10 Ways To Cleanse Your Lungs Naturally

Is It Possible To Clean Your Lungs?

Maintaining good lung health is essential for your overall health. Although the lungs are self-cleaning organs, you can take steps to cleanse them so that they can work better.

People that are regularly exposed to air pollution, people that are smokers as well as people that have chronic conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, and asthma, can greatly benefit from lung cleansing.

Excessive exposure to air pollution and harmful chemicals, eating an inflammatory diet as well as smoking are one of the main causes of lung damage.

After your lungs have been exposed to environmental toxins and chemicals, your chest may feel congested and heavy because mucus accumulates in the lungs.

You can take specific steps to remove mucus and toxins from your lungs and ease chest congestion. Many commercial products, essential oils, and detox diets have recently grown in popularity and have been promoted as being a fast and effective way to cleanse the lungs.

But, when it comes to lung cleansing, there are no quick fixes. Moreover, many detox products aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and some detox products can be harmful, especially those that can be inhaled.

The best way to cleanse your lungs is by making certain changes to your lifestyle and doing specific exercises that can help your lungs get rid of irritants and mucus.

How To Detox Your Lungs

1. Stop Smoking

Breaking your nicotine addiction is hard, but it’s certainly worth it. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to reduce and prevent lung damage as well as improve your overall health. Whether you have been smoking for a few months or twenty years, giving up this bad habit is the first step to stronger and healthier lungs.

2. Try Steam Therapy

Breathing in water vapor can help loosen mucus and open your airways.

If you have lung conditions, you may notice that your symptoms get worse in the winter or dry air. Cold temperatures and dry air can restrict the flow of blood and cause the mucous membrane in your airways to dry out.

Steam, on the other hand, makes the air moist and warm, which is why breathing in water vapor helps loosen mucus and makes breathing easier.

One study found that warmed steam inhalation considerably reduced the respiratory rate in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

However, the respiratory function of the patients wasn’t improved (1).

Nevertheless, steam therapy may provide temporary relief and help you breathe more easily.

3. Consume Beets and Beet Greens

The healthy compounds found in the greens and root of beetroot can improve lung function.

In addition to being a rich source of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and carotenoid antioxidants, beetroot and beet greens are loaded with nitrates, which can improve the function of the lungs. Besides lowering blood pressure and widening blood vessels, dietary nitrates can decrease pulmonary arterial pressure (2).

Additionally, studies have found that supplementation with beetroot juice rich in nitrates is effective in reducing blood pressure and enhancing exercise performance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as improving lung function in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (3,4).

4. Drink Green Tea

Green tea is a rich source of polyphenols, compounds with powerful antioxidant properties, which may protect your lungs from the adverse effects of cigarette smoke and reduce pulmonary inflammation.

In addition, one study, which involved 13,570 Koreans, has found that consuming green tea two times or more a day reduces the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5).

5. Get Rid Of Artificial Scents

Yes, candles and air fresheners can make the air in your home smell pleasantly, but this does not benefit your lungs. Such products contain many harmful chemicals, which if you inhale every day, can irritate your lungs.

Moreover, cleaning products can irritate your lungs as well. So, make sure you only use natural products.

6. Eat More Apples

Research has indicated that higher consumption of apples can help improve lung function.

One study has found that eating five or more apples a week is linked to a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and preferable lung function (6).

Consuming apples and apple products have also been associated with a reduced risk of asthma and lung cancer (7).

7. Change The Filters In Your Home

To improve the quality of the air in your home, regularly change the filters and clean all of the heating and air conditioning vents.

The filter of your furnace should also be replaced every six months.

8. Eat More Peppers

Peppers are loaded with vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant in the body. Providing the body with enough vitamin C is essential for smokers.

Cigarette smoke has a damaging effect on the antioxidants in the body, which is why people who smoke should get 35 milligrams more of this vitamin a day than those who don’t smoke (8).

One study has indicated that ascorbic acid can prevent oxidative damage caused by cigarette smoke and that adequate intake of vitamin C improves lung function in smokers (9).

9. Do Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing, can improve lung function.

Some breathing exercises require you to use devices, such as a spirometer. A spirometer is a device that measures how much air your lungs inspire and expire.

Smokers or people who have smoked in the past as well as people that have a chronic lung disease can greatly benefit from breathing exercises.

10. Spend More Time Outside

Breathing clean and fresh air helps keep your lungs healthy and strong.

Avoid hiking, exercising, or cycling outside when the air quality index is high, and avoid staying close to burning wood or trash. And make sure you spend more time in nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can You Clean Your Lungs After Quitting Smoking?

If you’ve had your last cigarette, know you’ve made a big step toward improving your overall health. Although the lungs are self-cleaning organs, there are ways in which you can detox them after quitting smoking so as to optimize their function. Some of these ways include:

• Stay physically active
• Practice controlled coughing
• Drink warm beverages
• Drink green tea
• Avoid mold, dust, harmful chemicals, and secondhand smoke
• Eat a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods
• Try steam therapy

Can Lungs Completely Heal After Quitting Smoking?

After you’ve had your last cigarette, your lungs can self-clean to a certain extent. One thing that’s sure is that lung cells will secrete less mucus and swelling on the surface of the airways will get reduced.

Additionally, in the weeks after giving up smoking, you’ll notice that any shortness of breath you have most probably experienced before will begin to decrease. Coughing will gradually decrease too.

What Can I Drink To Cleanse My Lungs?

One drink that has gained popularity as a detox drink that can help relieve cough and congestion is ginger lemon honey tea. Ginger may potentially help open congested nasal passages due to the anti-inflammatory properties it possesses. Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C, which is known to improve the immune system. Honey may help relieve a cough.

To make this beverage, add grated ginger, several drops of lemon juice, and one teaspoon of honey to the water and bring it to a boil. Strain the mixture in a cup and drink it while it’s warm.

However, know that this effect of ginger lemon honey tea has not been scientifically proven yet.

Is Garlic Good For Your Lungs?

One control study has found that the consumption of raw garlic can have a protective effect on the development of lung cancer (10).

In addition, many people claim that consuming garlic can help treat respiratory infections thanks to its compound allicin, but limited research proves this.

Conclusion

• By making certain lifestyle changes, you can naturally clear your lungs of irritants and mucus. These changes include:
• Quit smoking
• Try steam therapy
• Consume green tea
• Remove artificial scents from your home
• Change the filters and clean the vents in your home
• Do breathing exercises
• Spend more time outside
• The best foods for lung cleansing are beets, beet greens, apples, and peppers.