Delhi: Opt for 'super food' to tackle pollution related ailments

Worried about falling sick in the gas chamber Delhi has become? Nursing constant cough and wheezing? As the air quality index oscillates between poor and very poor, experts recommend healthy diet and naturopathy to keep pollution induced diseases at bay.

According to nutritionists, diet plays a crucial role in this weather when toxic pollutants are alarmingly high. With fear of contracting lung infection and pollutants clogging respiratory tract, they suggest to make dietary changes and include few food products in one's diet. "Toxins in the air can destroy protective antioxidants present in the lining of our lungs, and thus need to be flushed out of the body. Diet therapy as a naturopathy practice is an effective way to do so," says Dr. Rukamani Nair of Bapu Nature Cure Hospital and Yogashram (BNCHY). Turmeric, tulsi, green leafy vegetables, apples, broccoli, flax seeds have emerged as 'super foods' to combat the harmful effects of pollution. Turmeric can be added to milk while tulsi juice can be mixed in water or the leaves can be chewed as it is to consume antioxidants.

"These foods are rich in antioxidants. Meanwhile, vegetables such as coriander leaves, cabbage, and turnip greens and fruits such as amla and guava are packed with Vitamin C, which is the single most potent antioxidant for our body," she adds.

Keeping the body hydrated is another vital suggestion that doctors and nutritionists emphasis on. "It is essential to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water everyday. Consume lot of fresh fruits and cut down strenuous physical activity. Try to exercise indoors instead of going for a run outside," suggests Dr Nirav Agarwal who works in a private hospital in Preet Vihar.