Diet rich in apples may help lung repair
Brian Berkman
A
study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , in Baltimore in the United States , found the natural decline in lung function over a 10-year period was slower among former smokers with a diet high in tomatoes and fruits , especially apples , suggesting certain components in these foods might help restore lung damage caused by smoking .
This is especially good news for Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing , the largest exporter of South African apples and pears . “ Anything that brings hope to the many battling illness is something we will celebrate ”, says managing director Roelf Pienaar , adding : “ but the fact that a wholly natural product which Tru-
Cape grower produce to the highest global standards has been shown to improve recovery in people who stop smoking , is a wonderful way to start the new year .”
Vanessa Garcia-Larsen , assistant professor in the Bloomberg School ’ s Department of International Health and the study ’ s lead author explains : “ This study shows that diet might help repair lung damage in people who have stopped smoking . It also suggests that a diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung ’ s natural ageing process even if you have never smoked .”
The findings , which appear in the December 2017 issue of the European Respiratory Journal , support the need for dietary
AgriKultuur | AgriCulture
68