Lung Detox: How to Cleanse Your Lungs

Quitting smoking is the first step to lung detoxification

Medically reviewed by Brian Bezack, DO

A lung detox is a set of behaviors and habits that encourage healthy lung function. Even if you have a history of smoking, lung infections, or impact from environmental triggers, you can still improve your lung function. Lungs are self-cleaning organs that will heal themselves when exposure to pollutants stops.

This article will explain the steps to support healthy lungs and recover from minor lung injury.

After Smoking, Will a Lung Detox Work?

Practicing good habits and behaviors that boost your lung health can benefit people who have a history of smoking. Even if you have smoked for a long time, when you stop, your lungs immediately begin the healing process. You will experience the following:

• Several weeks after quitting: Circulation and lung function improve.

• Within one year of quitting: Tiny thread-like appendages, called cilia, get better at moving mucus out of the lungs, decreasing the risk of infection.

• Ten years after quitting: The risk of developing lung cancer is half that of a person who is still smoking.  
  

Natural Lung Detox Choices

There are no products or supplements proven to detox the lungs. However, adopting the following behaviors will help improve your lung health.

Quit Smoking

Smoking cigarettes adversely affects every organ in the body, especially the lungs. It increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. If you want to make your lungs healthier, the first thing to do is stop smoking. It can add years to your life.

Get Moving

Regular exercise makes your lungs stronger. The more your body becomes accustomed to exercising, the better it distributes oxygen into your bloodstream to feed working muscles.

As your endurance improves, you’re less likely to get short of breath during physical activity. Even people with chronic lung conditions can benefit from an exercise program, though it should be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

Change Your Diet

No specific diet can detox your lungs, but some foods may support healthy lung function. Some nutrients can help you breathe easier and may even reduce asthma symptoms. They include:

• Vitamin D: Salmon, fortified milk, orange juice, and eggs are good sources of this micronutrient (a vitamin or mineral needed by the body in small amounts). Vitamin D plays a role in reducing inflammation and supports the immune system.

• Vitamin E: Sources of vitamin E consist of almonds, raw seeds, swiss chard, mustard greens, kale, broccoli, and hazelnuts. Vitamin E contains tocopherol, a substance that may minimize coughing and wheezing.   
  

Limiting Pollution Exposure to Detox Lungs

It may be difficult to avoid air pollution but try to ensure your environment is free of harmful pollutants as much as possible. You can check your area's air quality index (AQI) at www.airnow.gov. Events such as wildfires and certain types of weather (e.g., cold, dry air) can increase AQI to unhealthy levels.

Some circumstances can worsen indoor and outdoor air pollution. However, you can take some steps to improve indoor air quality and manage exposure to poor outdoor air quality. They include:

• Avoid secondhand smoke.
  

• Change appliance filters regularly.

• Lower humidity to prevent mold and mildew.

• Test your home for dangerous gases, such as radon.

• Vacuum regularly and use a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting.

It may be difficult to avoid being outside when outdoor air quality is bad. However, you can minimize exposure. Check your outdoor air quality daily, don't exercise on bad air days or near high-traffic areas, and avoid burning wood or trash.

Foods to Avoid for Lung Health

Some foods may adversely impact lung health. For instance, your body requires more oxygen to break down carbohydrates compared to fats. Some people may have better lung function if their diet is lower in carbohydrates.

If you're concerned about your lung health, consider avoiding or limiting the following:

• Sulfates: This compound is found in dried fruits and can cause allergic reactions or worsen asthma symptoms for some people.

• Gas-producing foods: Bloating from gas can create tightness in your chest, making breathing harder or triggering an asthma flare-up. Beans, onions, garlic, and fried foods can cause gas and indigestion.

• Salicylates: A compound found in coffee, tea, some herbs and spices, and aspirin; people with asthma or lung sensitivity may have a reaction to salicylates. 
  

Summary

A lung detox consists of habits and behaviors that support lung function. Lungs are self-cleaning organs that heal themselves when exposure to pollutants stops. The moment you quit smoking, your body and lungs begin the process of recovery.

Avoiding cigarettes (including secondhand smoke), getting regular exercise, and managing indoor air pollution by vacuuming and cleaning dust are often the key ways to protect lung health.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.