Detoxing Your Lungs
Lung Function
The lungs perform an integral function in the body: respiration. They receive the air that we breathe, which contains several gases, including oxygen that the cells need to function. They then transport the fresh oxygen to the blood, which in turn carries it to the body’s cells.
Then carbon dioxide, a waste gas from the metabolism of food, leaves the blood and is diffused into the alveoli to be exhaled through the lungs.
How the Lungs Self-Protect
The average person breathes in about 20,000 liters of air every day and this inevitably means the ingestion of harmful toxins, particles and gases. The lungs, however, have a natural defence mechanism that filters toxins entering the body, and responds to those that squeak past.
There are three basic methods that the lungs rely on to perform these protection functions: epithelial barriers, enzyme systems and immune responses.
Epithelial Barriers- This is cellular tissue that lines the insides of the lungs. This tissue assists in removing dust particles and foreign bodies which have entered the air passages.
Enzyme Systems- While there are many systems of enzymes, in one particular system, the enzymes (substances that aid in chemical reactions in the body) respond to inhaled particles creating substances to protect the air sacs of the lungs.
Immune Responses- Immunoglobulin (antibodies that protect the body from infection) is important to the monitoring of the respiratory tract. They are essentially the security guards that defend the tract from microbes and tumor cells.
Detoxing and Maintaining Healthy Lungs
The lungs are an essential part of the detoxing process with their removal of toxins such as carbon dioxide, asbestos, pesticides and many more. Yet like anything, when there are too many pollutants, the body becomes overwhelmed and can no longer efficiently do its job. The lungs are no exception.
On a daily basis the average American breathes in a wealth of pollutants from car exhaust, household cleaners, minute particles of metal, and perhaps most commonly, cigarette smoke. When any one of the lungs’ three defense systems stops functioning efficiently as a result of toxin overload that means that the body has no way of expelling this unhealthy waste. Thus it begins to build.
Overtime the ineffective removal of these toxins results in the possibility of one of numerous associated diseases. Such diseases include Bronchitis, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Pneumonia, Lung Cancer, Emphysema, Tuberculosis etc...
Symptoms of Lung Toxicity
Before your systems completely crash, your body will give you warning signs that your lungs are suffering.
Here are a few of the ways your lungs tell you they are sick:
• Chronic cough
• Coughing up blood or mucus
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Wheezing
How to Detox Your Lungs
If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms or simply know that your lungs are not performing at their optimal level, there are ways of clearing this important organ of toxins and get them healing and functioning well once again.
• Avoid pollutants. Obvious offenders include cigarettes, pesticides, chemical household cleaners, and car exhaust.
• Get moving. Exercise a great way to flush out the lungs. The cardio loosens the toxins within the lung and will have you coughing up many of the harmful substances formerly lodged in your respiratory tract.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. The foods we eat inadvertently affect the lungs because as toxins enter the blood, many are diffused into the alveoli and expelled through the lungs. Cutting down on toxic foods means fewer toxins in our blood.
Comments
3 Comments
AshleyStarJuly 26th, 2010
Hello, new to the site. Just wanted to say thanks for such great tips!
Lindsay123July 21st, 2010
My daughter and I want to learn more about detox foods and tips, thanks for such great ideas. Many of the articles I have read so far have helped me to improve my willpower and use it against unhealthy foods. My daughter loves this site too.
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July 29th, 2010
After word of mouth recommendations, I have decided to detox from the many years of not very healthy choices. Looking forward to eating stuff that is actually good for my body.