Fruits & Veggies Fight Asthma

Nutrients in plant foods may help prevent asthma

There is no cure to asthma, but there are very good medications available that help to control asthma. But do asthmatics have to be at the mercy of medications their whole lives? Or can diet also help to prevent asthma? A number of studies have suggested that antioxidants or certain other nutrients in plant foods may help prevent or ameliorate asthma and other allergic conditions. This is because carrots, tomato juice and spinach contain nutrients called carotenoids, some of which are converted into vitamin A in the body. And among other jobs, vitamin A helps regulate the immune system and maintain the lining of the respiratory tract.

In studies on this, researchers found in particular that women who eat plenty of tomatoes, carrots and leafy greens appear less likely to have asthma.
Though it's uncertain whether the foods are the reason, the findings suggest that some vegetables may protect against adulthood asthma.

In general, experts recommend that people eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day for overall health. However, while eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is beneficial for health, certain fruits and vegetables are more likely to prevent specific diseases.
The study found that carrots, tomatoes and leafy vegetables mainly spinach and lettuce were less to protect against the lung disease.
However, the researchers point out, they cannot rule out the possibility that higher intakes of carrots, tomatoes and leafy greens are simply a sign of a generally healthier diet - and not a special effect of these foods specifically.
Further studies, they conclude, are needed to confirm these results and to explore the possible effect of fruits and vegetables on asthma severity.