This morning I woke up with the word ‘sticky’ in my mind in relation to the Coronavirus and as someone who suffers from a reactive type asthma I immediately thought of mucus and the lungs.
Reading about ‘sticky’ I discovered that a third of hospital patients with Coronavirus develop dangerous blood clots. Professor Roppen Arya, of the King’s College Hospital, London believes that the coronavirus is changing patients blood making it much more sticky, which is having much wider repercussions than just blood clots, leading to higher rates of strokes and heart attacks. Severe inflammation of the lungs, a natural response to the virus, is said to be the reason for their formation.
Some experts believe that rather than using blood thinners, which increase the risk of the patient from suffering major bleeding, a better solution is to find a way to reduce acute inflammation of the lungs. [1]
What makes sense to me is to ensure that the body including the lungs are as inflammation and mucus free as possible heading into our Australian winter.
Chronic lung conditions such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema can cause an overproduction of mucus in reaction to irritants in the environment, food allergies and viral or bacterial infections.
Good nutrition is especially important in assisting the body stay clear of inflammation and mucus. Clear broth soups, meaning soups without cream or dairy, and warm herbal teas can loosen mucus and provide added hydration. According to the lung health institute there are 7 foods that fight lung inflammation, which include:
Tomatoes: rich in lycopene, which helps reduce inflammation in the lungs and throughout the rest of the body. (Be careful though because they also contain naturally occuring histamine which can be a trigger for some people).
Olive oil: contains alpha-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E linked to better lung function.
Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards: lots of vitamin E which is key in protecting the body against inflammatory molecules.
Nuts like almonds and walnuts: packed with antioxidants that can help your body fight off and repair the damage caused by inflammation.
Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines: high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation.
Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries and oranges: rich in vitamin C and vitamin B6 helps the lungs transfer oxygen.
Beets: can not only reduce inflammation but may also protect against cancer and heart disease. [2]
Other foods that can help reduce inflammation and mucus include : Garlic, celery, onions, lemons, watercress and parsley.
Of course, avoid any of these foods if you have food sensitivities and also avoid foods that can cause common allergies, including: milk (dairy), peanuts, shellfish, wheat (gluten) and soy. Processed foods containing preservatives should also be avoided including processed meats such as hot dogs, bacon, ham and cold cuts.
Alcohol is also often a trigger due to the yeast in beer and the naturally occurring sulphates in wine. Foods containing natural histamine can also cause the body to make more mucus, such as bananas, strawberries, pineapple, eggs, papaya and chocolate.
Environmental triggers can also cause inflammation in the lungs, particularly dust mite, mould, cigarette smoke, pet dander and chemical cleaning products. It pays to ensure that your environment is a clear of these allergens as possible.
Certain supplements can also assist such as Zinc and Vitamin C but it is useful to get expert advice if you do suffer from allergies as everyone has different allergic triggers and will require different nutritional support.
Other useful tips that can help at night include using an oil burner or applying pure essential oils such as rosemary, eucalyptus, oregano and thyme, using a room humidifier or an air filter. Moderate exercise, sunshine and drinking lots of fresh warm or room temperature water (with lemon) is also very important for maintaining a health immune system and reducing inflammation in the body and lungs.
For anyone who suffers from mucus forming allergies, there is a lot we can do to help our bodies get clear and clean. Now is a really important time to get started if you haven’t already.