A recent study, presented by scientists from the University of Leicester (UK) at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) congress in Amsterdam, suggests that consistent fruit consumption may offer partial protection to the lungs against the detrimental effects of polluted air.
The research involved analyzing data from approximately 200,000 participants within the UK Biobank. The findings indicated that women who consumed four or more servings of fruit daily experienced a noticeably less significant decline in lung function, even when exposed to high levels of air pollution. The authors theorize that this protective benefit is linked to the high concentration of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in fruits, which are believed to help reduce damage caused by fine particulate matter present in the atmosphere.
While acknowledging that a healthy diet cannot entirely replace comprehensive environmental protection strategies, the researchers emphasize that its positive impact on lung health could serve as an important supplementary protective factor for individuals residing in highly polluted urban environments.
