I thought we were getting away without any smoke days this year. With COVID the air quality seemed to have improved and we were having a great summer weather wise and then the smoke came in.

So here are some suggestions to help you through these smoky days

Minimize your exposure to other toxins.

· Eat an anti-inflammatory diet

· Use a HEPA filter in your home to clean the air

· Wear a mask when you are outside

· Avoid smoking ALL substances

Optimize your anti-oxidant consumption

· Eat brightly coloured local fruit and vegetables

o Yellow and Orange—Turmeric, ginger, squash, carrot—these have Vitamin A and Beta carotene

o Greens—kale, chard spinach, beet greens—the same ones I’m always nagging you about

o Purple and blue – beets, berries, eggplant

· Avoid dairy and sugar—both create mucous

· Hydrate, hydrate, and then hydrate – you want to keep the lungs moist

Take

· NAC – thins the mucous

· Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc, Selenium, Quercitin—all are anti-oxidants

Botanicals

· Kitchen Herbs – ginger, turmeric, anise, licorice, mint and thyme

· Yerba Santa – helps breathing and clears debris from the lungs

· Wild cherry, coltsfoot, elecampane – all help protect the lungs, are anti-inflammatory, and help clear debris from the lungs

· Althea, mullein, propolis, and slippery elm – all are soothing and help to heal the lungs

Take care of yourself and keep smiling……..