Asthma and Allergies and the Benefits of Fruits, Vegetables and Mediterranean Diet

Research on Atopy in Crete

Atopy is a popular health problem on the Greek island of Crete, which is situated in the Eastern Mediterranean. Research on children at the site, however, discovered that symptoms associated with the disorder, such as Rhinitis and wheezing, are uncommon. It's a perplexing discovery. As a result, testing was carried out to ascertain the true origin of the suppressed symptoms.

Impact of Diet on Atopic Symptoms

A critical examination of the food patterns of people in the area revealed that including a Mediterranean diet, fresh fruits, and vegetables in the menu protects the body from respiratory diseases (Chatzi, et al., 2007). The study involved a total of 857 children whose ages ranged between 7 and 18 years. Four rural locations were chosen in the 2001 research. Before the test was conducted, the children passed through a series of tests to determine their current and previous health history that relates to atopy and other respiratory and allergic conditions. Those children who had a blocked or a runny nose in the last 12 months were considered to have rhinitis and the same time frame was also used for wheezing. The analysis of the data was done by SPSS 13.0 while the categorical variables applied Pearson’s test in their investigation (Chatzi, et al., 2007).

Effects of Grape Consumption

The daily intake of grapes reduced the effects of wheezing. Also, the consumption of either vegetables or fruits did not have a concrete relationship with the atopic sensation that lacked the wheezing sound. Additionally, allergic rhinitis showed an inverse relationship with the daily consumption of grapes, oranges, and kiwi. However, other fruits and vegetables had no direct connection with allergic rhinitis (Chatzi, et al., 2007).

The Role of Diet in Reducing Atopic Symptoms

In conclusion, the consumption of high amounts of fruits, vegetable and the Mediterranean diet results in the reduction of rhinitis and wheezing. The children who followed a strict Mediterranean diet were able to protect themselves from asthma-like symptoms, rhinitis, and atopy.

References

Chatzi, L., Apostolaki, G., Bibakis, L., Skypala, I., Bibaki-Liakou, V., Tzanakis, N., . . . Cullinan, P. (2007, January 11). Protective effects of fruits,vegetables and the Mediterranean diet on asthma and allergies among children in Crete. Asthma. London, United Kingdom.