Smoky Skies – Air Quality Has You Worried? Follow These Tips to Feel Better Now
The combination of summer heat and nearby forest fires is having a huge impact of air quality right now. The Pacific Northwest is affected this week but so are a ton of other places throughout the world. We can support our health and well-being with a wholesome diet and an inspired lifestyle, but what happens when we can’t control the quality of the air we breathe? Obviously we can do more to sustain the earth, but when you’re faced with hazy, smoky air that lasts for days on end, what are your options to feel better now? Read on for tips on dealing with poor air quality that will bring you instant relief.
Load Up on Water
Drinking lots of water will help flush out toxins and keep your system running smoothly. When you’re faced with a challenge like poor air quality, amping up your water consumption is essential. Aim for about two liters a day, depending on your diet and activity level – on some days you might want to drink even more than that. But don’t drink it all at once! A lot of people make the mistake of guzzling down a whole bottle of water in one sitting, but that won’t help. Why? Because you need a steady supply throughout the day to keep your system well balanced.
What you need: Keep a water bottle with you and don’t leave the house without it! Refill as needed.
Expert tip: Add a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of sea salt to support the kidneys and add more nutrients.
Rest
The worst thing you can do on bad air days is exerting yourself. According to the Journal of Thoracic Disease, reducing exertion directly affects the amount of pollutants that are inhaled and absorbed into your body. Even moderate exercise can increase absorption of toxins by over 5X, compared with resting. So seriously guys, it’s time to take it easy and relax. That book you’ve been planning to read? It’s time to dive into it! You might be thinking: “But exercise is so good for you!” And it’s true. But here’s what you need to do: exercise regularly on days when the air quality is good.
Expert tip: Go to bed earlier – sleeping longer will help to process toxins and restore balance faster. Also, dive into the sheer joy of afternoon naps (zzz…)
Up Your Nutrient Intake
Nutrient rich foods are your best friends when air quality is low. Less-than-healthy foods are OK sometimes, but when you’re dealing with toxic air, you need to seriously revamp your meals. Leafy greens are in, along with fresh, colorful, and antioxidant packed berries, and inflammation fighting spices like turmeric and ginger. Load up on veggies, whole grains, juicy fruits, and healing herbal teas.
Expert tip: Fresh juices are a great way to get tons of nutrients into your system fast. Think green juices with kale, celery, cucumber, along with fresh lemon juice and ginger root
Try Daily Detox Baths
Soaking in a therapeutic, detoxifying bath can do wonders to support your body when air quality is poor. Your skin is your biggest organ and being submerged in a bath is a great way to draw toxins out, and replenish your system with important nutrients. That’s why it’s essential to choose your soak well. The last thing you want is to soak in a toxic soup of chemical ingredients and artificial fragrances, so your typical bubble bath isn’t up to the task. Try adding a few cups of steeped herbal tea to your bath, or a handful of unrefined sea salt.
Expert tip: Add 2-3 tablespoons of Seaflora Soothing Sea Kelp Soak to your bath and soak for at least 20 minutes. It’s just the best soak you can find. Here’s why: made with Pacific sea salts and wild seaweeds, this therapeutic soak will draw out toxins, balance pH levels, increase circulation, support nutrient absorption, and supply important electrolytes.
Repeat once or twice a day, every day, for better results
It’s difficult to deal with challenges like low air quality. It’s a reminder for all of us to change our habits and do more to support the earth so we can have clean air and pure water. In the meantime, you can nurture your health and well-being with these tips to feel better, today.