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While mucus is an essential line of defense against pathogens, excess mucus as a result of allergies, infection from the common cold or flu, or lung diseases like pneumonia which can clog airways and impair a person's ability to breathe.
Some effective ways of keeping mucus under control include keeping the air around you moist such as with a humidifier, drinking plenty of fluids, spitting out excess phlegm, gargling salt water and taking certain medications usually in the category of mucolytics .
There are also foods that act as natural mucolytics and may help eliminate excess mucus by thinning out the mucus and making it easier to expel thus easing a person's respiratory tracts. Here are 5 foods that may help clear out excess mucus as suggested by lifestyle coach, Luke Coutinho.
1. Onion
Onion may help reduce or ease excessive coughing by simply adding a couple of tablespoons of chopped raw onion in your soup, or chili. It has many immune boosting effects in addition to reducing cough including alleviating cold symptoms such as fever or sore throat.
2. Cayenne pepper
Excessive cough and mucus can be eliminated with the help of cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper contains the compound, capscaicin, which helps thin out mucus
3. Ginger
Likewise, you can eliminate excess mucus by drinking ginger tea a few times daily. Ginger eases congestion in the chest by drying excess mucus and promoting the removal of the buildup of mucus. Ginger acts as a natural decongestant and may help in easing allergy symptoms as it is also an antihistamine.
4. Garlic
Garlic can be used as a natural expectorant which helps loosen mucus so you can cough it up. It does this by increasing the water content of mucus which thins it out and aids in breaking down phlegm build-up by making coughs more productive. The anti-microbial properties of garlic can help in fighting viral, fungal and bacterial infections which causes respiratory glands to produce more phlegm. Including more garlic in your diet can help in eliminating excess phlegm from the body.
5. Pineapple
Finally, pineapple is known to have mucolytic properties that will expel and breakup mucus. Specifically, pineapple juice contains a mixture of enzymes called bromelain. Bromelain has strong anti-inflammatory properties which can help treat respiratory problems that are associated with asthma and allergies.
Check out a few of our delicious recipes that contain these immune boosting ingredients.
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