What you eat, directly impacts the functioning of all your organs. Some foods are responsible for poor lung health. For instance, processed and salty foods can result in flare-ups and trigger signs like inflammation, shortness of breath, and bloating. So, it is best to avoid them. On the other hand, certain foods can help alleviate breathing issues. Here are 12 foods to add to your daily nutrition regime to help overcome breathing problems.

1. Carrots
Carrots have a high vitamin C content that helps protect fluids and respiratory cells from oxidative damage. They also contain beta-carotene and antioxidants responsible for reducing inflammation and guarding your lungs from damage. So, to alleviate breathing issues, add carrots to smoothies, cold-pressed juices, or salads. Alternatively, you can grill and roast them to keep them crunchy and preserve their vitamin C content.

2. Peppers
Peppers like chili peppers and red bell peppers are rich sources of vitamin C. The nutrient helps improves lung function and reduces inflammation.

3. Beets
Beets provide nitrates to improve blood vessel function and oxygen intake and lower blood pressure. Their leafy green tops also pack a punch with carotenoid antioxidants. Plus, with their rich vitamin C content and abundance of potassium and magnesium, beets boost lung health and immunity. Together, these promote overall wellness.

4. Garlic
Garlic contains compounds that diminish inflammation and amplify immune function. So, you can include garlic in your daily meals to help with breathing issues and other respiratory concerns.

5. Ginger
Ginger helps treat common colds and coughs by removing harmful toxins from the airways. So, add it to your salads, teas, and curries to alleviate breathing issues.

6. Edamame beans
These contain isoflavones that help improve lung function and reduce wheezing.

7. Bananas
Potassium helps with water retention, improves digestion, and regulates blood pressure. Thus, it is imperative to boost lung function. Bananas are an excellent potassium source. Other good potassium-rich foods include tomatoes and green vegetables.

8. Pomegranates
Pomegranates help lower lung inflammation. Drink pomegranate juice or eat the fruit to reduce lung damage.

9. Oats
Your lung function depends on the gut health. So, by including gut-friendly foods like oats, you can improve lung health. Both savory and sweet oats are beneficial.

10. Brazil nuts
They have a high selenium content that fights inflammation and improves respiratory functions. Selenium also lowers the probability of lung cancer and boosts immunity.

11. Berries
Berries contain anthocyanins. This antioxidant has numerous health benefits, such as reducing lung inflammation and mucus. Berries also help decrease the age-related reduction of lung capacity.

12. Black coffee
Black coffee helps with breathlessness, courtesy of its caffeine content. Caffeine relaxes lung airways and helps improve their function.

Adding these foods to your meals can improve your respiratory health and lung function. Apart from these, ensure you drink enough water throughout the day. Water hydrates the lungs and flushes toxins from the body. It helps relieve breathing issues.

However, these additions alone will not diminish the existing damage. So, adopt these only as complementary measures to your ongoing treatments, and whenever you experience breathlessness for the first time without any apparent cause, consult your doctor. Moreover, experiencing severe, sudden shortness of breath or tightness or pain in the chest may demand immediate attention. Your healthcare expert can help with the diagnosis and treatment.