In recent weeks, wildfires have devastated parts of Northern California, killing at least 42 people, incinerating entire neighborhoods and sending thousands fleeing. I live on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, and for a few days last week, as gray ash rained down on my doorstep, and the sun was tinged an apocalyptic red, air quality was deemed worse than Beijing’s. The fires are now better contained, but this week large swaths of Northern California contended with enough smoke that, for a few days, children were kept inside during recess.
The best way to protect oneself from pollution like this is obviously to avoid inhaling it at all. But if avoidance is impossible, there may be another option: Eat a more healthful diet. A small but growing body of research suggests that Mediterranean-like fare — lots of fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains and nuts — may protect the body against the ravages of air pollution.
