3 Natural Ways to Detoxify After Exposure to Poor Air Quality
If you or someone you know has been exposed to poor air quality from the LA Wild Fires or something similar, please share this blog post with them.
During times like these, it’s essential to come together as a community and, when you can, prioritize your health.
Here are some simple steps you can take to support your body’s natural detoxification systems when exposed to poor air quality.
#1: Take a deep breath (through your nose, if possible)
Honestly, it doesn’t feel right to recommend anything until you're in a place where you can feel safe to take a moment for yourself. This is most important. Prioritize yourself, your family, and your loved ones first.
One thing that's proven to help calm the nervous system, detoxify, and improve your health? Slow, deep breathing. This simple act can help calm your nervous system, even amidst chaos.
Bonus: Breathing through your nose helps to filter polluted air. Additionally, it boosts nitric oxide production, which acts as an antioxidant, opens your airways, improves circulation, and delivers oxygen to your brain and body.
#2: Drink water (with electrolytes)
Water is a fundamental part of your body’s natural detoxification process. Proper hydration flushes toxins, supports cellular function and circulation and helps every organ in your body filter out toxins better.
Water with salt + lemon (vitamin C)
Coconut water (electrolytes)
Milk (contains water, electrolytes, protein, and carbs)
Beet juice (also high in nitric oxide)
#3: Eat to Support Lung Health & Detoxification (food as medicine)
Here are some foods that naturally support detoxification and lung health.
Antioxidant-rich foods. These foods contain anthocyanins, which help reduce oxidative stress in lung tissue and support overall cellular health.
Blueberries
Strawberries
Blackberries
Cruciferous vegetables. Packed with sulforaphane, these vegetables enhance detox enzymes and protect lung cells.
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Kale
Cauliflower
Omega-3s. These anti-inflammatory fats help reduce airway inflammation, making them crucial for lung health.
Salmon
Mackerel
Sardines
Chia seeds
Flaxseeds
Vitamin C-rich foods. Helps reduce oxidative stress and supports immune health, which is particularly important during times of environmental and mental stress.
Oranges
Pomegranates
Grapefruit
Clementines
Tangerines
Mandarins
Lemons
Limes
Kiwi
Bell peppers
Foods high in NAC precursors. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a precursor to glutathione, our master antioxidant. These foods are rich in cysteine, which supports glutathione production.
Eggs
Chicken
Turkey
Beef
Pork
Yogurt
Cheese
Sunflower seeds
Legumes
Selenium-rich foods. Selenium is a key co-factor that powers glutathione.
Salmon
Sardines
Brazil nuts
Quercetin-rich foods. Quercetin contains allicin, which fights airway inflammation and supports respiratory health.
Garlic
Onions
Apples
Grapes
Cherries
Herbal teas. Herbal teas are rich in catechins, antioxidants that protect lung cells from oxidative damage.
Green tea
Peppermint tea
Licorice root tea
Echinacea
Ginger tea
Nettle tea
Herbs and spices. These powerful antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress and support overall lung function.
Turmeric
Thyme
Sage
Rosemary
Basil
Parsley
Fiber-rich foods. Fiber supports gut health, which in turn plays a key role in reducing inflammation. These foods also help produce butyrate, a beneficial gut metabolite.
Artichokes
Legumes
Pears
Beets
Whole grains
Nuts & seeds
Pumpkin
Fermented foods. Fermented foods promote healthy gut flora, which supports overall immune health.
Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Kombucha
Kefir
