It is always important to know what is going on in the world of COPD/Asthma, hence a weekly (at the minimum) posting of ‘Notes to Know about COPD/Asthma’ – because those of us battling the issue should always be up to date on what is going on, and that includes both the positives and the negatives of the COPD/Asthma life.

Today we are sharing a posting we found on the internet regarding a study done in Europe that discussed the effects of fruits and vegetables on the lungs and in particular COPD, so hence the title today of ‘Can an Apple a Day Keep COPD Away’.

Special Note – While the reading of the title alone peaked my curiosity, ironically, I am currently working on posting a series of writes about the importance of nutrition for those battling COPD and/or Asthma.

So – Can an apple a day keep COPD away?

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Can an Apple a Day Keep COPD Away?

(Date on this write was February 23, 2017, it was published originally in Thorax, one of the world’s leading respiratory medicine journals.)

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is good for everyone and may even help current and former smokers avoid a chronic lung disease, a new investigation found.

Apples, pears, green leafy vegetables and peppers appear to officer protection against COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), said researchers led by Joanna Kaluza of the Warsaw University of life sciences in Poland.

And according to what Kaluza and other of her colleagues found, the more servings of fruits and vegetables consumed regularly, the greater the protection.

The study does not actually prove that diet prevents the debilitating lung disease.

However, ‘we would argue that clinicians should consider the potential benefits of a healthy diet in promoting lung health and advocate optimizing intake of fruits and vegetables, especially in smokers who are unable to stop smoking,’ noted the authors of an editorial that accompanied the study.

Smoking is the main risk factor for COPD. This term applies to a group of breathing conditions, including emphysema, caused by the narrowing of airway passages.

The new 13-year study involved 44,000 Swedish men between the ages of 45 and 79. Nearly two-thirds had smoked at some point. Roughly one-quarter still smoked, while nearly four in 10 said they had never smoked.

The men filled out food questionnaires and answered questions about smoking and other behaviors.

Over the study period, more than 1,900 new cases of COPD developed.

Analyzing the data, the study team determined that regardless of smoking history those who ate five or more servings of certain fruits and vegetables a day were 35 percent less likely to develop COPD than those who consumed just two servings daily.

Among former smokers, each additional serving was tied with a 4 percent lower risk of COPD. In current smokers, each extra serving was linked to an 8 percent lower risk, the study says.

Researchers theorized that antioxidants found in some fruits and vegetables may play a role in reducing tissue stress and inflammation that is central to the onset of COPD.

That said, not all fruits and veggies were deemed protective. Bananas, berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, garlic and peas did not appear to lower COPD risk.

Looked at in reverse, the team found that current and former smokers who consumed fewer than two portions of fruits and vegetables each day faced a greater risk for COPD respectively than those who had never smoked and ate five or more such portions daily.

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‘Notes to Know about COPD/Asthma’ will continue to feature writings from medical folks and caretakers who share insights into the world of what may be going on in the world of COPD/Asthma.  ‘Notes to Know about COPD/Asthma’ can be found at either wheezingaway.com or within the Facebook page, COPD Travels.

Remember – ‘a person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer through wheezingaway.com – no part of this write may be used or copied without written permission.)

NOTES: Sometimes we share what may seem like medical information, but we are only giving descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.