Eat well, breathe easier! The key to healthy lungs starts in your kitchen

We all know that eating good food is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle, contributing to everything from weight loss to better heart health. But did you know that eating a balanced diet is also beneficial for your lungs? Yep, that’s right, a good way to keep your lungs healthy is by eating a healthy diet.

It sounds easy, but it can be very tricky, so we spoke to Lung Foundation Australia’s Respiratory Care Nurse, Amanda Curran to find out how eating good, nutritious food can help keep your lungs functioning properly and how to easily make healthy changes to your diet.

Eating a healthy diet is key

It turns out what you eat actually plays a very vital role in keeping your lungs healthy, whether or not you have a lung condition.

“There is a strong message in the heart health space about diet — and rightly so — but diet plays a vital role in lung health too, and overall wellbeing,” Curran tells Starts at 60.

Research shows that being overweight or underweight can impair lung function, which is why eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good lung health, Curran says. If you’re overweight or underweight, you may tire more easily, have increased breathlessness or have difficulty with everyday tasks, she says, adding that, “it may also increase your risk of getting infections”.

Not to mention, food provides the body with energy — and Curran says it takes more energy to breathe when you have a lung condition.

Foods for keeping your lungs healthy  

While there’s no single food that can reduce your risk of lung disease, by following a healthy diet made up of the five main food groups, you can keep your lungs healthy. Curran recommends incorporating a wide variety of colourful vegetables, legumes and beans, fruits, grains such as breads, cereals, rice and pasta, and dairy products like milk, yoghurt and cheese into your daily diet.

One study published in the journal JAMA Oncology in October, 2019 found eating a diet high in fibre and yoghurt is associated with a reduced risk for lung cancer. While another study published in The BMJ in February 2015 linked eating a diet rich in grains and low in red and processed meat with a lower risk of chronic lung disease.

For people living with a lung condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Curran recommends getting in touch with a dietician or getting a referral from your GP as you may find it difficult to meet your nutritional needs.

“As well as eating a varied and balanced diet, it’s important to drink adequate amounts of water,” she adds. Curran says you should aim for at least 2 litres of water per day, unless you have been advised otherwise by your doctor.

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be time-consuming either! Many people believe that eating well means slaving away in the kitchen all day but, according to Curran, that’s not the case. Curran recommends opting for nutritious and easy-to-prepare snacks and meals that only need a few ingredients and take little to no time to whip up. Stuck on ideas? Why not try a veggie-packed frittata? It’s super versatile, healthy and can be made with the leftovers in your fridge. Or healthy flatbread pizza with your favourite veggie toppings?

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.