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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The researchers also found that consumption of less than one-quarter of a serving of fruit daily resulted in lower average lung-function scores. A low intake of vitamin E -- less than 5.2 milligrams daily -- was associated with a increased risk of reported asthma.
Finally, a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids -- less than 22 milligrams per day -- was associated with increased odds of chronic bronchitis, wheezing and asthma. In fact, those with the lowest intake of omega-3 fatty acids were almost 70 percent more likely to report have asthma symptoms.
There was a slight increase in the adjusted odds -- about 6 percent -- of developing chronic bronchitis or acute bronchitis in teen smokers who averaged less than 85 milligrams per day of vitamin C daily compared to smokers with the highest vitamin C intake.
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Burns said she believes healthy diets help airways in several ways. One is by lessening inflammation, and the other stems from the helpful effects of antioxidants.
"Asthma is a physical state where there's a lot of oxidative stress, and a high intake of antioxidants may make the lung cells less responsive to oxidative stress," said Burns.
"You really are what you eat," added Dr. Jane Krasnick, chief of allergy and immunology at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren, Mich. "What you put in your body may make a difference. We spend a lot of time worrying about what we inhale and environmental exposures, maybe we should think more about what we're putting into our bodies [as food] as well," she said.
Both Burns and Krasnick recommended that teens up their intake of fresh fruit and fish whenever possible. Burns added that teens should also take a daily multivitamin. While a multivitamin isn't as good as healthy food, "vitamins are very useful and easy to take," she said.
More information
To learn more about asthma prevention, visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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