A newly released peer reviewed study shows that increased consumption of dark-pigmented fruits and vegetables such as berries, purple potatoes and red apples, positively impacts lung function.  The study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that those who ate more fruits and veggies with anthocyanin flavonoids maintained the best lung function as they aged.

“A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help protect the lungs against damage, preserving their functionality and reducing the risk of developing respiratory diseases later in life,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Vanessa Garcia-Larsen, Assistant Professor of Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in HealthDay. “Foods rich in anthocyanin flavonoids might protect the lungs through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which have been extensively demonstrated in experimental studies,” she says.

The study authors found that a few hours after eating foods, such as berries, there was evidence of flavonoids in lung tissue.  This suggests that anthocyanin-rich fruits and veggies might have a role in protecting the lungs against pollutants and smoking, according to the study.

In addition to berries, potatoes and apples, these fruits and veggies also contain anthocyanin flavonoids: cherries, cranberries, eggplant, plums, prunes, raisins, red and purple grapes, red beans, beets, red cabbage, red onions and red pears.

Garcia-Larsen says that people reach peak lung capacity at about 30-years-old with lung function slowly declining for everyone after that age. Therefore eating fruits and veggies with anthocyanin flavonoids at all ages is beneficial to improving lung capacity as well as lung function later in life.

While this study focused on lung health, previous peer reviewed studies have shown strawberries and blueberries may positively impact brain and cardiovascular health while potatoes have been shown to lower blood pressure and eating apples can reduce the risk of a stroke.  But did you know that consumption of these fruits and veggies can also brighten and whiten teeth, make your skin prettier and build stronger muscles?

This study is yet another reason why health experts, including nutritionists and dietitians, encourage consumption of both organic and conventional fruits and veggies and urge consumers to choose what is most affordable and accessible for themselves and their families.

Read, learn, choose and breathe easier by eating more fruits and veggies each day.