'Tis the season to focus on your lungs.

Winter cold keeps us huddled indoors. Winter viruses keep us huddled in bed.

Here are some actions you can take today to support your lungs and respiratory health:

1. Avoid smoke. It used to be watch out for first-hand cigarette smoke (smokers). Then second-hand cigarette smoke (involuntarily inhaling someone’s smoke) was added to the “do not” list. Now there’s third-hand cigarette smoke. That’s when we spend time in a space that had been occupied by people smoking. If you smoke, quit. If you frequent smoky places, stop. If you know a place where smokers have been, choose somewhere else to go. Protect your lungs.

2. Open a window. The fresh air, especially after it’s rained or snowed, will do your lungs, and your whole house, a lot of good.

3. Take a walk. Exercise helps your whole body, especially your lungs. Bundle up and get your body moving.

4. Run air filters. Other than cleaning smelly cooking from the air, it helps with indoor air pollution, including VOCs – that come from your remodeling projects and new furniture.

5. Eat your fruits and vegetables. Apples, blueberries, peppers, pumpkin, yogurt, lentils and beets all support respiratory health.

6. Add spice. Turmeric, ginger and peppermint support respiratory health. Add turmeric and ginger to your food. Or buy ginger or peppermint tea bags, so you have them on hand when you need them.

7. Drink antioxidant rich liquids. Sip on green tea and coffee.

8. Use herbal formulations. Osha root has been used by generations of Southwestern Native Americans and Hispanics to support their respiratory health. You’ll find Osha root in several of our herbal medicines, including Rocky Mountain Throat Syrup®, Lung Tonic™ and Respiratonic®.

Here’s to breathing better in the new year!