You' ll be pleased to hear that there are many nutritional ways of helping to reduce the symptoms of emphysema. An important mineral in the body, which also counteracts the harmful effects of cadmium, is zinc, so start by taking 15mg of that a day. To help reduce inflammation, it' s best to take a good antioxidant blend that contains vitamins A, C and E, as well as other powerful nutrients such as lipoic acid or glutathione. A powerful natural anti-inflammatory is found in fish oils; look for the ones containing the omega-3 essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. Vitamin A plays an important role in the lungs, and is found abundantly in cod liver oil. So you can kill two birds withone stone by supplementing a cod liver oil supplement that is high in both the omega-3s and vitamin A. Many people with congestion in the lungs find that avoiding dairy products can help, as this will reduce mucus production. Try giving up milk and milk products for three to four weeks and see if that makes any difference for you.