Among ten heavy smokers, nine suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eating more soy products is greatly beneficial to lung function.
Recent research by Japanese and Australian scientists has found that for smokers, a high intake of soy products can mitigate the damage cigarettes cause to the lungs, lower the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and thus alleviate respiratory symptoms such as coughing.
The researchers believe that the abundant flavonoids in soy products have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can slow down inflammatory conditions in the lungs. However, further research is needed to confirm the underlying biological mechanisms.
Common soy products we often encounter in our daily lives include tofu, dried tofu, bean sprouts, and soy milk. Heavy smokers can moderately increase their consumption of these.