Breathing – that’s life itself. The simple act of breathing keeps our life going. We should drink plenty of filtered water. We can keep our lungs healthy by eating food that is good for the lungs. A smart dietary choice, which includes healthy food, is a long-term investment for our health and longevity.

A good way to keep your lungs healthy is by engaging in regular exercises and eating a healthy diet. A healthy diet helps you go a long way and keeps you off any ailment. Here is a list of 8 foods that help in enabling healthy breathing:

Apple  

It is rightly said- an apple a day, keeps the doctor away! Apples are really wholesome and effective fruits. It is enriched with loads of essential nutrients that are important for our overall well-being. Even apple-juice and cider are is ‘fruitful’ for our health and fitness. This fruit simply just has to be on the top of the list of foods that are good for lungs.

WalnutsIf you are a vegetarian and cannot eat fatty fish, then walnuts are the best option for you. Walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids just like fatty fish. Just eating a handful of walnuts daily can help you fight asthma and other respiratory ailments.

BerriesBerries are wonderfully delicious and healthy. They are rich in antioxidants which help to maintain healthy lungs. Though all berries are good, but blueberries and acai berries are considered the champions of good health.

SpinachSpinach is loaded up with vitamin B that helps protect lung health. Regular consumption of food made from spinach can also lower the risk of lung cancer. To reap full on benefits of spinach, you can either eat spinach salad or spinach soup in your lunch and supper.

BroccoliBroccoli is high in vitamin C content, carotenoids, folate and phytochemicals that fight damaging elements in the lungs. Broccoli is said to have an active constituent called L-sulforaphane, which tricks the cells to switch on the anti-inflammatory genes that further avoids respiratory conditions.

Cayenne PepperThe capsaicin in cayenne pepper helps stimulate secretions and protects mucus membranes from upper and lower respiratory tract. It is best to drink cayenne pepper tea that is also a great source of beta-carotene, which has great effects on reducing the many symptoms of asthma.

BeansAmerican Cancer Society states that beans are really good for lung health. Black beans, pinto beans and kidney beans are a rich source of antioxidants which help to protect lungs from infections. They also help fight off the free radicals that can damage the lungs.

Poultry Poultry food items such as chicken, turkey and other small birds are really good for the lungs. Researchers state that vitamin A present in poultry boosts lung health. They also believe that this animal-based version of Vitamin A is absorbed in a much better way by our body, than the plant-based versions of vitamin A.