Veggies keep asthma at bay

Children who eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and fish have a lower risk of developing asthma and allergies. Though there are a variety of factors leading to asthma and allergies, the inclusion of certain foods in our diet can prevent such diseases to a great deal. It is known that the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables help protect lung tissue from damage. 'Fruity' vegetables such as tomatoes and green beans are particularly good sources of antioxidants like alpha- and beta-carotene, vitamin C and lycopene. Similarly fatty fish varieties like salmon are a major source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids whose anti-inflammatory action influences the development of the immune system in such a way that it guards against allergies and infections. To assess the relationship between diet and the risk of asthma in children, researchers at the University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece studied 460 Spanish children followed from birth to age 6. The parents of these children were interviewed periodically over the first 6.5 years of the child's life. They were asked questions on a range of factors that affect a child's allergy risk - including the mother's diet during pregnancy, breastfeeding, exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke and family history of allergies and asthma. The results showed asthma and allergies were least common among children with a high intake of fruits, vegetables and fish. It was found that children who ate the most fish were 57 percent less likely to develop allergies than their peers who ate the least amount of fish. Similarly, asthma was far less common among children with the highest intake of so-called 'fruity' vegetables - namely, tomatoes, eggplant and green beans. And children who ate the most fruity vegetables were 62 percent less likely to have problems with wheezing, a prime symptom of asthma, compared with their peers who ate the least amount. Thus, a regular intake of fruits, vegetables and fish can offer specific protection against allergies and asthma for children.