Fruit and Vegetable Diet Likely To Prevent Asthma

Scientists noticed that there is a difference in the incidence of respiratory conditions in children around the world, so they decided to why children in some parts of Europe, like UK, get asthma while others, in places like Crete, do not.

UK, Greek and Spanish researchers decided to assess dietary habits of 700 children living in rural areas of Crete. Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea.

The researchers realized that children who ate lots of fruits and vegetables were less likely to suffer from allergies and asthma. Eighty percent of children from Mediterranean countries ate fresh fruits and sixty percent fresh vegetables at least two times a day. Eating oranges, apples, tomatoes and grapes each day has been shown to have protective effects against wheezing and allergic rhinitis.

The study is adding to existing evidence that Mediterranean diet with lots of fruits and vegetables could help prevent or control asthma symptoms.