Eating fruit could slash effects of air pollution on the lungs, study finds

We’ve all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away — well it turns out that might actually be true.

That’s because new research suggests eating more fruit could reduce the impact of air pollution on the lungs.

This could be due to the antioxidants present in fruit, scientists reckon.

The beneficial effects were most noticeable in woman who ate four or more portions of fruit a day.

Researchers at the University of Leicester made the discovery by looking at the UK Biobank, which has half a million volunteers who provide information about their health. The team compared their diets, including their intake of fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, with their lung function -the amount of air exhaled in one second.

The scientists found that for every rise in air pollution, from tiny par