Author: Ivan Red Jr.
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
Researchers recommend that smokers take care of the health of their lungs on their own.
There is no doubt that cigarettes provoke long-term damage to the lungs and the most successful way to prevent them is to quit smoking. However, there are some measures that heavy smokers can take to reduce and even compensate for some of the damage caused by cigarette smoke.
The results of a special study on the health of the respiratory system show that proper nutrition can slow down the destructive processes for lung health in smokers.
Tomatoes and apples are especially useful in this regard .
A research team from Johns Hopkins University in the United States found that regular consumption of tomatoes and apples significantly slows down the degenerative processes in the lungs of smokers in the long run. The positive effect is associated with specific substances in the composition of these foods.
The study focused on studying the condition of the lungs in 650 people, heavy smokers, over a period of 10 years. At the beginning and at the end of the ten-year period, each of them underwent 2 extensive pulmonary examinations to establish changes in the lungs over the years. Spirometric tests were also performed to determine lung volume and respiratory quality.
After processing the results and comparing the diets of the participants, it was found that those who regularly eat tomatoes and apples have the weakest damage to their lungs.
Pulmonary function invariably decreases after the age of 30 with varying intensity depending on the general health, eating habits and lifestyle of each person. Increased consumption of tomatoes and apples can help slow this trend and especially reduce the damage caused by bad habits such as smoking.
More in-depth research is forthcoming to determine the specific reasons why these two foods have such a positive effect on lung health. At the moment, the key role of lycopene in tomatoes is suspected - a strong antioxidant, giving them a red color. It is also associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and prostate problems in men.
One thing is clear - regular consumption of fresh tomatoes and apples, minimally treated with fertilizers and dangerous chemicals , is a very convenient tool that will not harm in any way, but can help smokers to compensate for some of the damage they cause themselves.