Air pollution is one of the biggest problems faced by society today, as a whole. There are many precautions which need to be taken to keep air pollution under check, both individually as well as collectively. Carpooling, keeping the use of air conditioners and deodorants minimal, and avoiding all those things which add to the pollution in the air are all effective measures which definitely help in the long run.
Most people are concerned about the condition of the environment, a big reason to worry. What many people fail to realize is that our health is also at great risk. Along with taking measures to improve the condition of the environment, one must also be equally concerned about one’s own personal health. The best way to do so is to up the nutrition content in your diet. Here are some ways by which one can achieve the energy required from food for resisting air pollution:
Increase your omega-3 intake:
Omega-3 is important in your diet since it helps boost immunity and also improves your overall health. It is, by far, the most deficient component of our diet and, contradictingly, the most important and the most needed one. Apart from fighting off the effects of air pollution, omega-3 is also known to impart suppleness and smoothness to your skin and hair. Omega-3 is available in plenty of foods like salmon fish, fish oils, avocados, flaxseeds, and soybeans. You can even opt for omega-3 supplements to complement your diet.
Vitamin E:
Olive oil is the best way to consume vitamin E. You can introduce it in your diet in many forms. Vitamin E is best for its nutritional properties when consumed without any exposure to heat. Cooking olive oil causes it to lose most of its nutritional properties and vitamin E, and hence it is best to consume it raw. Olive oil can make a good component for salad or a dip.
Flaxseeds:
The need for omega-3 fatty acids in our diet is mostly obtained from salmon and fish sources. Flaxseeds are the vegetarian source of omega-3. They are less expensive and full of the rich nutrition that is required to fight off air pollution. They fall into the category of underrated foods that are required for the body but do not easily make their way into your diet. Don’t make this mistake. Include flaxseeds as much as you can, and you will never have to worry about air pollution ever again. Flaxseeds will also curb asthma and other allergies, and keep them at bay.
Vitamin C and other antioxidants:
Antioxidants are known to fight off free radicals, the same free radicals which are produced in the body by virtue of air pollution. Vitamin C is the best of all antioxidants and must be included plentiful in the diet. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, and excess consumption of it leads to no side effects. Care must be taken to consume vitamin C before it gets photo-oxidized. Citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, and pomegranates are all good sources of vitamin C. Have a citrus fruit or fruit juice every day to increase the antioxidants in your body.
Similar important foods:
Include the following eatables in your diet along with the ones mentioned prior to this:
- Green leafy vegetables, especially broccoli and spinach to fight off harmful toxins
- Olive oil for its vitamin E content
- Tomatoes for their antioxidant lycopene
- Avocados by virtue of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant content
- Nuts, dry fruits, pulses and legumes for their magnesium content
- Ginger, and ginger flavored foods for its anti-inflammatory nature
- Carrots, kale and sweet potatoes for β- carotene, and its antioxidant properties
The above food suggestions are not all. There are plenty of ways by which one can defend their own health against air pollution. The above-mentioned ways are only a few of the many possible ones. You can include other food items and eatables in your diet, or exclude certain others as per your health condition. Air pollution is not a disease which can be cured by taking medications once in a while. You need to be consistent and regular with your precautionary diet in order to keep air pollution and its hazards at bay.