Children who consume a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit and vegetables can ward off asthma as well as respiratory allergies, a new study by UK, Greek and Spanish researchers has found. The details appear in the journal Thorax.
The study carried out on the island of Crete assessed the health of 700 children living there. Researchers at the University of Crete, Venezelio General Hospital, in Crete, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, in Barcelona and the National Heart and Lung Institute in the UK said the study was evidence that diet can help control asthma.
During the study the researchers examined the kids for signs of wheezing, and allergic rhinitis, which is caused by dust and pet allergy. Parents of the children were questioned as regards their diet.
They found that 80 percent of children ate fresh fruit at least twice daily. Some two-thirds also consumed fresh vegetables at least two times per day. On Crete skin allergies were common, meaning the children were exposed to dust mite and reacted accordingly.
However these allergies did not affect the respiratory system prompting researchers to conclude that a diet rich in vegetables and fruit helps in warding off asthma.
"It may be that diet is an important link in translating skin test responses to actual allergies," said Dr Paul Cullinan, of the Royal Brompton Hospital and National Heart and Lung Institute. "The message of the study is that foods with high antioxidant levels are good for you."
The researchers said consuming oranges, apples, tomatoes and grapes conferred a protective effect against asthma. They added that red grape skin is rich in anti-oxidants and this may explain why the children were protected against wheezing and allergic rhinitis.
