Garlic is beneficial for a number of respiratory complaints. In a study published in the "Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma, Immunology" researcher Ahad Zare and colleagues found aged garlic extract significantly reduced airway inflammation in animal subjects, suggesting it may be a beneficial food for humans suffering from asthmatic symptoms. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic effective in killing a range of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites. When added to food the pungent oils in garlic cloves help to break up mucous in nasal and air passages.
Vegetables are a rich source of vitamins, antioxidants and fiber that are essential for a healthy body. Researcher Leda Chatzi, M.D., and colleagues from the University of Crete in Greece published research findings in the journal "Pediatric Allergy and Immunology" in 2007 that showed children who ate a wide variety of vegetables were less likely to suffer from asthmatic symptoms. Vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, cucumber, green beans and zucchini were found to decrease breathing difficulties and wheezing in children who ate them regularly.
Oily fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, cod and halibut may have a beneficial effect upon respiratory health. The oil found in deep sea fish is rich in essential fatty acids that increase natural hormones and reduce inflammation in the body. Timothy Mickleborough, PhD, and colleagues from Indiana University, authored a study that investigated the effect of fish oil on the breathing of athletes in 2008. The research was published in the journal "The Physician and Sports medicine" and showed that fish oil helped to decrease airway constriction, inflammation and the use of bronchodilators in elite athletes and asthmatics.
According to Dr. Michael Murray and Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, authors of "The Encyclopaedia of Healing Foods," vitamin C is an important nutrient in any respiratory condition involving inflammation, immune reactions or breathing difficulty. Vitamin C helps to reduce bronchial constriction in the lungs, protects the lung tissue against oxidative damage, supports immune function and reduces the release of histamine in the body. Vitamin C can be found in high quantities in foods such as red and green peppers, citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, berries, pumpkin and green leafy vegetables.
