Air pollution harms your lungs—but new research shows that eating more fruit can help protect them!

A large study of over 150,000 people in the UK found that those who ate lots of fruit experienced less lung function decline due to pollution than those who didn’t. Specifically, when exposed to fine particulate matter, people in the low-fruit group had a 78ml drop in lung function. But in the high-fruit group, the drop was only 57ml.

That’s a significant difference—suggesting fruit can help your lungs cope with pollution. Unfortunately, the benefit was not observed in men, likely because they ate less fruit overall.

Take-Home:
Until the world clears the air, load your plate with fruit. It’s a simple, natural way to support your lungs—especially if you live in an area with poor air quality.

Reference:
Presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress, Amsterdam, Sept–Oct 2025.