Medically known as pulmonary fibrosis, lung scarring can leave you with shortness of breath as well as reduced tolerance to exercise. Performing even simple everyday activities may already make you feel tired and exhausted. Lung scarring may also leave you with persistent dry cough, the kind that is not like the one you have when you’re afflicted with cold.
There are a handful of reasons behind lung scarring. Chronic inflammation is one of the most common of the bunch. It may also be brought about by infections as well as conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis wherein the immune system attacks healthy tissues instead of just invading microbes. Exposure to radiation and certain environmental pollutants may cause the lungs to end up scarred. Some medications may also be associated with its development.
Getting lung scarring treated is not an easy job. Determining the right medical treatment or procedure for it is dependent on many different factors such as the current status of the individual, reason behind the condition and the severity of the symptoms. There are also certain home remedies that are proven to be highly effective against lung scarring, and eating the right kinds of food is one of them.
There are certain nutrients in foods that can actually improve lung scarring, thus helping the sufferer to attain relief from the symptoms of the problem concerning the respiratory system. With the unfavorable effects of lung scarring minimized, the individual may be able to resume having a normal and productive life.
If you are suffering from lung scarring, it is a good idea to include the following in your everyday diet:
Broccoli
Being a cruciferous vegetable, the consumption of broccoli helps neutralize toxins in the body, thus helping to put a stop to the further degradation of the lung’s condition.
Cauliflower
Just like broccoli, cauliflower helps in zapping poisonous substances in the body, most especially in the gut. What makes a cruciferous vegetable like cauliflower an excellent detoxifier is the loads of sulfuric compounds in it.
Cabbage
What’s so nice about cabbage aside from being a member of the cruciferous vegetable family is it’s an excellent source of fiber. A fiber-rich diet helps cleanse the GI tract.
Leafy Green Vegetables
Ensuring that your diet contains good amounts of leafy green vegetables can help your lung scarring from progressing. They are packed with fiber as well as so many other vitamins and minerals.
Berries
Vitamin C found in staggering amounts in berries helps heal scarring. The fact is vitamin C has potent antioxidant properties that help prevent cells from being damaged, as well as reverse the damage they have already sustained.
Bell Peppers
Including bell peppers in your everyday diet can help reverse lung scarring as they are rich in vitamin C. In fact, bell peppers contain more vitamin C than oranges.
Guavas
Also an excellent source of vitamin C with antioxidant properties, the regular consumption of guavas is recommendable if you are suffering from lung scarring.
Citrus Fruits
Other good sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes and grapefruit. They may be eaten as they are or in juice form for superb healing of the lungs.
Salmon
Protein in salmon is essential for the repair of damaged tissues of the lungs. What’s more, salmon also contains healthy fats and vitamin D that help ease inflammation.
Oily Fish
Aside from salmon, it is also a great idea for you to include many other oily fish in the diet to maximize your intake of healthy fats and vitamin D. Some good examples are trout, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines.
Mushrooms
There’s also plenty of vitamin D present in mushrooms. Here’s a good tip: before cooking mushrooms, expose them to sunlight to increase their vitamin D content.
Seaweeds
To bolster your immune system and prevent unwanted scarring of the lungs, include seaweeds in your diet. These sea vegetables are rich sources of iron and magnesium, both of which are important immune boosters.
