Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAfter SmokingNatural DetoxLimiting Pollution ExposureFoods to Avoid
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
After Smoking
Natural Detox
Limiting Pollution Exposure
Foods to Avoid
A lung detox is a set of behaviors and habits that encourage healthy lung function. Even if you have a history of smoking, lung infections, or impact from environmental triggers, you can still improve your lung function. Lungs are self-cleaning organs that will heal themselves when exposure to pollutants stops.
This article will explain the steps to support healthy lungs and recover from minor lung injury.
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After Smoking, Will a Lung Detox Work?
Practicing good habits and behaviors that boost your lung health can benefit people who have a history of smoking. Even if you have smoked for a long time, when youstop, your lungs immediately begin the healing process. You will experience the following:
Natural Lung Detox Choices
There are no products or supplements proven to detox the lungs. However, adopting the following behaviors will help improve your lung health.
Quit Smoking
Smoking cigarettes adversely affects every organ in the body, especially the lungs. It increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. If you want to make your lungs healthier, the first thing to do isstop smoking. It can add years to your life.
Get Moving
Regular exercise makes your lungs stronger. The more your body becomes accustomed to exercising, the better it distributes oxygen into your bloodstream to feed working muscles.
As your endurance improves, you’re less likely to get short of breath during physical activity. Even people with chronic lung conditions can benefit from an exercise program, though it should be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
Change Your Diet
No specific diet can detox your lungs, but somefoods may support healthy lungfunction. Some nutrients can help you breathe easier and may even reduceasthma symptoms. They include:
A Word From VerywellNo specific products on the market today provide effective lung detox. The best way to care for your lung health is to quit smoking (if you smoke), avoid secondhand smoke exposure, exercise regularly, manage your exposure to indoor air pollution, and avoid outdoor air pollution.—BRIAN BEZACK, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
No specific products on the market today provide effective lung detox. The best way to care for your lung health is to quit smoking (if you smoke), avoid secondhand smoke exposure, exercise regularly, manage your exposure to indoor air pollution, and avoid outdoor air pollution.—BRIAN BEZACK, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
No specific products on the market today provide effective lung detox. The best way to care for your lung health is to quit smoking (if you smoke), avoid secondhand smoke exposure, exercise regularly, manage your exposure to indoor air pollution, and avoid outdoor air pollution.
—BRIAN BEZACK, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Limiting Pollution Exposure to Detox Lungs
It may be difficult to avoid air pollution but try to ensure your environment is free of harmful pollutants as much as possible. You can check your area’s air quality index (AQI) atwww.airnow.gov. Events such as wildfires and certain types of weather (e.g., cold, dry air) can increase AQI to unhealthy levels.
Some circumstances can worsen indoor and outdoor air pollution. However, you can take some steps to improve indoor air quality and manage exposure to poor outdoor air quality. They include:
It may be difficult to avoid being outside when outdoor air quality is bad. However, you can minimize exposure. Check your outdoor air quality daily, don’t exercise on bad air days or near high-traffic areas, and avoid burning wood or trash.
Foods to Avoid for Lung Health
Some foods may adversely impact lung health. For instance, your body requires more oxygen to break down carbohydrates compared to fats. Some people may have better lung function if their diet is lower in carbohydrates.
If you’re concerned about your lung health, consider avoiding or limiting the following:
Summary
A lung detox consists of habits and behaviors that support lung function. Lungs are self-cleaning organs that heal themselves when exposure to pollutants stops. The moment you quit smoking, your body and lungs begin the process of recovery.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Lung Association.Can you detox your lungs?American Cancer Society.Health benefits of quitting smoking over time.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cigarette smoking.American Lung Association.Exercise and lung health.American Lung Association.Asthma and nutrition: how food affects your lungs.American Lung Association.Weather and your lungs.American Lung Association.Clean air at home.American Lung Association.Protecting your lungs.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Lung Association.Can you detox your lungs?American Cancer Society.Health benefits of quitting smoking over time.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cigarette smoking.American Lung Association.Exercise and lung health.American Lung Association.Asthma and nutrition: how food affects your lungs.American Lung Association.Weather and your lungs.American Lung Association.Clean air at home.American Lung Association.Protecting your lungs.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Lung Association.Can you detox your lungs?American Cancer Society.Health benefits of quitting smoking over time.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cigarette smoking.American Lung Association.Exercise and lung health.American Lung Association.Asthma and nutrition: how food affects your lungs.American Lung Association.Weather and your lungs.American Lung Association.Clean air at home.American Lung Association.Protecting your lungs.
American Lung Association.Can you detox your lungs?
American Cancer Society.Health benefits of quitting smoking over time.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cigarette smoking.
American Lung Association.Exercise and lung health.
American Lung Association.Asthma and nutrition: how food affects your lungs.
American Lung Association.Weather and your lungs.
American Lung Association.Clean air at home.
American Lung Association.Protecting your lungs.
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