NIH Radio
Understanding the Role of Diet in Respiratory Diseases
Brief Description:
If you're on a meaty, starchy, and salty diet then you're at a higher risk for developing respiratory symptoms, according to a study supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Transcript:
Akinso: If you're on a meaty, starchy, and salty diet then you're at a higher risk for developing respiratory symptoms, according to a study supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Researchers found that individuals whose diets are rich in meat, refined starches, and sodium are nearly one-and-a-half times more likely to report new onsets of persistent coughing with phlegm than those who consume a diet high in fruit and soy. Dr. Stephanie London, lead investigator of the study, says understanding the role that a diet plays in the incidence and development of chronic respiratory symptoms will lead to better prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases.
London: Although smoking is absolutely the major risk factor for chronic respiratory symptoms and illness, these data provided additional support for the idea that diet may play a role in both good ways — things like fiber intake — and in bad ways.
Akinso: Dr. London said the data shows the important contribution that diet can have on the development of diseases. This is Wally Akinso at the National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland.
About This Audio Report
Date: 11/23/2005
Reporter: Wally Akinso
Sound Bite: Dr. Stephanie London
Topic: Diet, Respiratory Disease
Institute(s): NIEHS
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