from British Medical Journal
COPD—chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease—is a topic of many television
commercials for medications. But a study in
the British Medical Journal suggests a
healthy diet lowers the risk of chronic lung
disease. COPD is a collective term for
chronic lung diseases such as emphysema
and bronchitis which block airways. It is
currently the third leading cause of death
worldwide. Data from more than one
hundred thousand men and women was
analyzed and those with the highest
consumption of vegetables, whole grains,
polyunsaturated fats and nuts, plus low
amounts of red and processed meats, refined
grains and sugar sweetened drinks had one
third lower risk of newly diagnosed COPD.
Authors say although efforts to prevent
COPD should continue to focus on smoking
cessation, this study shows the importance
of a healthy diet.