" Take a deep breath, " he says to calm someone anxious. Why do we do this? Because breathing deeply helps to relax the muscles but above all supplies oxygen to all our cells .
Without oxygen there is no life for our body! From here we can understand the importance of keeping our respiratory system healthy, first of all through the air we breathe, which is as clean as possible, but also through proper nutrition .
Respiratory system: what it is
The respiratory system is the set of organs and structures that carry out physical exchanges between the environment ( oxygen load ) and the human body ( carbon dioxide load ) . Its functioning is therefore closely connected to the circulatory system.
The respiratory system consists of the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and the "tree" of the lungs, composed of pleura, bronchi and bronchioles .
Respiratory system: the 10 best foods
Eating well is good for your health, including that of the respiratory system.
Here are the 10 best foods for respiratory health.
1. Garlic and onion : they contain allicin, allistatin and numerous other molecules that are real natural antibiotics, they also have large amounts of polyphenols, antioxidant substances that help fight free radicals responsible, among other things, for the accumulation of phlegm in case of respiratory infections
2. Peppers (but also strawberries, kiwi, citrus): due to their high vitamin C content, antioxidant to support the immune system
3. Carrots : they are very rich in vitamin A precursors (carotenoids), with beneficial effects on the immune system, because they stimulate the production and proliferation of white blood cells that recognize and attack pathogens
4. Spicy spices like curry and chilli : they contain capsaicin, the substance that provides the spicy taste and has a vasodilating action, that is, it makes the blood vessels expand thus favoring the blood supply and helping to eliminate congestions, such as the nasal ones
5. Honey : it has a high concentration of sugars, acid pH and bactericidal and antibiotic substances such as formic acid, which give it an antibacterial action
6. Broth : excellent "grandmother's" remedy, hot broth, preferably vegetable, has a vasodilatory, decongestant and soothing action on the airways, and improves the fluidization of the phlegm
7. Whole grains, but also eggs: a precious source of B vitamins that stimulate the production of antibodies by the immune system
8. Water, tea (excellent with lemon and ginger) and herbal teas . Moisturizing yourself very much is the first solution in case of respiratory problems
9. Fish, eggs, but also often exposed to the sun: vitamin D levels increase, whose presence - as shown in a British study - contributes to a significant reduction of all lung and oral cavity diseases
10. Crucifera : cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage are a type of vegetable that cannot be missing on our tables. The cruciferous plants are rich in natural antioxidant molecules, useful in the prevention of different types of tumors, including those of the respiratory system. The beneficial effects are validated by numerous researches.
