Proper respiratory function depends upon adequate nutritional intake. The nutrients you take in will support respiratory function on several fronts, from energy production to maintenance of cell membranes, to fluid balance. When you breathe through your mouth, you release large amounts of fluid for which you body has to compensate. Adequate mineral intake helps your body perform this function. Minerals are inorganic substances that primarily regulate body processes.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays several roles in respiratory function. At the most basic level, this mineral supports cellular energy production so that the lungs and throat can function normally. The energy allows the cells to thrive and resist infection. Magnesium intake can also have a direct impact on asthma relief. This mineral can help relieve spasms of the bronchial tubes that cause asthma attacks. It also reduces the actions of histamine. Histamine is a substance released by cells in response to an allergen. It causes muscles to contract, narrowing airways. Magnesium helps prevent this reaction by reducing the body's response.
Potassium
Potassium supports healthy respiratory system function through its actions in several body processes, including nervous system function, muscle contraction and energy production. Potassium helps to maintain the electrochemical environment of cells for nerve cell transmission. Its presence maintains the integrity of the internal environment of cells, whether they are found within the lungs or lining the throat.
Calcium
Similar to magnesium, calcium helps to control the smooth muscle contraction of bronchial tubes. Smooth muscle is a type of tissue found in involuntary muscles such as found within body organs and blood vessels. Like magnesium, it also functions in energy production. Another interesting link exists. A 2002 study by the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine in the United Kingdom found a relationship between respiratory function and bone mineral density. Women with poor respiratory function had double the incidence of low bone density, a risk factor for osteoporosis. Bone density depends upon calcium and magnesium intake.
Selenium
Unlike the other minerals, selenium is considered a trace mineral, meaning that only very small quantities are required by the body. The small recommend allowance, however, does not diminish its importance. Selenium is a power antioxidant that can alleviate the damage caused by free radicals produced during chemical reactions in the body. Exposure to contaminants such as pesticides and cigarette smoke can also cause free radical damage. Its antioxidant properties provide protection to the lungs and throat from exposure to disease-causing agents.
References
- "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology"; G. Tortora et al; 2005
- Linus Pauling Institute; Potassium; Jane Higdon; February 2004
- Practical Asthma Review: The Role of Calcium and Magnesium in Asthma
- "Osteoporosis International"; An Association between Respiratory Function and Bone Mineral Density in Women from the General Community: A Cross Sectional Study; S. Lekamwasam, et al.; September 2002
- Mayo Clinic; Food Sources the Best Choice for Antioxidants; June 5, 2009
