While more than 90 percent of the world’s population breathes polluted air, new research offers an unexpected shield: eating fruit. A large study found that women who ate four or more servings of fruit daily showed markedly better lung function in polluted environments, although the same benefit didn’t appear in men.
Researchers said the reduced benefits seen in men may be caused by lower consumption of fruit among men.
The findings were recently presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam by study author Pimpika Kaeswri, a doctoral student at the University of Leicester in the UK.
“Our study confirmed that a healthy diet is linked to better lung function in both men and women regardless of air pollution exposure,” Kaeswri said in a statement. She plans to continue her research to see whether diet can influence changes in lung health over time.
Most People Are Exposed to Air Pollution
Using data from about 200,000 people in the UK Biobank, Kaeswri’s team examined how much fruit, vegetables, and whole grains people ate and their lung health and exposure to PM2.5—tiny particles in the air, smaller than 2 1/2 micrometers, that come from vehicle exhaust and factories.
The team found that for every increase of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5 in the air, people who ate less fruit saw a drop of 78.1 milliliters (mL) in the amount of air they could exhale in one second, compared with a 57.5 mL drop in those who ate more fruit—a difference of 20.6 mL.
Since only women tended to eat more than four portions of fruit per day—the high fruit intake group—the greatest protective benefit was seen in women.
Men showed no such protective effect.
Kaeswri noted that the benefit may stem from antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds naturally found in fruit that help protect lungs from damage caused by tiny particles in the air.
“These compounds could help mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation caused by fine particles, potentially offsetting some of the harmful effects of air pollution on lung function,” she said.
More than 90 percent of the global population is currently exposed to air pollution levels that exceed World Health Organization guidelines, Kaeswri said, and exposure to higher air pollution levels is associated with reduced lung function.
How to Reduce Exposure to PM2.5 Air Pollution
To protect yourself from the harmful effects of PM2.5 air pollution, Dr. Tori Endres, assistant professor of pediatric pulmonology at Case Western Reserve University, who was not involved in the study, recommended several practical steps:
- Monitor Air Quality: Track PM2.5 air pollution levels through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index, which reports outdoor air quality for five major air pollutants, including PM2.5. When air quality reports indicate high pollution levels, stay indoors and limit outdoor activities, especially during periods of heavy traffic or industrial activity.
- Filter Indoor Air: Use high-efficiency particulate air filters in your home to help reduce indoor levels of PM2.5. Keep windows and doors closed during periods of high pollution to prevent outdoor particles from entering your living space.
- Choose Routes Carefully: When outdoor air quality is poor, select routes away from busy roads or travel during times when traffic is lighter to decrease inhalation of vehicle exhaust particles.
- Wear Protective Masks: When it is necessary to be outdoors, wear certified N95 or N99 respirators to reduce inhalation of PM2.5. These masks are designed to filter out fine particles to help lower your inhalation of PM2.5.
Endres emphasized that PM2.5 pollution is not the only problem; at high levels, other pollutants can have immediate, hazardous effects on the body, including asthma attacks.
“It is also important to know that repetitive exposure can have detrimental effects on long-term health outcomes,” she told The Epoch Times. “Other disorders that have been linked to air pollution include stroke, lung cancer, and metabolic disorders, among others.”
Josh F.W. Cook, former regional administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency, who was also not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times that the release of this research is “timely, relevant, and needed.”
He also emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to national wellness—one that goes beyond focusing on any single issue and considers the multiple health challenges Americans currently face.
Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled the name of doctoral student Pimpika Kaeswri. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
