With air pollution reaching alarming levels across cities, protecting lung health has become a priority. Interestingly, researchers have highlighted a surprising food that may act as a natural defence for your respiratory system. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory properties, this food helps neutralize harmful free radicals caused by pollution exposure, thereby reducing the risk of chronic respiratory diseases.

Nutritionists suggest that regular consumption of such lung-friendly foods can strengthen the immune system, improve oxygen capacity, and even lower the chances of developing long-term conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and COPD. Combined with preventive lifestyle measures—such as wearing masks, avoiding peak pollution hours, and staying hydrated—these foods offer a natural line of defence against environmental toxins.

As scientists continue to explore diet-based solutions for urban health challenges, this discovery reinforces the role of nutrition in combating pollution-related illnesses. Simple dietary choices could go a long way in ensuring better lung function and overall well-being in polluted environments.In fact, a clinical study conducted in China, where air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, revealed that individuals who consumed a daily beverage made with broccoli sprouts showed significantly higher excretion of toxic pollutants such as benzene from their bodies. This suggests that broccoli doesn’t just support lung health passively—it actively helps the body eliminate pollutants. For people living in cities with rising smog and particulate matter, this could be a simple yet powerful addition to their diets.

But broccoli isn’t the only lung-friendly food. Other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts also contain sulforaphane and related compounds. Alongside these, foods rich in Vitamin C (like oranges, guavas, and amla) and Vitamin E (like almonds and sunflower seeds) are known to support lung tissue repair and boost immunity. Antioxidant-rich foods such as berries, turmeric, green tea, and ginger further strengthen the body’s resilience against the harmful effects of air pollution.