Best Foods to Help Eliminate Excessive Mucus
Excessive mucus is a common problem. The common cold, sinusitis, and asthma can all block up a person’s respiratory passages and make it difficult to breathe. So what is the best way to keep this from happening?
Certain foods can really help, and we are about to talk all about them.
Eat These Foods to Help Reduce and Eliminate Excessive Mucus
What is mucus, really? And why do we have so many problems with it? Well for starters, you should know that a runny, or thick fluid is secreted by your body’s cells when you have an infection or virus.
This becomes an issue when it is too thick to clear out. It is even worse when this mucus is dark or yellow-colored since this is a sign of infection.
Mucus normally forms due to allergies or colds. If you don’t get rid of it, it can block nasal passages, build up in your lungs, or even lead to a painful case of sinusitis. This means you really need to take care of yourself.
There are many foods that can eliminate mucus that you should be familiar with if you find yourself with an infection or an excessive amount of mucus.
Always keep in mind that the foods you eat play an important role in how you feel.
1. Ginger and Lemon
These two ingredients are rich in antioxidants. They are also a natural source of Vitamin C, and most importantly, act as a natural antibiotic and help your body get rid of toxins, viruses, and bacteria.
They are also great for protecting cells and keeping mucus from building up.
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Don’t think twice about whipping up a couple of herbal teas every day, once in the morning and another in the evening.
First, make the ginger tea, and then add the juice from half a lemon to reap the benefits of these powerful foods.
2. Pineapple
Many believe that pineapple is an asthmatic’s best friend. All of its wonderful properties are due to a protease enzyme, bromelain, that eases symptoms of bronchitis and pneumonia.
A glass of fresh pineapple juice is a great anti-inflammatory agent to help your lungs or asthma. You will breathe much better and reduce any inflammation in your respiratory passages. There is no doubt that pineapples have wonderful healing powers.
3. Grapefruit and Watermelon
Grapefruit is a unique remedy that should not be overlooked. Eating one grapefruit a day does wonders for your health since it reduces the amount of salt in your body and eliminates mucus and swelling in your respiratory passages.
It is also an excellent natural anti-inflammatory solution. You should definitely try mixing some fresh watermelon juice with grapefruit juice as a simple remedy for mucus. It not only eliminates toxins but also dissolves mucus.
4. Orange and Kiwi Juice
This is the perfect medicinal juice to drink in the mornings. It gives you a natural burst of vitamin C and antioxidants that you shouldn’t miss out on.
Orange combined with kiwi fights off mucus, eliminates toxins and reduces inflammation, so it is definitely worth a try.
5. Essential Vegetables
When you are suffering from an excessive amount of mucus, you should always be sure to remember the following vegetables: garlic, celery, onion, asparagus, and cauliflower.
Eating these fresh will create an unbelievable defense against infectious diseases.
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You can eliminate and dissolve mucus by whipping up a stew with these vegetables. They are all disease-fighting foods that should always be included in your diet and are also great antibiotics.
6. Herbs
Herbs free up your respiratory passages, acting as a natural antibiotic and are just another natural medicine that can help your health.
Just make yourself an herbal tea, or even add them to your foods or salads to take advantage of their many beneficial properties.
A re you curious about which herbs help reduce mucus? Mint, eucalyptus, thyme, and rosemary are all wonderful options.
They reduce inflammation and are even safe for children. You can find them at farmers markets or health food stores for a reasonable price.
Foods to Avoid When Dealing with Excessive Mucus
You should always take the best care of yourself that you can. That being said, certain foods can make your excessive mucus even worse.
There are times when you can make your health situation worse without meaning to, or without even realizing that you are doing so.
That’s why it is important to remember that you should avoid the following foods when dealing with excessive mucus:
- Lactate products like milk, yogurt, creams, ice cream, etc…
- Animal products such as meat. These foods usually create more mucus in the body, even something known as stomach mucus.
- Fats and oils such as lard and butter are big culprits when it comes to producing more mucus. Alternatives such as olive oil are always a better option.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Piccirillo, J. F. (2004). Acute Bacterial Sinusitis. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp035553
- Slavin, J. L., & Lloyd, B. (2012). Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables. Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.112.002154
- Mashhadi, N. S., Ghiasvand, R., Askari, G., Hariri, M., Darvishi, L., & Mofid, M. R. (2013). Anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger in health and physical activity: review of current evidence. International journal of preventive medicine, 4(Suppl 1), S36.
- Tochi, B. N., Wang, Z., Xu, S. Y., & Zhang, W. (2008). Therapeutic application of pineapple protease (bromelain): a review. Pakistan journal of nutrition, 7(4), 513-520.
- Sorice, A., Guerriero, E., Capone, F., Colonna, G., Castello, G., & Costantini, S. (2014). Ascorbic acid: its role in immune system and chronic inflammation diseases. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry, 14(5), 444-452.
