Wildfire Smoke Is Back: Here's How I'm Supporting My Family's Lungs This Season

Every summer, wildfire smoke becomes a concern for many families. Even if the fires are hundreds of miles away, tiny smoke particles can travel long distances and affect the air we breathe.

As a former nurse, one thing I always remind people is this:

No supplement can replace reducing your exposure to smoke. The products I share are simply tools I personally use to support my family's natural defenses during wildfire smoke season.

In this blog, we'll cover:

1) How to reduce your smoke exposure (the most important step)

2) The nutrients I use to support antioxidant defenses (Vitamin C, NAC & glutathione)

3) The herbal respiratory support I keep on hand

4) Everyday habits that help support lung health during smoke season

5) Looking for the products I mention? I've linked everything (along with my discount codes) at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Reduce Exposure First

This is always my first priority.

When air quality is poor, we try to:

✔️ Stay indoors as much as possible

✔️ Keep windows and doors closed

✔️ Run our AirDoctor air purifier continuously. If I could only recommend one thing during wildfire smoke season, it would be an AirDoctor. While supplements can help support your body's natural defenses, reducing your exposure to smoke is always the first priority. I love AirDoctor because it uses a true HEPA filter to capture ultra-fine particles (including PM2.5—the tiny particles found in wildfire smoke) along with a carbon filter to help reduce gases and odors. It's one of the most impactful investments I've made for my family's indoor air quality.

✔️ I would add if you are more vulnerable to the smoke then consider wearing an N95 mask outside if you are planning to be out there for an extended period

Reducing the amount of smoke you're breathing is the most effective thing you can do.

Step 2: Stay Hydrated

Wildfire smoke can dry and irritate your airways.

Staying well hydrated helps your body maintain healthy mucus, which plays an important role in trapping particles and supporting your body's natural airway-clearing mechanisms.

We focus on:

• Plenty of water

• Electrolytes when needed

• Keeping nasal passage hydrated with nasal spray

Step 3: Support Antioxidant Defenses

Wildfire smoke increases oxidative stress, which is why I like supporting my family's antioxidant intake during smoke season. Fresh organic berries are loaded with antioxidants, but when reaching for a supplement for added support I love vitamin C.

For adults, I reach for:

🍊 Dr. Mercola Liposomal Vitamin C

For my kids:

🍊 Dr. Green Mom Liquid Vitamin C

Vitamin C supports normal immune function and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.

Step 4: NAC or Glutathione

This is one of the questions I get asked most often.

Should I take NAC or glutathione?

The answer is that both can be helpful, but you don't necessarily need both, lets break them down next.

NAC

NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) is an amino acid derivative that your body uses to make glutathione, one of your body's most important antioxidants.

It has also been studied for its role in supporting healthy respiratory function and helping maintain normal mucus consistency.

For our family, I use:

✨ Seeking Health NAC Capsules (Per Seeking Health's Website it is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding)

✨ Watermelon NAC Powder (Kids) - it makes it soo easy to mix it into water and my kids actually enjoy the taste. If you have questions on dosing supplements for kids you can look up " Clarks Rule" or "Youngs Rule" which are used to help calculate pediatric dosing for medications and supplements. Obviously, ask your favorite healthcare provider if you have questions if it is a good fit for your kiddo, I'm just sharing what we use and love!

Glutathione

What I use:

✨ BodyBio Liposomal Glutathione caps: I really like liposomal form because it gets into your cells quicker and is often times more absorbable.

✨ Seeking Health Glutathione Lozenges (easier to give kids since it is a lozenger. Per Seeking Health's Website they state it is safe for kids 1 year old+, pregnant women and breastfeeding women)

Glutathione is often referred to as the body's "master antioxidant" because it helps protect cells from oxidative stress and supports many of the body's natural detoxification processes.

Since NAC helps your body produce glutathione, many people choose either NAC or glutathione, depending on their individual needs or preference.

Step 5: Herbal Respiratory Support

Another product I like to keep on hand during wildfire smoke season is:

🌿 Dr. Green Mom Lung Clear & Cleanse (great for kids 10lbs and up)

It contains herbs traditionally used to support healthy respiratory function and a normal immune response.

I think of it as another supportive tool—especially during times when our lungs are dealing with extra environmental stress.

Don't Forget the Basics

The biggest impact still comes from reducing your exposure.

For our family, our priorities are always:

🌬️ Clean indoor air

💧 Staying hydrated

😴 Prioritizing sleep

🥩 Eating nourishing, protein-rich foods

🍊 Supporting antioxidant defenses

🌿 Using targeted respiratory support when appropriate

My Wildfire Smoke Toolkit & Discount codes:

✔️ AirDoctor Air Purifier: it is usually around 40% OFF with my link you can find here.

✔️ Dr. Mercola Liposomal Vitamin C (Adults): 20% OFF with my Fullscript link here.

✔️ Dr. Green Mom Liquid Vitamin C (Kids): 10% OFF Dr Green Mom Discount code "holisticheidi10"

✔️ Seeking Health NAC (Adults): Seeking Health discount code "holisticheidi10" or you can often find it on Fullscript as well and save 20% on there with my Fullscript link you can find here.

✔️ Watermelon NAC Powder (Kids): 20% OFF on Fullscript

✔️ BodyBio Liposomal Glutathione: 15% OFF BodyBio discount code "holisticheidip" or you can often find it on Fullscript and save 20% on there with my Fullscript link.

✔️ Seeking Health Glutathione Lozenges: Seeking Health discount code "holisticheidi10" or you can often find it on Fullscript and save 20% on there with my Fullscript link.

✔️ Dr. Green Mom Lung Clear & Cleanse: 10% OFF Dr Green Mom discount code "holisticheidi10"

✔️ Electrolytes: 10% OFF Just Ingredients discount code: holisticheidi (I love their Blue Hawaiian Electrolytes and their Strawberry Limeade electrolytes)

Wildfire smoke can be stressful, but focusing on the things we can control can go a long way. My goal is always to reduce exposure first, then give my body the nutrients and support it needs to function at its best.

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. If you or your child have asthma, COPD, heart disease, are pregnant, or experience severe symptoms from wildfire smoke, follow your healthcare provider's guidance and seek medical care when needed. Please note that some of the above links are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission if you choose to use my links. Thank you so much for being here and taking time to equip yourself with more knowledge and tools!

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