Natural Lung Health & Tips to Keep Them Healthy

The natural order of life seems to be when something is broken; we fix it. This applies to the cars we drive, the houses we live in and even the relationships we cherish. However, the coined phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" should never apply to our health.

We often take the systems and organs that keep our body functioning every day for granted, and it is not until something goes wrong before we move into action to fix it.   We recognize that a painful response in the body needs attention. A cold, flu, headache etc., all need to be addressed to help bring the body back into a place of order.  These things make sense, but we do not always apply the same urgency to our organs or internal systems and wait until they become injured, diseased or distressed.

Your lungs and respiratory system are an excellent example of a process within our bodies that needs your attention all the time, but we take breathing for granted.  Poor air quality, allergens and pathogens bombard you every day, negatively affecting your respiratory system.  But the health of your immune system and your respiratory system is required to bring oxygen into your cells to prevent the entrance of pathogens, heal, repair and prevent illness, disease and damage.

The respiratory system is a series of organs responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide (cellular waste).  The respiratory system's primary organs are the lungs, which work with your circulatory system as a whole to pump oxygen-rich blood to all your body cells. Your blood collects all the carbon dioxide (cellular waste) and transports it back to the lungs to be pumped out of the body when you exhale. 

We are so dependent on the health of the respiratory system that after about five minutes without oxygen, our brain cells will start to die.  Now Imagine a lung disease that impedes this process?  Think back to your last cold or flu and how it affected your breathing.

Amp that experience tenfold and beyond, and you may get a glimpse of how a person with Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) struggles every day.  Amp that experience even further, and you may get a glimpse of what COVID may be like for some people.

The Health Of Your Lungs Matters

The health of your lungs and your respiratory system matters, not only to help prevent chronic disease and illness but to help reduce the severity of viral and bacterial infections. Your lungs, just like your other organs, joints and body parts, also age and can lose their strength, which makes even regular breathing more difficult. While there is no cure for ageing, there are ways to strengthen and protect lung tissue. The obvious ones are to stop or reduce smoking and increase your cardiovascular output (exercise hard enough to cause an increase in heart rate), which forces your lungs to work harder.  When you force your lungs to work harder, you help expand your diaphragm and increase lung efficiency. 

Other less obvious ways to protect your lungs are to reduce pollutants by investing in-room air purifiers. Keep your home clean and dust-free, look for areas where mould may be growing and use natural cleaning supplies. Avoid synthetic air fresheners and candles that can expose you to additional chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene. Instead, use an aromatherapy diffuser and essential oils to more naturally scent the air.

Take deep breathes throughout the day and try to eat a clean and healthy diet. It may help to count your breaths. For example, as you inhale, count 1-2-3-4. Then as you exhale, count 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.  Did you know that you breathe in out more than 20,000 times a day?

 

Invest in Natural Supplements

People with existing lung disorders may benefit from vitamins & supplements that help promote lung tissue repair, reduce further damage, and loosen and expel mucus.  Supplements such as N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, Fenugreek Seed, Mullein Leaf, Ginger and Reishi Mushroom are a few of the researched supplements for promoting lung health. 

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and protects the lungs from damage. NAC also increases the body's production of Glutathione, which is a powerful detoxifier for the lungs. NAC's mucolytic properties further support the lungs by helping to thin mucus, making it easier to expel.

You may associate Fenugreek with reducing digestive problems or increasing milk production during lactation, but it is also researched for improving lung function. Fenugreek helps reduce internal inflammation and produces an antispasmodic effect on the lungs. Fenugreek seeds contain a wide array of beneficial compounds for the respiratory system, including mucilage, which helps to clear mucous from the lungs.

Mullein Leaf is rich in mucilage, which has soothing and relaxing expectorant properties. Mullein Leaf is helpful in cases exhibiting thick or sticky mucous, which is hard to remove. Mullein relaxes the lungs and encourages the production of thin, loose mucous, which is more easily voided.

Ginger helps to open up the airways, significantly relaxing spasms to improve asthma and tightness in the chest caused by chronic lung disease. It also reduces inflammation of the lungs and helps to break down mucus.

Reishi Mushroom is not only a powerful antioxidant and stress supplement. It helps to support the immune system to prevent infection.  Traditionally, Reishi Mushroom has been used to reduce coughing, wheezing and disperse phlegm.   More recent research demonstrates that Reishi Mushroom may help increase the alveoli's ability to absorb oxygen. It also has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

 Healthology LUNG-FX, One Supplement with the benefits.

On their own, each of these supplements produces the desired effect on the lungs, but in combination, they provide a unique and powerful lung formula.  Healthology LUNG-FX combines all of these supplements to provide targeted support to improve lung function, protect and heal lung tissue, thin and expel mucus to clear toxins and other particles from the lungs. LUNG-FX provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support to soothe the airways, heal damage, and protect the lungs. LUNG-FX supports overall lung function and helps people with chronic lung conditions to breathe more deeply

The supplements discussed in this article may help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels; combining them with diabetic and/or anti-hypertensive medications may alter their effectiveness and cause unwanted side effects. If you have any concerns, discuss the use of herbal supplements with your health care provider. Do not use LUNG- FX if you are taking antibiotics or nitroglycerin or if you are pregnant.

Resources:

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=P01300
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/81132693.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0422763813000253
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241507/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5937299/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24312758/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24786688/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16222647/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23065130/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/13880209.2014.920396
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4509964/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5930943/

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