A Breath of Fresh Air

Did you know that February is National "Care About Your Indoor Air" Month?

The picture above is of the lake across the road from our house... last summer. Doesn't it look pristine? It doesn't quite look like that now! Nope-- It's all ice and snow. We've had a lot of sub-zero days this winter, which has unfortunately kept me indoors most of the time. I know, I really ought to brave the cold weather and be a real northern Minnesota girl. Well, maybe tomorrow. :)

When I do go for a walk outside, I love to breathe in the crisp air. It really feels like you're getting more oxygen per breath in the winter. The contrast between the fresh outdoor air and the air that we breathe inside our house each day is quite noticeable. It really makes a person long for warm weather and the opportunity to spend full days outside. But... it's just the beginning of February, so that means we have a couple months to go yet. In the meantime, we'll have to settle for braving the chilly weather outside or doing our best to improve the air we breathe indoors.

What's wrong with the air in our homes? Well... here are some facts for you:

• Studies show (and the EPA states) that indoor air pollution can be 2 to 5, and even up to 100 times as bad as outdoor air pollution.
• One of these pollutants may be Formaldehyde, present in most buildings, which can leach into the air.
• Polluted air can lead to heart disease, respiratory problems, asthma, and even cancer. 
• If health problems have not progressed to the point of serious disease, one may still experience something called "Sick Building Syndrome," which is characterized by chronic nasal congestion, fatigue, reduced cognitive functioning, headaches, dizziness, and an increased sensitivity to odors.

Most people spend 80-90% of their time indoors.


Where does this air pollution come from?
(These are just a few sources)

• Outgassing from paints & stains, furniture, carpet, other building materials
• Biological pollutants (mold, bacteria, viruses, dust mites, animal dander, etc.)
• Household cleaning products
• Cosmetics (think nail polish), Hair-care products (hair sprays), Body care products (scented lotions & potions)
• Candles and Air fresheners
• Office machines and tools (copy machines, computers, printers, correction fluid, permanent markers, etc)
• Second-hand smoke

What can you do?

• Paint over your existing paint or stain with a low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint like SafeCoat to keep the VOCs out of the air you breathe
• Practice regular surface cleaning
• Purchase a good quality air cleaner
• Burn pure beeswax candles or soy candles naturally scented with essential oils instead of artificially scented and/or parrafin candles. (Beeswax candles actually help purify your air!) Make sure they have cotton wicks. Other wicks have been known to contain lead!
• Use only non-toxic cleaning products. Look at your local natural foods store or make your own!
• Choose safer cosmetics, hair care, and body care products. Here's a great resource.  
• Open the windows on warmer days
• Add some detoxifying plants to your home decor. NASA studies have proven that house plants can reduce toxins in the home by up to 85%. Some of the best are palms, ferns, English Ivy... and even Gerbera daisies!
• Don't smoke! (Just say no to drugs)
• Take the Indoor Air Quality Quiz and learn about the air you breathe.

Sources/Additional Reading:

Natural News:

• Indoor Air Pollution is a Serious Threat to Your Health
• Indoor Air Pollution: Look at the Causes and Solutions 
• Indoor Air in Homes Often Contaminated with Formaldehyde from Building Materials
• Air Pollution Has Negative Effects on Heart Health

The Daily Green: How to Purify the Air in Your Home

The Environmental Protection Agency: Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals

The Ontario Lung Association "Your Healthy Home: Tips for Improving Air Quality In and Around Your Home"

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Surprising Health Benefits of an Organic Diet

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Here's a great article by Dr. Mercola:

Surprising Health Benefits of an Organic Diet

Conventional Wisdom on Organic Food

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Thanksgiving is almost upon us! Since food is a major focus of the week, I thought I'd share some thoughts on eating organically. There are many reasons to consume organically grown food. From what I've read, the main reasons can fit into these categories:

1. Better for your health

2. Better for the environment

3. Better flavor

4. Supportive of small family-owned businesses

Those are reason enough for me! If you'd like the details on those tenets, I commend to you the articles listed at the end of this post.

How do you make sure you are picking the right produce? The PLU# can be quite helpful:

• Conventionally grown produce has a four digit PLU, generally beginning with a 4.
• ORGANICALLY grown produce has a five digit PLU, beginning with a 9.
• Genetically modified produce (GMOs) has a five digit PLU, beginning with an 8.

So...

• First Choice = 9_ _ _ _
• Second Choice = 4_ _ _
• Don't eat 8_ _ _ _!!!

Is it necessary to buy organic 100% of the time? Well... it would be IDEAL. But---Sometimes it's just impossible to get certain items organic, and one must either forego the item or simply buy conventional. Sometimes one might also like to save a few $$$ on food items less likely to have a high pesticide residue. In these cases, it's nice to know which things in the produce department one can get by with buying conventional.

Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group has put together a list of fruits and vegetables they tested for pesticide residues and ranked 47 different foods according to the pesticide levels found. The "Dirty Dozen" --the ones to always buy organic-- are the following:

1. (worst) peaches
2. apples
3. sweet bell peppers
4. celery
5. nectarines
6. strawberries
7. cherries
8. kale
9. lettuce
10. grapes --imported
11. carrots
12. pears

The "Clean Fifteen," as they call them, are the following:

1. (best) onions
2. avocados
3. sweet corn
4. pineapple
5. mango
6. asparagus
7. sweet peas
8. kiwi
9. cabbage
10. eggplant
11. papaya
12. watermelon
13. broccoli
14. tomato
15. sweet potato

You can see the full list here, or download a free shopper's guide for your wallet or iphone. You can even donate to the EWG and receive a magnet reminder for your refrigerator.
HOWEVER... keep in mind the following:

• most corn is genetically modified to produce some of its own "natural" pesticide or herbicides, and you NEVER want to consume GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) if you can help it. We don't even know the long-term implications of such a practice. (Check the PLU). Corn is really not a highly recommended vegetable/grain anyway. And even the "clean" organic version is easily cross-contaminated by GMO varieties. I'd limit your corn intake to some occasional organic popcorn.
• Imported pineapple is one to look out for, as it can be heavily sprayed, and/or gassed to ripen.
• Papaya from Hawaii is usually genetically modified. (Check the PLU)
• Tomatoes can be GMOs (Check the PLU) and are often gassed to ripen them.

I didn't even mention buying organically raised, grass-fed meats, raw (unpasteurized, unhomogenized) grass-fed dairy, and eggs from free-range chickens. That is a GIVEN if you eat animal foods. Since I'm on a raw vegan diet, and have begun to see the advantages of eating this way, I have focused on fruits and vegetables. Whole grains, mushrooms, nuts & seeds, etc. would follow the same rules. Always buy organic whenever possible to minimize your intake of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc., and ALWAYS buy whole foods; NEVER processed devitalized foods. The closer to the way God gave us these foods in nature, the better.

SO... Why Buy Organic??? Here are some resources for you:
Top Six Reasons to Eat Only Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Organic Foods Provide More than Health Benefits
Buying Organic is Well Worth the Cost even When Times are Tough

I'll include one more in the next post...

Most Common Cause of Fatigue that is Missed or Misdiagnosed by Doctors

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Dr. Mercola, of www.mercola.com recently had an article about adrenal fatigue, highlighting concepts from Dr. Wilson's book. You can read it here:

Most Common Cause of Fatigue that is Missed or Misdiagnosed by Doctors

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