Khaberni - A study indicated that consuming more fruit may reduce the impact of air pollution on the lungs. This is attributed to the antioxidants naturally found in fruits, and vitamins C and K, which support lung function.
In this research, researchers from the University of Leicester compared diets, including the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, using data covering more than 200,000 people from the records of the UK Biobank.
The data evaluated lung function, which measures the amount of air expelled in one second.
4 servings of fruits
According to "Souri Life," the impact of fruits on lung function was more significant among women who consumed 4 or more servings of fruit daily.
Air pollution was measured by fine particles (PM2.5), which are concentrations of fine particles released by car exhausts and factories into the air.
The researchers found that for each exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) by 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, the amount of air expelled in one second decreased by 78.1 ml for people who did not consume much fruit. This is compared with a decrease of 57.5 ml for women who consumed a lot of fruit.
The researchers said that men generally reported consuming less fruit compared to women, which might explain why the protective effect was observed in females.
Nutrition in the face of air pollution
Said Pembe Kaisuri, the lead researcher: "Our study confirmed that following a healthy diet is associated with improved lung function in both men and women, regardless of exposure to air pollution."
The fruits richest in antioxidants are: berries (such as blueberries, strawberries, red berries, blackberries, and cranberries), pomegranate, cherries, apples, kiwi, citrus fruits (like oranges), and grapes.
