New study finds that eating FRUITS fortifies the lungs against dirty air
By avagrace // 2025-11-17
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  • Fruit consumption can protect lung function from air pollution. A new study found that women who ate four or more servings of fruit daily experienced a significantly smaller decline in lung function when exposed to PM2.5 air pollution.
  •  The protection is linked to antioxidants in fruit. The beneficial effect is believed to come from the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in fruit, which help counteract the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by pollution particles in the lungs.
  •  The observed benefit was primarily seen in women. This is because the high-intake group (four or more servings per day) in the study was predominantly female, suggesting men could see similar benefits if their fruit consumption increased.
  •  Experts warn this is not a substitute for systemic change. Researchers caution that a healthy diet is not accessible to all and that the primary solution to air pollution must be government and industry action, not just individual dietary changes.
  • A dual approach of personal and societal action is needed. While increasing fruit intake is a practical personal defense, it must be paired with continued efforts to improve air quality through policy and regulation.
In a world where more than 90 percent of the population breathes unsafe air, a groundbreaking new study proposes a surprisingly accessible form of defense: the humble fruit basket. Presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress, research from the University of Leicester reveals that women who consume four or more servings of fruit daily demonstrate significantly better lung function when exposed to air pollution.  This compelling finding introduces a potent, personal tool in the global fight for respiratory health, suggesting that diets may directly counteract some of the environmental damage people involuntarily inhale. The primary villain in this public health drama is PM2.5, a technical term for an insidious threat. These are fine particulate matter particles, so minuscule that they are 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. To visualize, consider that a single strand of human hair is about 70 micrometers across. These microscopic specks, emitted from vehicle exhaust, industrial smokestacks, asthma, heart disease, healthy diet and power plants, penetrate deep into the lung passages and even enter the bloodstream. The World Health Organization has long warned that there is no safe level of exposure to PM2.5, linking it to a cascade of health problems from asthma to heart disease. The study's author, Pimpika Kaewsri, a doctoral student at the University of Leicester, sought to investigate whether a healthy diet could act as a buffer against this pervasive threat. Utilizing the vast dataset of the UK Biobank, which includes information from approximately 200,000 people, her team performed a sophisticated analysis. They cross-referenced detailed dietary reports with lung function tests and precise measurements of each participant's exposure to PM2.5 pollution, while accounting for variables like age and socioeconomic status. The goal was clear: to see if what we eat changes how our lungs respond to a polluted environment. The results were striking and gender-specific. For every increase of five micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 in the air, lung function—measured by the amount of air a person can forcibly exhale in one second—declined across the board. However, the degree of decline depended heavily on fruit consumption. Women with low fruit intake suffered a substantial 78.1-milliliter drop in lung capacity. In stark contrast, women who were high fruit consumers experienced a significantly smaller reduction of only 57.5 milliliters. This 20.6-milliliter difference represents a powerful protective effect, a tangible benefit measured in the very air the subjects could breathe out.

Why women reap the benefits

In the study population, men reported eating less fruit than women. The high-intake group, defined as those consuming four or more portions per day, was predominantly female. Therefore, the most pronounced protective benefit was observed in the group that consistently consumed the protective compounds found in fruit. It was not that men are biologically immune to the effect, but rather that their dietary habits may prevent them from reaching the threshold needed to see it. The mechanism behind this phenomenon is believed to lie in the very nature of fruit. Fruits are powerhouses of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. When PM2.5 particles invade the lungs, they trigger oxidative stress and inflammation—the same kind of biological damage that causes metal to rust. The natural chemicals in fruit act like microscopic firefighters, neutralizing these harmful processes and helping to repair tissue. They essentially help the lungs mitigate the assault, potentially offsetting some of the damage before it can impair function. While the findings are empowering, experts caution against misinterpreting them as a simple fix. Professor Sara De Matteis, an environmental health expert at the University of Turin who wasn't involved in the study, emphasized that a healthy diet is not equally accessible to all people due to economic and social constraints. She stresses that this research must not be used to transfer accountability from governments and industries to individuals. The fundamental solution to air pollution remains systemic change and robust environmental policy, not just a public recommendation to eat more apples. But eating fruit really helps. "An antioxidant in fruit is a natural compound that helps protect the body's cells from damage," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "These substances combat harmful molecules called free radicals, which can contribute to aging and disease. Consuming fruits high in antioxidants is therefore considered beneficial for overall health." For individuals, the study adds a dietary dimension to the standard advice for avoiding pollution harm. Beyond increasing fruit intake, people can take proactive steps. Monitoring the Air Quality Index provides real-time data on PM2.5 levels, allowing for reduced outdoor activity on bad days. Indoors, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can significantly clean the air. When outside exposure is unavoidable, wearing a certified N95 respirator can filter out the finest particles, and choosing routes away from heavy traffic can reduce the dose of pollutants inhaled. Watch and discover fruits rich in antioxidants. This video is from All About Herbs channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include:  TheEpochTimes.com Le.ac.uk FoxNews.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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