Air Pollution: Is The Air You’re Breathing Putting Your Health At Risk?
Every week, I meet young kids, middle-aged men or women and even the elderly struggling with unexplained fatigue, breathlessness, low immunity, frequent allergies, sinusitis, asthma, lung scarring, or anxiety—and more often than not, the root isn’t just diet or stress. It’s the air we’re breathing. Across India, our lungs are silently absorbing the consequences of unchecked pollution. Delhi. Lucknow. Ahmedabad. Mumbai. Gurugram. Bangalore. These aren’t just names on an AQI list—they represent millions affected by a growing health burden.
This is no longer a seasonal concern or a metro-city problem. It’s a national issue. The right to clean air isn’t a luxury—it’s fundamental. And yet, it’s slipping through our fingers. This piece isn’t meant to alarm, but to create awareness. Because when we understand the full impact, we’re in a better position to protect our families, influence change, and demand what should have always been ours: the right to breathe clean air.
State of our air
Air pollution is no longer an invisible threat—it’s well-documented, deeply researched, and urgently real. According to the World Health Organization, 99% of Indians breathe air that exceeds safe pollution limits. That’s nearly every single one of us.
A recent Lancet report linked 1.67 million annual deaths in India to air pollution. Yet, we still see children playing in smog-filled playgrounds, early morning joggers pushing through haze, and schools staying open as coughs echo through classrooms.
What are we normalising?
We often think of air pollution as a respiratory issue—but the damage runs much deeper.
Long-term exposure to poor air has been linked to:
Heart disease and high blood pressure
Cognitive decline, anxiety, and depression (as shown in multiple Harvard studies)
Weakened immunity, making recovery from even mild illnesses harder
Rising cancer risk, with pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene now present in urban air
Children as young as five showing signs of asthma and lung scarring
The elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with an existing health condition are even more vulnerable.
Let’s be clear: no workout, superfood, or supplement can offset the impact of breathing toxic air every single day.
A fitness tracker might count your steps—but it won’t protect your lungs. Clean air can.
What can we do?
We cannot afford to wait for policy changes from the top. The shift must begin at ground level—right where we live and breathe.
Here’s where we start:
Parents: Speak to schools—ask principals to pause outdoor play during poor air quality days.
Employers: Advocate for better indoor air quality standards at the workplace.
As individuals: Use N95 masks, consider air purifiers, and grow indoor plants like areca palm, aloe vera, and snake plant.
Track pollution levels using AQI apps to plan your day better.
Add air-purifying indoor plants like spider plant, peace lily, areca palm, or snake plant to your living spaces.
Tips to build lung resilience
Sip on Luke’s Magic Lung Tea: Brew with dry ginger, tulsi, cinnamon, pepper, garlic, fennel, ajwain, cumin, cardamom, and oregano. One cup a day—morning or evening.
Use powerful spices daily: Turmeric, garlic, ginger, and black pepper support lung detox, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation.
Deep breathing and breathwork: Pranayama, box breathing, or alternate nostril breathing clean air can strengthen lung capacity over time. Avoid these exercises while being exposed to polluted air as your lungs may absorb less of oxygen and more harmful compounds.
Prioritize Vitamin C and antioxidant-rich foods: Amla, guava, citrus fruits, turmeric, capsicum, and pomegranate naturally support immunity and lung repair.
Stay hydrated: Warm water and herbal infusions help thin mucus and keep airways clear.
Eat lung-nourishing foods: Include beetroot, tulsi leaves, raw honey (in moderation), moringa, and leafy greens.
Avoid skipping sleep: Deep, uninterrupted sleep helps your body recover and reduce oxidative stress from pollution.
Minimize indoor pollutants: Reduce incense sticks, synthetic room fresheners, and scented candles.
Limit smoking and vaping: Both traditional and e-cigarette use worsen lung inflammation and impair natural respiratory healing. And most importantly—don’t stay silent.
Write to your local MLAs, MPs, municipal authorities. Ask them, “What’s being done about the air we breathe?”
Clean air isn’t a luxury—it’s a right. And it starts with us.
What India needs now?
This is a message for every state and central government—this goes beyond Maharashtra.
We don’t need more vanity projects. We need clean air, clean water, and safe food—our most basic human rights. We urge lawmakers, civic bodies, public figures, athletes, and influencers to step up. Use your voice. Push for policy change.
Because this is no longer just an environmental issue—it’s a medical crisis. And a moral one. India needs enforceable emission controls, better waste management, green urban planning, and a strong public health response to pollution. Let’s put breath before buildings.
Final word
We were never meant to fight for air. But until change comes, we must.
Let’s not wait for another “air emergency” to take this seriously. Hatred and anger doesn’t solve anything, only peace and unity can. Speak up. Write to your leaders. Demand better. Across India, people are standing up for change. Our petition for clean air in Mumbai has already gathered over 7,000 voices—and counting.
The future doesn’t lie in passivity—it lies in collective action. Because if we can’t breathe, we can’t live. And if we don’t act—who will?
(Luke Coutinho is an Integrative Lifestyle Expert)
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