Laughter Really Is The Best Medicine

There are some wonderful benefits in laughter.  In many years spent  observing and sharing experiences with people with breathing difficulties, I have seen many.  For those who have retained  secretions and trouble coughing, it can provide great airway  clearance!  It is good breathing exercise.  Best of all, from kids  to adults, it always brings good times together! Laughter Relaxes tension Boosts your immune system Reduces heart rate and blood pressure Exercises breathing muscles Releases endorphins

Green Tea Benefits

 

Green tea is made from the Chinese camellia plant leaves.  You can buy it as traditional tea bags, bottled, or as a supplement.  The way it is processed minimizes oxidation, which may be why is has so many benefits.   Of course always ask your doctor’s opinion.

Here is a list of some of the benefits people are suggesting it may have.  Research is underway or accomplished on many of these.

Stabilizes cholesterol levels      Eases allergy symptoms

Lowers cancer risk                   Prevents tooth decay

Boosts immune system            Eases arthritis pain

Promotes brain, skin and cardiovascular health     

Here's to blue skies, better health, and enjoying each day!!   

 

Just in from Respiratory Report

When heavy smokers kick the habit, they experience elevated levels of the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) in regions of the brain that regulate mood, such as the prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex, according to Canadian researchers. MAO-A has been linked to depression.

Maintaining good health, especially lung health, has three parts,  exercise, eating right and most importantly not smoking.  It is never too late to quit smoking.   The benefits are well worth it and experienced right away!  There are many tools to help you quit and stay quit.  Ask your doctor for a plan tailored for you.  It may be much easier than you thought.  There are so many options to help you.  Check it out!!  Tomorrow can be a better breathing day!!! 

COPD patients can burn up to 10X more calories.

If you are short of breath, eating well may be harder for you than for other people. Your energy may be limited, making it harder to prepare and eat meals. Medications or depression can reduce your appetite.

Respiratory muscles in people with COPD burn 10 times the calories of other people, This reason is the extra energy needed just to breathe.

Eating sitting up fairly straight is best, using your oxygen as prescribed.  Choose easy to chew foods, chew slowly and breathe deeply while chewing.  Do inhaled medications and airway clearance  before meals, so you are breathing at your best.

A healthy diet becomes very important.  It is also important to maintain a healthy weight.  If you are underweight you may feel weak and tired more often.  Muscles may weaken and you may be more prone to infection. Being overweight makes your heart and lungs work harder and use more oxygen.

Eating small meals and snacks of healthy foods throughout the day may help you maintain a healthy weight, and give you needed energy

Tips to help reverse lung damage from smoking.

 Smoking causes damage to your lungs.  You can “detox” your lungs. They can go from black and clogged toward more pink and healthy by following a simple process.

 Previous posts talked about vitamin A. Studies on lab animals indicate that a good intake of vitamin A can actually help heal the lungs.  Vitamin A also helps resist infections, including those in the respiratory system.

  Recent research shows that vitamin D helps to slow declining lung function in people with asthma.

 Include plenty of anti-oxidants in your diet. Vitamin C and E are powerful antioxidants. They help protect the lung cells from damage from free radicals.  Vitamin C also helps build collagen and elastin, both necessary for tissue health.  With Vitamin C, Magnesium helps maintain healthy lung tissue.

Reduce the amount of sugar you eat.  Sugar can lower you immune systems efficiency.

Cut down on fats and salt.  Sodium causes you to retain fluids and people with lung problems can find it more difficult to breathe. Fats clog arteries.

Eating a healthy diet can begin the detox process.  Maintaining a good weight and exercising, including breathing exercise works to expand and cleanse your lungs. (See Yoga Breathing in an earlier post). 

Apples may contribute to lung health.

“An Apple a day keeps the doctor away”, may be an adage truer than we thought.  Apples have medicinal and nutritive properties that offer benefit in protecting and optimizing your lung function.  This is especially dear to me, as our family has an apple orchard.

Apples contain the antioxidants quercetin and vitamin C, along with other flavonoids and vitamins, pectins, tannins and fruit acids like malic acid.

Researchers are not sure why apples offer a scientifically documented benefit in protecting lung health and improving lung function, particularly in those individuals suffering from lung cancer and asthma. Most think that antioxidant protection may be a key.  The antioxidant flavonoid, quercetin, may play a major role.  Pectins found in apples have anti-mutagenic effects, slowing tumor growth in lab rats.

Of course, a balanced diet is important. Chose fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants. The fresher and more deeply colored, generally the better.