Table of contents:
- How to clean smoker's lungs
- 1. Exercise regularly
- 2. Drink lots of water
- 3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants
- 4. Deep breathing exercises
Smoking is tantamount to bringing toxins into the body, especially the lungs. Of course, the toxins that have entered need to be removed so that the lungs can still function even though they may not be optimal. However, do you already know how to clean smoker's lungs? If not, the following reviews will answer your confusion.
How to clean smoker's lungs
Cleaning the lungs should be a mandatory agenda if you have a smoking habit. If you are an active smoker or ex-smoker, you should do the following ways to clean the lungs:
1. Exercise regularly
Nicotine and toxins from cigarette smoke need to be removed so they don't continue to settle. When the body's metabolism increases with exercise, the body will burn nicotine more quickly, which will be released through sweat.
Exercising helps increase lung capacity and strengthens the entire cardiovascular system. Conversely, when you rarely move, your body will actually become weak and trigger many diseases.
For people who have just quit smoking, exercise helps the lungs heal. Exercise also helps improve circulation. This means that if done regularly, organs such as the heart and lungs will get enough oxygen so that they can function optimally.
If done regularly, exercise is also an effective way to clean smoker's lungs. If you are in good health, do as much exercise as you can and as hard as you can.
However, if you are suffering from chronic respiratory problems due to smoking, consult your doctor first. Usually doctors still allow you to exercise, it's just that the type and intensity need to be adjusted first.
2. Drink lots of water
Drinking lots of water can help flush out sedimented body toxins including those in the lungs. The reason is, when you drink lots of water you will urinate more regularly.
Later, the nicotine that accumulates in the lungs will gradually be excreted by the body through urine. By staying hydrated, your lungs will help thin mucus that clogs up and traps toxins. The mucus and toxins will then be excreted by the lungs through normal cilia movement or by coughing.
In addition, drinking lots of water also helps maintain the health and function of the organs so they can work optimally.
Compared to other types of drinks, water is still the best source of drinks for the body. For that, drink approximately 8 glasses of water per day as an easy way to clean smoker's lungs.
3. Eat foods rich in antioxidants
Antioxidant-rich foods and drinks are great for warding off free radicals and reducing inflammation. Reporting from The Journal of Nutrition, people who drink 2 cups of green tea per day reduce their risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This conclusion is obtained from a study involving more than 1,000 adults in Korea. In fact, the antioxidants in green tea help protect lung tissue from the harmful effects of smoke inhalation.
Not only that, other research is in International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease also demonstrates the benefits of other antioxidants.
Antioxidants are thought to be able to help fight the production of mucus, fluids and phlegm in the body. The reason is that in smokers, this mucus tends to accumulate in the lungs and airways.
Raw fruits and vegetables are usually good sources of antioxidants because they haven't undergone any processing yet.
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, and cabbage are high in antioxidants. These vegetables are believed to reduce the risk of lung cancer in both smokers and ex-smokers.
In addition, honey, strawberries, cherries, ginger, turmeric, walnuts and peas should also be included in your daily menu. Diligently eating foods rich in antioxidants can be a natural way that should be tried to clean the lungs of smokers.
4. Deep breathing exercises
Cigarette smoke slows down the movement of cilia or the tiny hairs lining the lungs to remove debris trapped in the airways. To get back to work effectively, often breathe fresh air and of course stop smoking.
As you breathe in the fresh air, try to take slow, deep breaths. When you regularly do deep breathing exercises, the amount of oxygen that enters your lungs will continue to increase.
A study published in the journal Chest states that deep breathing helps carry more oxygen to the lungs and promotes healing after heart surgery. In addition, taking long, slow, deep breaths also helps oxygen-rich blood to spread throughout the body.
When doing deep breathing exercises, make sure you are in a well-ventilated and healthy area. Avoid breathing deeply at roadsides, terminals, or other sources of pollution.
