With the increasing speed at which our lives are now changing, it’s of the utmost importance to prioritize our health.
The respiratory issues that plague so many of us and our loved ones can now have a more severe impact on our lives than ever before.
There are a lot of ways to stay safe and healthy during a health crisis. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will hopefully help to keep spirits up and health improving for all.
Yes, it's easier said than done. Smoking can have severe effects on your lungs and their ability to fight off infection and to clear bacteria. Secondhand smoke can also have detrimental effects on those who are sharing confined spaces with smokers. The young, elderly, and immunocompromised are most at risk. It’s a good idea for everyone to avoid the dangers associated with exposure to smoke of any kind though.
For resources on how to quit or help a loved one quit, click here.
Again, another task that may be easier said than done. A good sign that produce is rich in antioxidants is a deep color, i.e. blueberries, kale, blackberries, beets.
With all of the fresh produce that’s vibrantly colored not falling into the category of non-perishable (aside from frozen), it’s harder to keep up on a diet that’s rich in all of the good stuff but beats and greens can be purchased frozen with little to no loss in the nutritional value. Adding citrus like lemon to your diet or drinks has shown to help with breathing difficulties.
For many of us who are cooped up indoors and still in the cold/rainy weather season, it may not be an option to go outside for a jog or a hike. There are plenty of at home and online options available that can help to ward off boredom and keep our bodies active and healthy. Some good online exercise options that require very few props or experience are yoga, barre, or even good old fashioned push ups, sit ups can be beneficial.
A walk around the block or doing some stair climbing at home can also help to increase your heart rate and improve cardiovascular functioning. It doesn’t take much time exercising to reap the benefits either. Just 30 minutes of active movement a day has been shown to significantly increase lung function and immune response.
Indoor air quality is most often worse than outdoor air quality, but when being indoors is unavoidable there are a few things that can help improve it. There are many contributing factors that could negatively impact air quality in your home. Smoking is one of the top indoor air pollutants. Pet hair and dander are also pesky and bothersome to many people with asthma or other breathing issues. Another hidden culprit in the attack on clean air is mold or mildew. These two are similar and both potentially quite harmful for overall health, and especially the lungs when inhaled.
A first step in improving air quality in your home would be to clean all areas that could be housing mold, mildew, or pet dander. House cleaning is another great way to get a bit of exercise. Check out this article on how to make a DIY all natural home cleaning spray.
Home air purifiers and air cleaning plants are also a great way to make sure that your home is filled with clean air. We recommend using one or more lung supporting essential oils in your home diffuser to improve lung function, oils like tea tree have even been shown to kill airborne bacteria.
Plants are wonderful for cleaning the air and our bodies as well. For centuries plants have been used to treat everything from skin inflammation to more serious uses like malaria prevention.
Improving lung function, reducing anxiety, clearing air passageways, and strengthening the immune system are just a few of the ways that plant based healing has helped cure illness throughout history.
Diffusing plant-based essential oils is a great way to harness the protective/preventative elements that plants can offer.
Don’t forget that there are many other ways that you can stay healthy and for the best results, it’s a good idea to follow guidelines that help keep everyone safe. For more information and updates on health and safety protocol, click here.
