Increasing air pollution is the leading cause of asthma, but diet and lifestyle too are beginning to ruin your lungs. Doctors are noticing that processed foods which contain a lot of chemicals are a greater source of allergens.
According to eminent paediatric pulmonologist Dr H Paramesh, imitation of Western lifestyle among children is depriving them of protective organisms. Curds, buttermilk and pickles, which were once part of regular diet, have disappeared from children’s diet depriving them of some protective germs. There’s an increase in the consumption of super-refined oils like margarine. "By Western lifestyle, I mean while butter has protective elements that boost TH1 cells, margarine and other refined oils are inflammatory in nature. American researchers have now understood the value of protective germs found in curds and other foods. We have also found that too much use of paracetemol for a mild fever or cold makes children prone to allergy and wheezing," Paramesh told TOI.
