Breathing is one of life’s most fundamental life processes. The health of your lungs influences everything you do, from your ability to climb a flight of stairs, keep up with your grandchildren, and do all the other activities you love. When your lungs struggle, your entire body feels it.
Yet, what concerns me most as a cardiologist is that your heart and lungs are related by more than proximity, they work in tandem relying heavily on each other. The most essential job of your heart is to circulate oxygen and other nutrients throughout your body, and that oxygen comes into your body through your lungs. So, keeping your lungs healthy is critical to the health of your heart.
What Impacts Your Lung Health?
One of the biggest threats to our lung health is the respiratory effect of common seasonal and environmental challenges. Seasonal issues are something I’ve suffered with for years—so if you do, too, I feel your pain.
The first step is to limit your exposure to common air pollutants. You can do that by paying close attention to pollen and air quality alerts in your area, staying indoors as much as possible on those days. I also recommend getting a high-quality air purifier for your home, and especially for your bedroom. I never sleep without one.
For your lungs and heart, it’s also important to support a normal inflammatory response throughout your body. Plus, you want to keep your nasal and bronchial passages clear and have balanced mucous levels. The good news is there are powerful herbs and nutrients for lung support that help to address all of these factors—benefitting your lungs, heart, and even your immune system.
The 5 Best Nutrients for Lung Support—and Clear Breathing
I have done extensive research on nutrients for lung health and the top nutrient I’ve found—hands down—is AlvioLife®. This blend of boswellia and quince fruit extract, both of which have been used in traditional remedies, promotes a healthy inflammatory response inside your body and the research is extremely impressive.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study (the “gold standard” of studies) those with lung health concerns taking AlvioLife experienced a significant improvement in their body’s response to environmental challenges (which the research refers to as “Environmental Stimuli”) in just four weeks compared to the placebo group.
What’s also important is that the benefits increase over time. In a study of 29 people, those taking 200 mg of AlvioLife (the recommended dose) for eight weeks experienced:
- Significant improvement in their ability to breathe more clearly, compared to the placebo group.
- Dramatic improvement in their Activity Limitation Score (ALS)—which means they were able to be more active.
- Significant improvement in their Emotional Function Score (EFS)—so they felt better due to improvements in issues like frustration, feeling impatient and irritable, and getting a good night’s sleep, to name a few.
But AlvioLife doesn’t work alone. I recommend combining it with these nutrients for well-rounded lung support:
- Black Seed Oil: This potent oil has a long history of use in traditional remedies, and study after study has shown just how powerful it is. It supports healthy nasal passages and lung function, as well as protecting you against oxidative stress. It may also give you support for healthy “expiratory function” of the lungs, which is your ability to fully exhale as you should. The form of black seed oil I recommend is Thymocid®, which has been shown to provide relief from nasal discomfort and irritation, day and night—as well as supporting a healthy inflammatory response. Plus, it has a “bonus benefit,” too, of supporting healthy cholesterol, triglycerides, and more. Recommended dose: 1 gram daily
- AP-Bio®: The Andrographis paniculata herb has a strong history in Chinese tradition for supporting immune function. The best form I’ve found is AP-Bio, which contains seven unique bioactive compounds. In a clinical trial of 220 participants with upper respiratory symptoms, AP-Bio began to support the immune system within just 3-5 days against seasonal challenges when compared to the placebo. Plus, over 5 days, supplementing with 200 mg daily was clinically effective over placebo for supporting immune health and function. Additionally, it made a real tangible difference for those suffering from seasonal challenges, helping with occasional ear, throat, and head discomfort, as well as tiredness and sleep disturbances. Recommended dose: 200 mg daily
- Quercetin: As many of you know, I’m extremely bullish on quercetin. This potent antioxidant—found in foods like apples, onions, berries, teas, and red wine—is associated with healthier lung function. Plus, it supports endothelial function, which is critical for healthy blood flow and cardiovascular health. Recommended dose: 150 mg daily
- Astragalus Root: This tried-and-true adaptogen and tonifying herb has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. It’s one of the top herbs I recommend for supporting healthy lungs. Recommended dose: 50 mg daily
What is the Best Way to Take These Nutrients?
While you can certainly take each of these nutrients individually, I have found that the best way to get the results you want is to take them together. That’s why I combined them into my new ULTIMATE Lung & Bronchial Support formula, in the same clinically validated forms and dosages used in the research.
In addition to supporting lung function, which is critical to heart health, the nutrients in this formula can make a real difference in how you feel. They help to promote clear breathing, which allows you to be more active. Plus, they support your immune system, which is something we can all use in today’s world.
Resources
- Yugandhar, P et al. Phytotherapy Research. 2017;1–11.
- Nikakhlagh, S., et. al. American Journal of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery 2011;32(5):402-7
- Saxena RC et al. Phytomedicine 2010;17(3-4):178-85.
- Choi, E.Y et al. Nutrition 31 (2015) 1131–35.
- Dharmananda S. 2006. Institute of Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon.
