There are almost 500.000 asthma related visits in the American hospitals each year. According to this fact, there are almost 1.75 million visits in American hospitals in general. This information was given by the Asthma and Allergy foundation of America.
Did the numbers surprise you? Try to “digest” the information that there are over $18 billion spent on asthma treatments, deaths caused by asthma, etc. in the American hospitals only. These are the annual calculations.
It is estimated that there are over 300 million people in the world suffering from asthma. It is believed that this number will increase over time, or, there will be 100 million more people suffering from this disease by 2025. There are 250.000 deaths in the world caused by this nasty disease.
Breathing difficulties and shortness of breath are some of the the symptoms. Besides the fact that asthma medications can cause some terrifying side effects, which can seriously damage your health, it pulls out millions of dollars of the national budget each year.
In addition to pills, you can also treat this disease using fresh organic vegetables and fruits. When it comes to health, 100% natural plants NEVER have any side effect or harm your health. On the contrary, they can be of great help when it comes to improving your health.
Free radicals, also known as cell-damaging chemicals can cause inflammation, lung swelling, and chest tightness but the natural foods covered in this article can help you eliminate them.
This comes due to the fact that natural foods are very rich in antioxidants, such as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E. These antioxidants will fight the free radicals in order to improve your health.
These are the five most beneficial foods when it comes to reducing asthma symptoms:
1. Bananas
Researchers say that children who eat bananas every day have 34% lower chance of getting asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing. Bananas are one of the richest sources of vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, which helps in the relaxation of the bronchial muscle tissue.
This is stimulated by the production of compounds triggered by the banana itself. Since almost every kid likes bananas you can boost your kid’s energy by adding this amazing fruit to delicious smoothies and/or cereals.
2. Avocados
Avocados contain glutathione. This is a substance that fights free radicals and improves your overall health. This fruit can also help you improve your breathing because it fights harmful compounds and detoxifies the body. Avocados can also improve the cardiovascular health, improve your sight and balance blood sugar levels. You can eat avocados in raw condition or as an addition to your favorite salad or smoothie.
3. Garlic
Garlic is very powerful antioxidant that relieves asthma symptoms since it is high in vitamin C. Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals and unstable molecules that cause contraction of airway’s smooth muscles. Raw garlic can also help you when it comes to allergic reactions and inflammation caused by high levels of histamines in the body.
This magical vegetable can boost the production of the lipid molecules known as prostacyclins in the body. In this way the airways will be open and and you can breathe easily. As a conclusion, garlic is an amazing vegetable with many health benefits. Feel free to consider it as the guardian of your cardiovascular system and overall health.
4. Sunflower Seeds
People suffering from asthma are advised to eat sunflower seeds on a regular basis. These seeds are rich in nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium and potassium. You can reduce asthma effects by eating a cup of sunflower seeds because they contain one third of the daily recommended selenium intake.
Selenium helps asthma patients to reduce symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath. Eating small amounts of these calorific seeds can help you maintain clean airways and normal breathing.
5. Parsley
Parsley can help you get rid of mucus formed in the airways because it contains phlegm. This healthy plant will relax the chest muscles and reduce the pain caused by coughing. Regular consumption of parsley can help you excrete the mucus in your airways. You can consume parsley in many different ways. It can be eaten raw, as an addition to salads, smoothies or you can simply prepare a nice cup of tea.
These are just some of the foods that can relieve asthma symptoms and keep the steroid treatments and chemical packed inhalers away from you. But make sure you consult your doctor before you stop with the treatment.
