The decline in lung function over a 10-year period is said to be slower in former smokers who eat a diet rich in tomatoes and fruit, in particular apples, according to results of a study published in the medical journal European Respiratory Journal.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the United States analyzed medical data from 650 adults in 2002 and replicated the pulmonary function tests 10 years later. To estimate their lung function, participants underwent spirometry to measure the lungs’ ability to absorb oxygen.
Fruits and vegetables for better lung function
Scientists observed that adults who ate on average more than two tomatoes or more than three servings of fresh fruit per day had a slower decline in lung function compared to those who ate less than one tomato or one serving of fruit per day. This protective effect has only been observed with fresh fruits and vegetables.
The study showed that in smokers, the relationship between diet and lung function was even more striking. Ex-smokers who ate a diet high in tomatoes and fresh fruit had about 80 ml of slower decline over the ten-year period.
“This study shows that diet can help repair lung damage in people who have quit smoking and suggests that a diet high in fruit may slow the lung’s natural aging process, even if you have never smoked.” Explains Vanessa Garcia-Larsen, professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health and lead author of the study. “The findings support the need for dietary recommendations, particularly for those at risk of developing respiratory diseases such as COPD “.
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