wouldn't you agree that we all want to breathe healthier and easier right the easier it is to
breathe the better you'll feel which is why it's so important to take good care of your lungs
many people don't realize it but our diet and the things that we put into our body plays a
role in the health of the respiratory system just like every other organ and system of the body
our lungs need adequate nourishment as well and one key component that often gets overlooked is
antioxidants they are substances that help the body fight off free radicals
which benefits not only the lungs but all the major organs of the body
in this video we're going to discuss a few of the most important antioxidants that you
should know about if you're looking to give your lungs a detoxifying boost be sure to watch until
the end because there's one that i think will surprise you so if you're ready let's get into it
just a quick reminder we are not doctors this video is for informational purposes only
the first one that i want to mention is beta-carotene beta-carotene is a nutrient that
is typically found in orange or yellow fruits and vegetables it's a powerful antioxidant that can
reduce oxidative damage and neutralize unstable free radicals in the body this is helpful in
decreasing the risk of several chronic diseases including those that affect the respiratory system
some examples of foods that are high in beta-carotene include carrots sweet potatoes
cantaloupe red and yellow peppers apricots and butternut squash just to name a few next up on
our list is vitamin c vitamin c is an important antioxidant for the immune system because it helps
with the creation of new white blood cells that work naturally to ward off infections
therefore if your diet is lacking in foods that contain vitamin c your body will have fewer
white blood cells which means a weakened immune system and a greater likelihood of getting sick
this leaves you vulnerable to certain viruses and bacteria including those that are detrimental to
your lungs and respiratory system not to mention a study found that vitamin c may actually help
reduce the risk of lung cancer as well another vitamin that i should mention is vitamin e
it's a fat soluble vitamin that functions as an antioxidant in the body by protecting cell
membranes researchers believe that it can help prevent certain chronic inflammatory diseases
such as obesity and diabetes studies also found that consuming vitamin e naturally in your diet
may decrease the risk of lung cancer with that said vitamin e supplements are not effective
when it comes to prevention some examples of foods that are high in vitamin e include almonds
sunflower seeds spinach and broccoli resveratrol is another property that we need to discuss
it's a phytonutrient compound that functions as an antioxidant in the body researchers believe that
resveratrol can help lower blood pressure decrease cholesterol levels increase insulin sensitivity
and potentially even suppress cancer cells one study found that resveratrol can help decrease
inflammation in the epithelial cells of the lungs this is useful in preventing certain respiratory
inflammatory illnesses from occurring next up on our list is selenium selenium is an essential
mineral that also acts as an antioxidant in the body like others that we've mentioned selenium
also helps prevent cell damage by eliminating free radicals and reducing oxidative stress
it does so by helping the body produce protein and antioxidant enzymes researchers believe
that it may also help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer selenium has
anti-inflammatory properties that are believed to be beneficial in those with asthma as well and we
couldn't have made this video without mentioning catechins catechins are natural antioxidants that
are most known for being found in green tea which is a healthy beverage that has been around for
centuries it is believed to have positive effects on the entire body including your metabolism and
immune system one study specifically looked at how drinking green tea may benefit people with copd
which is a chronic condition that affects the ability of the lungs to exchange oxygen and
carbon dioxide this study found that drinking green tea two or more times per day can reduce
the risk of developing this disease again this is thanks to the phenolic compounds found in green
tea known as catechins flavonoids are another powerful antioxidant that we need to discuss
they are known for helping regulate cellular activity which essentially protects the body from
toxins stressors and foreign invaders flavonoids are known for having potent anti-inflammatory
properties as well just a reminder inflammation is a healthy immune response that occurs in
the body to heal injuries and ward off invaders however if it persists for a longer period of time
it is referred to as chronic inflammation which has been linked to some of the world's most
deadly diseases including heart disease cancer diabetes and alzheimer's disease
including more flavonoids in your diet is a great way to improve your overall health
and potentially prevent these chronic conditions from occurring next up on our list is lycopene
lycopene is a powerful nutrient with antioxidant properties that offer several benefits for the
human body it is believed to provide protection from certain toxins and diseases that can affect
the lungs and respiratory system one study also found that lycopene may lower the risk of lung
cancer by up to 50 percent this is why every health conscious individual should consider
adding more lycopene-rich foods to their diet some examples of healthy foods high in lycopene
include tomatoes watermelon grapefruit papaya and sweet red peppers polyphenols are yet another
compound that we need to talk about they are naturally found in certain fruits and vegetables
and can act as antioxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body studies found that they
can lower blood sugar levels prevent blood clots and decrease the risk of heart disease by doing so
this provides indirect benefits for the lungs and respiratory system as previously mentioned
you can take in more polyphenols by including more healthy fruits and vegetables in your diet
zinc is another essential mineral that we had to include in this video it's often recognized for
boosting the immune system by promoting immune cell maturation and performance especially in t
cells this helps protect the body from certain viruses and bacteria which is critical in
preventing respiratory infections from occurring zinc also has anti-inflammatory properties that
can reduce chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in the body some foods that are high in
zinc include meat shellfish seeds nuts and legumes so just to give a quick recap some vitamins and
antioxidants that have been shown to provide benefits for the lungs include beta-carotene
vitamin c vitamin e resveratrol selenium catechins flavonoids lycopene polyphenols and zinc
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millions of people around the world are looking for natural ways to improve the overall health
of their lungs hopefully the information that you learned in this video can help you do just that
with that said keep in mind that we are not doctors in this video should not be
taken as medical advice again this video is for informational purposes only but hopefully you
learned a thing or two and hopefully you're now one step closer to improving your overall health
and thus improving the overall quality of your life if so be sure to let us know down in the
comment section below and if you want to learn even more about this topic we do have a full
guide on our website i'll drop a link to it right below this video down in the description thank you
so much for watching all the way to the end have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend
you