Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. When symptoms occur, various symptoms such as coughing due to respiratory irritation, sputum due to discharge of inflammatory substances, and difficulty breathing due to impaired breathing function will appear. And when inflammation invades the pleura that surrounds the lungs, it causes pain during breathing and causes digestive system abnormalities such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In addition, it can cause systemic symptoms such as headache, fatigue, muscle pain, and joint pain, and when the symptoms worsen, it can accompany various complications such as sepsis, lung abscess, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In particular, in the case of children and the elderly with weakened immune systems, it can lead to life-threatening and fatal consequences. In order to prevent pneumonia symptoms, it is important to practice lifestyle to increase immunity in the body. In addition to getting enough sleep and rest, it is recommended to keep your immune function under control by exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and controlling your drinking. In addition, reducing the intake of spicy and irritating foods that stimulate the esophagus and bronchi, and at the same time protecting the bronchi, and eating a variety of foods that strengthen lung function in a balanced way is also an important management habit in preventing pneumonia. So today, let’s take a look at some of the foods that can help prevent pneumonia symptoms one by one.
6 Best Foods for Pneumonia
1. Quince
The first food that can have a good effect on the prevention of pneumonia is quince. The quince, which is native to China, is a fruit characterized by a lumpy shape. It is said that it can help prevent pneumonia by protecting the bronchial tubes and strengthening the lungs through the complex action of various nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, iron, and calcium, which are contained in abundance. In addition, it is said to be effective in relieving frequent coughing symptoms, stopping phlegm as well as antitussive expectorant, and is effective in preventing bronchial diseases such as bronchitis.
2. Bellflower
It is said that bellflower, which is used for various cooking ingredients such as raw vegetables, pickled vegetables, and jeon, has a good effect in preventing pneumonia due to its unique scent and bitter taste. The saponin component abundantly contained in bellflower has an excellent effect in protecting the bronchial mucosa and strengthening the lung function. In addition, the abundant saponin component of bellflower has the effect of enhancing the secretion function of the bronchial tubes, so it can be expected to have a good effect in relieving phlegm and relieving sore throat.
3. Pear
Pear, which has a cool and sweet taste, is also a representative fruit that helps prevent pneumonia. Luteolin, abundantly contained in pears, protects the bronchial mucosa and strengthens the lungs, helping to prevent respiratory-related diseases such as lungs and bronchial tubes. In addition, pears not only have the effect of getting rid of phlegm and cough, but also have a good effect in helping you recover quickly if you take it when you have a sore throat and rest.
4. Broccoli
The fourth food I would like to introduce is broccoli. Broccoli, which is nutritionally excellent enough to be included in the world’s top 10 superfoods by Time magazine, contains abundant nutrients such as sulforaphane, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. The combined action of these nutrients helps in the activation of macrophages, which are responsible for immune function, and it is said to be effective in preventing pneumonia by reducing toxins, harmful substances, and pathogens introduced into the lungs.
5. Ginger
Ginger, which is characterized by a pungent aroma and bitter taste, contains a large amount of an ingredient called gingerol. It is said that this gingerol component is excellent in minimizing infection from viruses and bacteria in the lungs and reducing inflammation levels, so it can help a lot in preventing pneumonia. In addition, ginger is excellent for lowering the risk of not only lung, bronchial and respiratory diseases, but also has a good effect on relieving frequent cough and phlegm.
6. Deodeok
Due to its unique flavor and texture similar to meat, deodeok, which is used as a food ingredient in various dishes such as grilled and pickled vegetables, has been used as a medicinal food to treat various diseases since ancient times due to its excellent pharmacological action. It is said to be helpful in preventing pneumonia symptoms by strengthening lung function and discharging waste products accumulated in the lungs with abundant saponin components. In addition, deodeok is beneficial in relieving symptoms of cough, phlegm, and asthma accompanied by chest pain.
Other foods
In addition to the various foods introduced above, vitamin C and citric acid, which are abundant in citrus fruits such as tangerines, oranges, lemons, and citrons, are excellent in suppressing inflammatory reactions, which can help prevent pneumonia and prevent bronchial and respiratory diseases. In addition, various foods such as tomatoes, carrots, radishes, and blue-green fish also do an excellent job in protecting the damaged lung mucosa from toxins and harmful substances and helping to improve lung function.
