Diet That Could Reduce the Harmful Impact of Air Pollution

Important Diet Tips Revealed by the leading Nutritionist and Dietician Avni Kaul, Amidst the Growing Air Pollution in Delhi and NCR

Iron can’t lessen air pollution but its regular consumption keeps your system immune to its harmful reactions.

As per The World Health Organization (WHO), pollution is the 5th leading factor for causing deaths in India, behind high blood pressure and tobacco smoking. It also says Delhi’s air quality is worse than Beijing, ­ a city where an increasing level of air pollution has brought about a new disease named Beijing cough.

It is believed that most people do not even know what actually constitutes air pollution. “Air contamination is caused not only by industries and vehicles. Dust mites, chemicals in the carpets, air fresheners, and off-gassing due to plastics also add up to the toxic onslaught that your lungs have to face. What is problematic is that air pollution is not merely linked to sinus infections, asthma or lung diseases, but is also considered to be an autism trigger. It is also associated with heart attacks, sperm mutation and fetal intelligence well-being.

Eminent weight loss expert and dietician Avni Kaul share some foods and tips that could help you to reduce the impact of pollution.

Lungs Friendly Fruits and Vegetables

You can keep your immune system fortified by regularly having the right diet, detox plan and breathing exercises. These are the best ways to minimise the harmful impact of air pollution.  Add broccoli to your daily diet in every weather. This wonder vegetable besides being a great cancer combatant goes a long way in safeguarding you from air and vehicular pollution, according to one study at Johns Hopkins University.

A clinical trial, performed in Jiangsu Province -one of China’s most polluted parts -found that consuming a beverage that had broccoli sprouts helped participants excrete toxins linked with ozone air pollution.

To neutralise free radical damage caused due to air contamination, one needs to support and detoxify  lungs and liver daily. “Rejuvenate your lungs using oregano, orange peel, eucalyptus and peppermint and eat grapefruits, carrots, beet, apples, cabbage, avocado for a clean liver.

Vitamin C consumed in dietary and supplement form with tincture of echinacea (herbal remedy) helps build the immune system, making you less susceptible to any allergies. Vitamin C rich foods like oranges, strawberries, apples, watermelons etc counter the inflammatory allergic response. Some of the other food sources of Vitamin C are guavas, red bell peppers, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, papayas, spinach, and green onion.

Natural cures

Spicy foods with a little kick keep away allergy symptoms. Ginger, anise, fennel and hot mustard all act as natural decongestants. “Green tea, Tulsi, ginger and cinnamon are powerful adaptogens (herbal ingredients used to improve the health of the adrenal system) that let the body handle stressors such as pollution and environmental toxins. Raw turmeric also has curative components that protect you from chronic bronchitis, wheezing, allergic coughs and colds.

Drink an anti-inflammatory tea made of Tulsi, ginger and raw turmeric to see the difference, opines Avni.

Having a diet rich in natural antihistamines also help forestall allergic reactions. Try magnesium-rich foods like almonds, cashews, wheat bran since magnesium is a natural bronchodilator (agent that soothes the breathing tubes inside lungs). “Omega-3 fatty acids are also capable of lowering allergic reactions and soothing inflammation. Consume Omega-3 rich foods such as walnuts, flaxseeds and oils like mustard, canola and flaxseed.