Researchers studied over 10,000 Korean adults to see if eating certain foods could help protect their lungs. They found that people who ate more vegetables had better lung function and were less likely to develop a serious lung disease called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The study also showed that eating a variety of foods—vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish together—was even more protective. People who ate this balanced diet had about 26% lower chances of developing COPD compared to those who didn’t eat this way. The findings suggest that what you eat really does matter for keeping your lungs healthy as you get older.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating different combinations of vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish affects how well people’s lungs work and whether they develop COPD, a serious breathing disease.
  • Who participated: Over 10,000 Korean adults who were 40 years old or older. Researchers looked at their eating habits and lung health using national health survey data collected between 2016 and 2018.
  • Key finding: People who ate more vegetables had noticeably better lung function. Those who ate a balanced mix of vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish had about 26% lower risk of developing COPD compared to people who didn’t eat this way.
  • What it means for you: Eating more vegetables and maintaining a balanced diet with different food groups may help keep your lungs healthier as you age. This is especially important if you’re concerned about lung disease. However, diet alone isn’t a cure—it’s one piece of the puzzle for lung health.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at a large group of people at one point in time and compared their eating habits to their lung health. They used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is like a giant health checkup program that tracks what thousands of people eat and how healthy they are.

Researchers asked people about their diet and then tested their lung function using special breathing tests. They measured how much air people could breathe in and out, and how fast they could breathe out. They also checked whether people had been diagnosed with COPD.

The researchers looked at four main food groups: vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish. They examined how much of each food people ate and whether eating more of these foods was connected to better lung health.

This type of study is useful because it looks at real people in real life, not just in a lab. By studying a large, representative group of Korean adults, the results are more likely to reflect what actually happens in the general population. The researchers also measured actual lung function with breathing tests rather than just asking people if they felt healthy.

This study used data from an official national health survey, which means the information was collected carefully and consistently. The large sample size (over 10,000 people) makes the results more reliable. However, because this is a cross-sectional study, it shows that diet and lung health are connected, but it doesn’t prove that diet causes better lung health—other factors could be involved. The study was done in Korea, so results might be slightly different in other countries with different diets and populations.

What the Results Show

The most important finding was that eating more vegetables was strongly linked to better lung function. People who ate more vegetables had better scores on multiple lung tests, including how much air they could breathe in and out, and how fast they could breathe out.

When researchers looked at eating a balanced combination of all four food groups (vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish), they found something even more interesting: people who ate this balanced diet had about 26% lower chances of having COPD compared to people who didn’t eat this way. This is a meaningful difference.

The researchers also looked at something called the dietary inflammatory index, which measures whether a diet causes inflammation in the body. People without COPD had lower inflammatory scores, meaning their diets were less likely to cause inflammation. This suggests that eating foods that reduce inflammation in the body may help protect the lungs.

The study found that the benefits weren’t just from one food—it was the combination that mattered most. While vegetables alone were helpful, eating vegetables along with fruits, meat, and fish together provided even better protection. This suggests that eating a varied diet with different types of foods is important for lung health.

Previous research has suggested that diet affects lung health, but this study is one of the first to look at how a combination of different foods works together in a large group of Korean adults. The findings support what other studies have shown: that anti-inflammatory foods are good for your lungs. This study adds to that knowledge by showing that the combination of multiple food groups may be especially protective.

This study shows that diet and lung health are connected, but it doesn’t prove that eating more vegetables causes better lung health. People who eat more vegetables might also exercise more or have other healthy habits that help their lungs. The study was done in Korea, so the results might be different in other countries where people eat different foods. The study also didn’t look at how much of each food people needed to eat to see benefits, so we don’t know the exact amounts that help the most.

The Bottom Line

Eat more vegetables as part of your daily diet (moderate confidence). Include a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish in your meals (moderate confidence). Focus on eating foods that reduce inflammation in your body, like vegetables and fruits (moderate confidence). These recommendations are especially important if you’re over 40 or concerned about lung health.

This research is most relevant for adults over 40 who want to protect their lung health. It’s especially important for people with a family history of lung disease, former or current smokers, or anyone concerned about COPD. People of all ages can benefit from eating more vegetables, but this study specifically looked at older adults. If you already have COPD or other lung disease, talk to your doctor before making major diet changes.

Lung health improvements from diet changes typically take weeks to months to notice. You might feel small improvements in breathing or energy within a few weeks, but significant improvements in lung function tests could take several months of consistent healthy eating. The protective effects against developing COPD happen over years of maintaining a healthy diet.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily vegetable servings (aim for 3-5 servings per day) and note any changes in breathing ease or energy levels weekly. Also track whether you’re eating a balanced diet with all four food groups (vegetables, fruits, meat/protein, and fish).
  • Set a goal to add one extra vegetable serving to your meals each day. Use the app to plan meals that include vegetables, fruits, and fish. Create reminders to eat a variety of foods rather than the same meals repeatedly.
  • Use the app to log meals and track vegetable intake over 8-12 weeks. Monitor subjective breathing ease or exercise tolerance monthly. If possible, compare lung function test results from your doctor over time while maintaining the dietary changes.

This research suggests an association between diet and lung health but does not prove that diet alone prevents or treats COPD. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace medical advice from your doctor. If you have COPD, lung disease, or breathing problems, consult your healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes. People with certain medical conditions or taking specific medications should discuss dietary changes with their doctor or a registered dietitian before making major changes to their eating habits.