Simple home remedies to keep your lungs healthy

Keep your lungs healthy.

People with any pre-existing lung condition and weakened immune system are likely to be susceptible to coronavirus infection.

Apart from maintaining good hygiene, we also need to make sure our lungs are healthy enough, to avoid any infection. Holistic wellness coach and nutritionist Luke Coutinho recently took to Instagram to share tips on how to achieve that.

"We have mucous in our body...It's a defense mechanism of your immune system. So for example, if I breathe in some germs...the mucous in my lungs are able to capture that, prevent it from going further into your system and then expel it from your body. We can either sneeze it out, We could have a runny nose or cough it out.

Include these foods in your diet to keep your lungs safe and healthy

Apples 

Packed with elements that are known to reduce inflammation of the air passageways, apples should be your go-to food if you want to keep your lungs healthy. They help with asthma and wheezing, and according to a study published in the US National Library of Medicine, also reduce the risk of cancers, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and diabetes.

Coffee 

A mild bronchodilator — which is, as the name suggests, a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles so that more air can reach the lungs — a cup of coffee is likely to do wonders for your breathing. Though it doesn’t have a long term effect, it can give you some relief.

Green tea

Loaded with antioxidants that can help reduce the inflammation, a cup of green tea is great for soothing the throat and protecting the lungs by flushing out mucous.

Garlic

Garlic is an anti-inflammatory vegetable that is great for the respiratory system. According to a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, those who eat raw garlic, are less likely to develop a cancer of the lung.

Nuts

Rich in vitamin E, nuts give a boost to the body’s immune system. They also improve the health of red blood cells, which help in delivering more oxygen to different parts of the body, which, in turn, helps you to breathe better.

But the problem occurs when you have too much mucous built up in your lungs. "Patients who have asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, COPD, a lot of people who have acid reflux, will automatically have more mucous in their lungs," the wellness coach remarked.

To ensure your lungs are healthy and strong, the mucous needs to be broken down rapidly, suggested Coutinho. Excess mucous makes your body a "breeding ground for possible virals, bacteria, pathogens".

Coutinho suggested the following tips:

1. Fenugreek seeds: This helps break down mucous and expel it from the body. Take a tablespoon of fenugreek or methi seeds, boil it in water for about four-five minutes and then have the liquid. You can have one or two cups a day.

2. Pranayama: Pranayama or deep breathing is also beneficial in breaking mucous.

Yoga is a holistic wellness system that boosts mental, physical and spiritual health. Over decades, yoga has gained a lot of popularity and is perfect for those who complain of having no time to exercise. If you still haven't jumped on to the yoga bandwagon and are wondering what the hype is all about, here are 21 benefits of regular yoga practice you could use.

Aids weight loss: Surya Namaskar and Kapal Bhati Pranayama are effective for weight loss. Continued practice of yoga tunes the body to its needs, therefore regulating appetite and consumption of different kinds of food. Many practitioners find their craving for junk food reduce with sustained yoga practice.

Stress relief: Yoga postures, Pranayama and meditation are effective in stress relief, especially with prolonged practice. In the rush of modern life, meditation helps bring a much-needed anchor to calm the mind.

Improves immunity: The immune system benefits tremendously from the practice of yoga. Yoga poses massage organs and strengthen muscles, improving their efficiency. Halasana and Bhujangasana directly improve the immune system by releasing white blood cells.

Increases energy: Starting the day with some yoga poses and meditative exercises can help you start your day on an energetic note, and maintain those energy levels too. Surya Namaskar, Ustrasana and Virabhadrasana are only some of the asanas that can replace that daily espresso shot.

Improves sleep quality: Yoga aids in curing insomnia and abnormal sleeping habits. Hastapadasana increases blood supply to the nervous system, while Marjariasana massages the digestive organs and improves digestion, thereby, helping you sleep well. Regular practice of yoga also helps calm the mind which further aids in sleeping well.

Improves flexibility and posture: Yoga asanas stretch and tone the body muscles and make them strong. This in turn helps improve your body posture when you stand, sit, sleep or walk. The change is apparent and almost automatic after regular practice of yoga.

Relieves ache in joints: Balasana is effective in relieving neck, back and hip strain — which are common complaints of the modern tethered-to-desk lifestyle.

Regulates menstrual function in women: Sukhasana is one of the asanas that help relieve menstrual pain in women. Moreover, restorative yoga poses — along with meditation — help ease cramps, pain and mood dysfunction during menstruation.

Helps fight lifestyle diseases: Chronic lifestyle diseases like hypertension, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, reproductory disorders and respiratory and cardiovascular related health concerns have risen in the past few decades and are increasingly being diagnosed among the younger population. Regular practice of yoga helps keep these at bay, or manage them if you already suffer from them.

Improves bone health: Those prone to, or already suffering from, osteoporosis can benefit from yoga greatly as it increases bone density and growth.

Counters harsh effects of ageing: Yoga improves blood flow in the body and increases oxygen supply to body cells. It helps improve the sense of balance that gets affected when one ages.

Improves overall mental health: Regular Pranayama leads to better balance between the right and left brain, helping in achieving a balance between emotional and rational thinking. Meditation enables introspection and brings about clarity and focus in one's life.

Aids treatment of neurodegenerative diseases: A scientific study found that a three-month course of Kundalini yoga and Kirtan Kriya meditation practice helped minimise the cognitive and emotional problems that often precede Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, brain disorders that impair the memory.

3. Salt water gargling: This can be done by adding rock salt or pink salt to warm water.

4. Deep steam inhalation: If you do not have an inhaler at home, place a pot of boiling water in front of you, put a towel over your head and inhale the steam from the pot slowly. To be safe, make sure you do not bend too close to the pot.