Molecules in some vegetables help ease lung infections

Molecules in some vegetables help ease lung infections


Not everyone likes cauliflower or broccoli. But when it comes to protecting against infections, your lungs sure do.

In particular, it’s the molecules in so-called cruciferous and certain other vegetables that help maintain a healthy barrier in the lungs. That’s what researchers at the Francis Crick Institute in England learned recently after a series of experiments in mice. They focused on a protein known as an aryl [ˈerəl/] hydrocarbon receptor, or AHR, that is found in the lungs and gut. In the lungs, AHR is particularly active. It helps let oxygen through while bolstering the barrier that blocks bacteria and viruses.

During the experiments, mice with enhanced AHR activity lost less weight when infected with the flu. They also fared better at fighting off both the flu virus and bacterial infections than those without enhanced AHR activity.

The scientists also noted that AHR works in tandem with immune cells to maintain a robust barrier in a cell layer of the lungs. That layer is typically disrupted by infections, giving germs a better chance to thrive.

Researchers say the takeaway message is clear: People may be less likely to maintain a healthy diet when they’re ill. That means they miss out on the beneficial molecules in certain vegetables. It’s always a good idea to eat a mix of kale, cabbage and cruciferous vegetables, but doing so when you’re sick can be particularly beneficial. The findings also shed new light on a gut-lung axis, in which a healthy diet is linked to improved protection against lung infection.

Likewise, it reinforces an important lesson from childhood. Your folks were right: Eat your vegetables.

 

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