Thursday, July 5, 2018

The Air

There's Something in the Air (and What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You)

You do everything you can to ensure your healthy life...you may even go out of your way to choose foods and products free of toxins. But did you know that there’s one source of toxins that’s almost impossible to escape?

Toxins in the air

More than 120 million Americans live in areas where the air is unhealthy, according to estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency. 1

And that’s just the air outside our houses, caused by electric power plants, fuel emissions, marine ports, heating and cooling systems and factories. But did you know that there is pollution in the air inside your home as well?

Studies have shown that indoor air pollution can actually be up to ten times worse than outdoor air pollution. And since we spend an average of 90% of our time indoors, and 65% of our time inside our homes, indoor air pollution had become a major health concern. 2

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

There are many sources of indoor air pollution, some of which may surprise you.

Here are examples:
  • Mold
  • Pet dander
  • Plant pollen
  • Radon
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs are gassess emitted from solids or liquids) Chemicals in products in your home, such as mattresses (polyurethane), furniture (formaldehyde, dioxin, polychlorinated biphenal, etc. are used in your furniture), paint and building materials to construct your home. 3
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Sulphur
  • Asbestos
  • Chemicals in cleaning and personal care products (hairspray, deodorant, pesticides, laundry detergents, floor and furniture polish and air fresheners).
All of these sources of indoor air pollution can combine to create a toxic mess in the air we breathe.

Some symptoms of toxic air are:
  • Headaches
  • Respiratory problems, such as asthmaallergies
  • Colds and sore throat
  • Skin rashes
  • Dizziness and memory lapses
  • Cancer

Electromagnetic Fields in Your Home and Office

It’s not just chemicals that create toxic air in your home and office. In fact, another type of pollution is caused by electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Electromagnetic fields are areas of energy that surround electronic devices. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that the electric fields are created by differences in voltage and magnetic fields are created when the electric current flows.4
Symptoms from electromagnetic field exposure can create adverse health effects, according to WHO. Since our human bodies have their own electric and biochemical responses (e.g., nervous system, digestion, brain function, heart function), exposure to EMFs can interact with the human body.

Certain individuals may be more sensitive to EMFs, particularly those who already experience low immunity.

If you are sensitive to EMFs, you may expereince symtoms like:5
  • Nervous system symptoms, like fatigue, stress and sleep disturbances
  • Skin symptoms, like facial prickling, burning sensations and rashes
  • Body symptoms, like pains and aches in your muscles
  • Eye symptoms, such as burning sensations
  • Foggy thinking and depression
  • A variety of less common symptoms, like ear, nose, and throat symptoms and digestive disorders
Studies have associated exposure to EMFs with increased incidence of childhood and adult cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, brain cancer and male breast cancer. Also increased risk of miscarriage, depression and suicide.

EMFs come from radio, ground current, power lines, electric and high frequency radiation...

Blackberry’s, cell phones, WIFI, refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers and microwaves create EMF radiation They all play a part in damaging your health and well being.

There has been strong industry pressure to ignore studies such as these, which means that the public is not made aware of EMF's and how toxic they can be. Therefore it’s important for you to be aware of these dangers so that you CAN exercise caution. 6

The Good news is that you CAN work towards EMF protection and reduced indoor pollution!

Here are 8 easy tips to help ensure you breathe clean air, reduce toxins and increase EMF protection in your life right now:
Rise with the sun and rest when the sun sets - This will help you avoid the overuse of artificial lights.1

Switch to a chemical free lifestyle – Use chemical free fabrics, cleaning products and personal care products.

Use essential oils instead of air fresheners and spray deodorizers. Essential oils are non-toxic and many, like lavender and peppermint, actually have anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to help your immune system! They smell great and they also sanitize and disinfect.7

Spend time outside in nature – Hikes in the woods and rural areas with little to no industry allow you to breathe clean air and get away from EMFs. Putting your bare feet on the ground actually allows you to connect to the beneficial soil organisms and the earth’s natural, healing electromagnetic field.


Build your immune system – Following the Body Ecology program will help you reduce your exposure to toxins, boost your immunity and open up your detoxification pathways.


Eating organic Body Ecology foods, hydrating with pure water and consuming fermented foods and drinks is the secret to building a strong, hardy immune system. To find out more about how fermented foods and drinks can help protect you from unwanted toxins read Why Fermented Foods May help Reduce Mercury in Your Body
 
 
Avoid using microwaves, hairdryers, irons, electric toothbrushes and electric blankets. In the colder winter months, you can use a Bio-Mat for warmth instead of an electric blanket. The Bio-Mat provides healing infrared therapy, helps to boost your immunity and warms your body.

Unplug – Especially at night when you sleep (and your body is trying to heal), unplug as many electrical appliances as you can to reduce EMFs. This includes electrical appliances, your stereo, computers and WIFI.

Get live plants – A study by NASA showed that having plants in your home helps to reduce indoor air pollution. Excellent plants for reducing pollution are: Boston Ferns, Areca Palm, English Ivy, the Peace Lily, Australian Sword Fern, and Rubber Plants. 8

Air purifiers with ionizers are a great way to clean up indoor air pollution AND boost your mood! Make sure to look for high quality purifiers that provide NEGATIVE ions, which are responsible for positive moods, like the Hunter Quietflo Air Purifier with Ionizer.

Clean Up Your Air

A great way to reduce indoor air pollution is to use an air filter with ionizer

Air purifiers with ionizers provide many benefits:
Protection for those with allergies to dust, pollen and air-born pollutants.

Produce “negative ions” which are responsible for positive moods and can combat depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) (link to Winter Blues article, if ready).

Create the same effect as being by the ocean or in the mountains.
Purify the air of mold, bacteria and toxins. Studies have shown that ionizers have been successful in wiping out harmful airborne bacterial infections in hospitals. 9

Air filter purifies the air by creating ions that remove microscopic toxins from the air. The ionizer puts beneficial negative ions into the air, but make sure your air filter with ionizer produces negative ions rather than positive ions.

Reducing your exposure to toxins may feel overwhelming, so take it step by step! Each small step you take to reduce indoor air pollution and EMFs can have you feeling your best again.

Sources:

  1. The Natural Resources Defense Council.
    http://www.nrdc.org/air/default.asp
  2. Indoor Air Quality, Causes of, Testing and monitoring indoor air pollution http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/green-basics-indoor-air-pollution.php
  3. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/green-basics-indoor-air-pollution.php
  4. What Are Electromagnetic Fields? World Health Organization.
    http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/
  5. Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Sept/Oct 173-175, 2002.
    http://ewh.ieee.org/soc/embs/comar/Hypersensitivity.htm
  6. Electromagnetic fields, A Clear and Present Danger.
    http://www.beinginbalance.com/environment.shtml
  7. Reducing Electromagnetic frequency Exposure May Improve Your Health, http://www.naturalnews.com/022926.html
  8. Emmerson, Kassidy. Prevent Indoor Air Pollution And Protect Your Health! Associated Content. May 2006.
    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/34483/prevent_indoor_air_pollution.html?cat=5
  9. Air Ionizers wipe out hospital infections. http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3228 http://www.beinginbalance.com/environment.shtml
    Electromagnetic Fields. Consumer Health Organization of Canada.
    http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=19990303163909
 

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