, coughing and asthma attacks are all signs of this, as explained on this website. So, if you’re exposed to dust or other pollutants at work, protect your lungs as much as possible by following safety procedures at all times.
Be aware of pollutants in your own home too. Keep your home clean by dusting furniture and vacuuming floors at least once a week. Use natural cleaning products and candles, and regularly keep windows open.
- Practice Deep Breathing
Breathing deeply helps to clear out your lungs and ensure a continuous flow of oxygen.
Deep breathing, even just for a few minutes, is vital for giving your lungs a boost. Practice it yourself by sitting quietly and concentrating on breathing from deep in your stomach and out. It may help to count your breaths as a way to slow and regulate your breathing.
Deep breathing can help to relieve stress too, so you should feel more relaxed as a result. Aim to practice twice a day for a great way to boost mental health and strengthen your lungs.
- Improve Your Posture
Posture is also important for good lung health. Bad posture can restrict your breathing and has been shown to lead to many other medical issues, including depression. Lungs are soft and flexible structures which adjust to the amount of space they’re given.
Sitting down with a hunched posture makes it more difficult for your lungs to do their job. See for yourself – stand up tall and reach overhead. Breathing should become easier. Now try bending over and breathing. You will feel your lungs being restricted by your position.
So, as well as practicing deep-breathing techniques, make sure to sit upright and stand tall to improve your posture to give your lungs a helping hand.
- Eat a Healthy Diet
If you want to know how to get healthy lungs, you need to ensure that you’re providing your body with a wealth of nutrients.
Some of the best foods to eat for optimum lung health are cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, kale, and broccoli. These veggies are packed with antioxidants which help your body get rid of toxins.
Foods rich in beta carotene noted for their bright red and orange colors, are also helpful for strengthening the lungs and can even help decrease asthma attacks. So, make sure to fill up on carrots, red peppers, pumpkin, and cantaloupe.
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids are also important for supporting good lung health by reducing inflammation, which is one of the main causes of lung problems. Omega-3 foods include coconut oil, nuts, and wild salmon.
- Spice it Up
Garlic and a variety of spices have anti-inflammatory properties which can help fight inflammation and strengthen lungs.
Garlic has shown very promising results in the prevention of lung cancer. In fact, studies indicate that adult participants who consumed garlic regularly were 44 percent less likely to suffer from the disease.
Turmeric contains an active compound curcumin which works to protect the body from free radical cells. Making turmeric part of your regular spice repertoire can even prevent symptoms in lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Ginger is another great healing spice, and it works well as an addition to smoothies and sweet treats as well as savory dishes. This spice has anti-inflammatory properties to clear pollutants away before they can reach the lungs. Ginger also helps improve lung circulation and relieve congestion.
- Laugh Away
If you want to know how to strengthen your lungs naturally, make sure to laugh as often as possible.
Laughing is a great exercise for your abdominal muscles, and it increases lung capacity too. What’s more, laughing helps your lungs clear out stale air and allows fresh air to enter further into all areas of the lungs.
Great Ways to Improve Lung Health
Not only will these eight tips improve lung health, but they’re also good advice to follow for optimum general health too.
Do you follow these tips for healthy lungs? Leave a comment below, or check out more tips to stay healthy from top to toe.
