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Foods have more direct impact on the sinuses and the mucus they produce than most people realize. Sinus sufferers would do well to know some basic facts about the effect of common foods on the sinuses.

Best Fruit for Sinuses
Take, for example, pineapple. Studies have shown that it is a boon for those suffering from asthma and sinus disorders. Bromelain, the key element found in fresh pineapple, has anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce the swelling in air passages, making breathing easier and helping the elimination of clear, green or yellow mucus. It can also aid healing for those suffering from sinus pressure, pneumonia and bronchitis; besides having an enzyme that can break down proteins. On the other hand sinus sufferers shoud avoid certain foods. Very valuable information on this subject appears in the publcation offered, below:

Citrus fruits such as grapefruits, lemons, oranges, with their abundant supply of vitamin C, can help diminish the symptoms of colds and allergies. Isthe mucus or phlegm very thick? Try squeezing a lemon into a cup of hot water and drink it while still warm. It will loosen the thick stuff in your air passages and make breathing easier. Try expectorating and coughing out the mucus, rather than swallowing it and re-cycling all those germs back in.

Mucus and the Food Factor
So called "good mucus" is produced to help the organs of the respiratory apparatus to carry on their work. It is being produced all the time by the membranes lining the sinus and nasal cavities. But when it becomes annoying and excessive, it often is a sign of a disorder. Then this excessive mucus can irritate the sinus cavity and nasal cavity and cause infection in those organs' membranes. Often, also, some environmental elements such as: pollen, house dust, smog, smoke, etc can be addressed by the immune systems as invaders that it must protect against using histamine--a clear, watery mucus like substance that is intended to wash off those invaders. Unknown to many is that some foods can impact mucus production and make worse--or cause--excessive mucus production. One common sense approach to this problem is to test food, empirically--by actual experience. Just eat certain foods suspected and evaluate the potential reactions on your sinus and other respiratory organs. It should be recognized that there is some debate as to whether foods can cause mucus problems.

We have no question about it, since we have empirically proved it. In fact we believe that some foods can produce sinus mucus, pressure, drainage, etc. Thus it is important to learn what are the foods which could be, at least, partly responsible for sinus issues. In other words, find out to what extent they could be affecting your excessive mucus production and be at least partially responsible for those problems already mentioned. 3 Quick Steps to Sinus and Mucus Freedom , discuses this item in detail and offers specific suggestions. Become well acquainted with this subject, since food choice could potentially be both a very significant aspect of both cause and healing for your sinus issues. And yet it could be presently ignored. Some people haave solved their sinus miseries by just changing some foods. I would go as far as saying that unless the food factor is directly addressed other therapeutic steps alone may not be sufficient to bring the permanent solution sought.

As the old adage states: "The best cure is prevention", and if a person were to abstain, as much as possible, from potential mucus producing foods that could possibly be the best mucus healing step one could take. Again, this is thoroughly discussed in the publication offered. Please, click.

We believe that practical experimentation and observation has its place in healing, so long as a person realizes that not everyone reacts to foods and medication the same way. Wrong choice of foods impacts our health and well being more than perhaps most of us is aware of. This is particularly true when it comes to sinus and mucus issues. Thus, here are several lists of foods and how they can relate to those two issues:

Mucus Foods -- Mucus Producing Foods:

• Food containing additives
• Eggs
  • when eaten regularly
  • it varies from person to person
• Omega-6 fatty acids containing foods
• Refined vegetable oils
  • safflower
  • sunflower
  • corn oil
  • sesame
• Saturated fats and trans fats
  • high fat meats
  • dairy products
  • deep-fried foods
• Fermented foods
  • cheese
  • sour kraut
  • wine
  • beer, etc.
• Foods containing sugar in significant amounts
  • soft drinks
  • desserts
  • ice cream
  • cold breakfast cereals with sugar
• Cow's milk--possibly one of the worst
• Refined carbohydrates
  • white bread
  • white rice
  • pastas
• Possible mucus producing
  • soy in its various forms
  • potatoes
  • cabbage
  • bananas
  • too much salt
  • meats

Foods Which Are Not Considered to Be Mucus Stimulants
These are the foods not only friendly to people with mucus issues, but better foods all around

• Fruits
  • pineapples
  • lemons and limes
  • grapefruits
    • has cleansing properties
    • promotes general health
  • avocados
  • apples
  • pears
  • apricots
  • peaches
• Fresh vegetables
  • carrots
  • lettuces
  • turnips
  • water cress, etc.
• Coconut water
  • it has much potassium
  • it is credited with bodily cleansing properties

Foods Which Can Help Clear the Sinuses

• Fresh fruits
• Pineapple
  • it has cleansing properties
  • bromelain is its active medicinal ingredient
• Vegetables
  • cruciferous are known for their cleansing and medicinal properties
  • many different vegetables are needed daily for a balanced diet
• Garlic
  • deemed to be a "miracle herb"
  • called nature's "antibiotic"
  • deemed to have anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties
  • the list of remedial benefits is long
  • thousands of scientific research attest the validity of many claims
• Onions
• Chiles
  • together with other hot spices it clears the and sinuses breathing passages
  • it's inexpensive and readily available
• Ginger
• Cayenne pepper containing spices - see under "chiles", above

Foods Which Can Help the Healing of Sinus Issues

• Non-mucus forming foods:
  • fruits
    • fresh
    • cooked
  • green-leaf vegetables
  • nuts
    • they should not over used
    • most of them are acid forming
• Fruits
  • pineapples
    • it has bromelain
    • it contains other medicinal properties
    • it has cleansing properties
  • lemons and limes
  • grapefruits
    • has cleansing properties
    • promotes general health
  • avocados
    • promotes general health
    • helps the body cope better with sinus mucus
    • it has been called the body's lubricant
• Fresh green-leaf vegetables
  • swiss chad
  • lettuces
  • spinach
  • celery, etc.
• Nuts
  • almonds, especially
    • non-acid forming
    • it is considered by some to have cancer preventing properties
  • filberts
  • pecans
  • walnuts
  • pistachios, etc
• Spicy foods
  • their decongestant properties help prevent sinus mucus accumulation and pressure
    • peppers
      • cayenne
      • jalapenos, etc.
    • other "hot" peppers
  • they should be used with moderation
• Garlic
  • allicin is its active medicinal element
  • it has been called "nature's antibiotic"
  • it can help prevent and relieve sinus infection
• Coconut water
  • it has much potassium
  • it is credited with bodily cleansing properties

Snot and Food
There is hardly any question about the connection between snot and food. Empirical evidence strongly suggests the significant influence of foods on the production, clearing and healing of snot.

Foods Which Can Produce Snot

• Foods containing chemical additives
• Eggs
• Fermented foods
  • cheese
  • wine, etc
  • beer
  • vinegar
• Sweet foods
  • pastries
  • desserts
  • ice cream
  • sugary breakfast cereals
  • soda pops
• Cow's milk
• Refined flours and grains
  • white bread
  • white rice
  • pastas
    • macaroni
    • spaghetti
    • ravioli, etc
  • refined grains and legumes

People with snot problems should avoid, as much as possible, the above foods.

Nasal Cavity and Upper Respiratory Tract
a - vertebrae, b - esophagus, c - trachea
d - cricoid cartilage, e - laryngopharynx, f -
pharynx, g - nasopharynx, k - tongue,
l - hard palate, o - superior turbinate,
p - middle turbinate, q - inferior turbinate

Vegetables and Mucus
The powerful immunity boosting and elimination enhancing properties of fresh green and other vegetables, for example: green beans, asparagus, onions, cauliflower, etc., attests to the wonderful defense against mucus and allergy symptoms which fresh vegetables can offer. Others, like garlic, contain a long list of clinically proven healing and preventive properties. Garlic has been called "nature's antibiotic." Here are some of the health blessings of this lowly, inexpensive bulb we call garlic:

• antibacterial
• anti inflammatory
• anticancer
• antioxidant
• cardiovascular enhancer
• lowers blood pressure
• antiviral
• helps regulate cholesterol levels
• antihero
• stimulation of fibrinolysis
• inhibitor of platelet aggregation
• digestion enhancer

The active ingredient in garlic is allicin. For the latter to be made available garlic must be crushed or minced.Warm vegetable soups are good since its warmth helps loose and remove mucus from the body. Such spices as hot peppers, garlic, pepper and other spices create a warmth that is likewise beneficial to the respiratory organs.

Mucus Foods
This is a partial summary list of foods that people with excessive mucus issues and allergies should avoid:

• fermented foods
• chocolate
• refined grain flowers
• sugar
• starchy foods in substantial quantities
• canned foods
• cow's milk

It is obvious that smoking will tend to exacerbate any ailment affecting the breathing organs: allergies, excessive mucus, bronchitis, drainage, sinus pressure, etc.

Based on the above considerations it would be safe to say that food is perhaps the key preventive and healing factor when it comes to mucus production issues of the sinus or nasal cavities or any other breathing organ.