Stop breathing and see how long you can hold your breath. Now tell me how many times you took a breath today. I bet you can’t.

Breathing is probably the most important thing we do everyday. Without oxygen, our brain loses function and our heart has difficulty beating. There is a reason why in CPR the first two letters of ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) have to do with our respiratory system.

It is important to keep your lungs healthy because your body cannot function without them.

Follow these six steps from the Global Health Center to keep your lungs healthy.

Don’t Smoke
This one is obvious. Everyone knows about the detrimental effect of cigarette smoke and secondhand smoke. There is also a lesser known third-hand smoke. All of these have a serious affect on your lungs. Smoke deposits tar and a boat load of chemicals into your lungs and the lungs of those around your. These contribute to big problems like emphysema and cancer. Children of smoking parents are also more likely to miss school due to respiratory illnesses. We know this. It is time to wake up and stop smoking.

Perform Lung Cleansing Exercises
Breathing exercises not only strengthen your lungs, they also help to clear toxins. It also delivers more oxygen to your body. It is easy to fall into the habit of shallow breathing, but it is not good for you. Twice a day, you should find a quiet place and really think about your breathing. Many breathing exercises call for a sitting position, but from my extensive chorus years, I find focusing on my breathing while standing more fulfilling. Find a comfortable position and inhale on a slow count of five. Really try to stretch your lungs. You can take in more air than you think. Hold your breath for a couple of seconds and then slowing exhale also on the count of five. Again, really try to fully empty your lungs. Also, where you breathe from is also important. Many people think that when you breathe, your chest needs to rise. This is wrong. Breathing correctly should really make your entire abdomen expand. Try breathing while lying on the floor. Place your hands on your belly and try the exercise above. You should really feel some significant movement.

Eat Lung Cleansing Foods
There are many foods that promote healthy lung function. These include pistachios, plantain leaf and cayenne pepper. According to Global Health Center, “Pistachios contain gamma-tocopherol, a type of vitamin E that is believed to reduce risk of lung cancer. Plantain leaf, popular in Latin American cuisine, is useful suppressing mucous and may help respiratory problems that involve congestion. Cayenne peppers are potent foods whose benefits are equal to their heat. Cayenne has been shown to relieve irritation which is great news when you’re suffering from coughs and sore throats.” Some other foods that help with lung function are organic corn, brazil nuts, onion, ginger, oranges, nettle, and pine needle tea.

Reduce Your Indoor Air Pollution Exposure
Homes contain mold, mildew, pet dander, and chemicals linked to chemical-based cleaning products, upholstery, carpet, paint, and building materials. Homes today are also built to be incredibly airtight which is good for your electric bill but not so good for your health. It is important to have a constant airflow to clean your home’s air. You can also make natural alternatives to cleaning products you use everyday.

Make a Castor Oil Pack for Lung Cleansing
Castor oil can be used for more than lymphatic circulation or waste elimination. Honestly, until now, I though castor oil was only used as a punishment for bad kids on old TV shows. However, castor oil is very good for you and castor oil packs are very easy to make. They are similar to vapor rubs in that you place them on your chest and breath it in. The vapor helps to break up congestion and toxins. Even better, you don’t have to drink it. Follow these instructions.

Take Lung Cleansing Herbs
There are many herbs that have been used for over a hundred years to help treat respiratory conditions. These include oregano, orange peel, elecampane, eucalyptus, peppermint, lungwort, osha root, chaparral, and lobelia. You can use individual herbal tinctures or extracts. Global Health Center also suggests AllerTrex® as a lung cleansing supplement. It “contains organic and wildcrafted herbs known to support respiratory ailments, help with normal lung functions, and cleanse your lungs of harmful agents.”

Follow these steps and your lungs will start to feel better in no time.

This article (Focus on Lung Health with These Six Steps) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author (Katherine Crofton) and PowerfulPrimates.com.

Credit: powerfulprimates.com