11/03/2017
Weekly Report
Antioxidants for COPD: Is there really any benefit?
If you have COPD, you’re surely on a continuous quest to better your health and are always on the lookout for things you can do to prevent your condition from progressing. You may have heard about antioxidants and their possible benefits. Here, let’s talk about what they are and how they can help boost your lung health.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation. Oxidation in the body’s cells usually leads to damage and disruption of normal cellular activities. Over the long term, such damage could lead to decline in tissue and organ functioning.
Inside the body, oxidation is commonly caused by compounds called free radicals. Antioxidants can counteract the effects of free radicals by preventing them from affecting healthy cells and tissues.
One of the most common examples of antioxidants is Vitamin C. Other vitamins, such as Vitamin A and Vitamin E are also antioxidants. And the good news is, you can find them in various natural foods such as fruits and vegetables.
The body also produces its own antioxidants up to a certain amount. It’s still best, however, to supplement these with antioxidant-rich foods for a better health boost.
Oxidative stress and COPD
Oxidative stress is a condition wherein there is an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the body. In such cases, there may either be more oxidants that cause damage or lesser antioxidants to counteract the oxidants’ harmful effects.
One of the most potent sources of oxidants is cigarette smoke, which is also one of the leading risk factors for COPD. A high level of oxidants in the lungs causes oxidative stress. Over the long run, this leads to damage at the cellular level, which then causes destruction to structures such as the alveoli, or the air sacs in the lungs responsible for delivering oxygen to the blood.
Additionally, oxidative stress also plays a role in airway inflammation, which is prominently seen in COPD patients.
How can antioxidants help with COPD?
The effect of antioxidants on COPD has been studied extensively. Though using antioxidants to treat various diseases is still a controversial issue, research has shown that they may have potential benefits for COPD.
Certain investigations hold the theory that, since oxidants and free radicals are very much implicated in causing COPD, taking in antioxidants has a huge potential to help treat the condition.
Some studies have found that the intake of high levels of antioxidant vitamins along with other antioxidants was associated with a slight improvement in lung function, though it was unclear if such an improvement was directly caused by these vitamins.
In another study, taking in low levels of Vitamin C resulted in a very small increase in lung function. Another study, however, has shown that lower levels of Vitamin C can possibly cause an increase in oxidative stress. These conflicting results have caused Vitamin C as a supplement not to be recommended.
What you can do
All in all, although the role of antioxidants in treating COPD has not yet been clinically established, many studies have proven that they have a huge potential in benefiting COPD patients.
But don’t rush to the pharmacy for vitamin or antioxidant supplements just yet. Your best bet is to take in natural antioxidants intrinsically found in various fruits and vegetables.
Some of the fruits richest in antioxidants are berries like wild blueberries, cranberries, strawberries and raspberries. Apples, prunes, cherries and plums are also great sources of natural antioxidants.
Other power-packed sources would be veggies such as kale, spinach, artichokes, pinto beans, black beans, red beans, broccoli and Russet potatoes. Herbs like cilantro, garlic, oregano, cinnamon, ginger, and thyme are also great antioxidant sources to add to your meals and drinks. And let’s not forget green tea and dark chocolate, too!
Start incorporating these foods regularly into your diet and you may just notice your COPD symptoms improving!
Have you tried upping your antioxidant intake? How did it go? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
