Hello,
I would like to ask, regarding fruit, you mentioned that an increased amount of citrus can cause mucus formation. In traditional remedies, water with lemon is used to reduce mucus, so in the short term, could it help after all? I would appreciate a brief explanation of the process by which milk causes mucus formation (dairy products are commonly recommended to be avoided during illnesses due to mucus formation).

This issue needs to be approached holistically, meaning that the effect of food on mucus production should not be generalized in the sense of "I eat a particular food and the result is excessive mucus production."

Firstly, it is important to distinguish which part of the organism we are talking about when addressing the impact of food on mucus production. Some substances in foods directly increase mucus production in the respiratory tract mucosa, others in the digestive system, and still others in the excretory system.

It is also necessary to consider the health situation - in a healthy individual, the extent of the effect will be significantly smaller than in cases of health/metabolic disorders.

Furthermore, environmental temperature and the quantity of food consumed also play a role. A typical example is water with lemon/lime, where organic acids from the citrus temporarily increase the activity of mucus-producing cells after consumption. Given that the amount of lemon/lime juice is very small compared to consuming the whole fruit, the response of the cells in terms of overall mucus production is correspondingly small. This means a smaller reaction results in lower production, which facilitates easier expectoration while the lower pH of the fluid helps dissolve the mucus.

Milk/dairy products work somewhat differently - in healthy individuals, they do not affect respiratory tract mucus production. However, in cases of lactose intolerance, they can indirectly support the formation of mucus in the intestinal mucosa and worsen the existing mucus condition in upper respiratory tract inflammations.

Themes:  Fruit   Citrus fruits