Today’s world offers us a host of reasons to view our homes as sanctuaries and protection from toxic and polluted environments. We clean, we sanitize. We buy bottled water, take our vitamins and try to go to bed by 10 p.m. Good enough, right? Well, simply put, no. Our homes are full of offensive toxins from formaldehyde in our newly purchased clothing (present through up to 20 washings!), to the off gas our latex mattress can leave for years after we buy it.
There are some simple and affordable ways to turn your home into one of refuge from environmental factors. Here are three simple things that can be done quickly and make a huge difference in your health:
- Air Purification
Air purification is a hot topic these days. With so many different options on the market, it’s hard to choose just the right one. A couple of things to consider include: What is used to clean the air? How efficient is it? Price? UV Technology, HEPA Filter, Ozone, Negative Ion and Activated Charcoal are many of the popular choices. Each one has its own claims, but honestly, not one size fits all when it comes to picking one out. Spend some time researching which one would benefit your home most. Some considerations are health issues you or family members have, pets, age of home, etc. Clean air can help you breath better, sleep better and maintain a healthy immune system!
- Water Purification
Water is absolutely imperative for health. With so many stories in the news these days about polluted water and even the lack of it (in California, for example), we need to be vigilant to protect ourselves. Bottled water isn’t always a good alternative. It can be costly, and many times not any better for you than the tap. Plastic from the bottle can leach into your water or you may be drinking municipal water from the city it was bottled in. A great way to ensure you are drinking healthy water is to install a home reverse osmosis filtration system. Keep in mind, not all filters do what they say and can even make your pH unbalanced. Look for a system that has at least four stages. A popular way to increase the health of your water: once it has been filtered it goes through another filter that puts minerals back into the water to balance the pH. If you’re on a well, there are many options to help protect against unsuspecting elements that can wander into your supply such as iron and pathogens.
- Cleaning Products
Many of the store bought products we buy to keep our homes clean and sanitized may be more dangerous than the germs themselves. It’s important to limit your exposure to things such as bleach, ammonia and aerosol cleaners. They can get into your lungs and cause breathing difficulties and even scarring to your lungs. There are many ways to clean our homes, naturally and healthily. Things such as vinegar, peroxide, baking soda and essential oils are all effective in cutting the grime. Pinterest is a fantastic way to find recipes to make your own safe, healthy and delicious smelling cleaners!
Remember, our homes are our safe havens. Our health starts there! QCBN
By Beverly Golin
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