Daily Health Bits

Decorating your house with plants not only beautifies your living space, but it also has a detox effect.  Cleaning supplies, paints, printers, etc. create VOC's (volatile organic compounds) which can contribute to dizziness, fatigue, nausea, kidney or liver damage, even cancer.  A study done in Australia found that two common houseplants, the Janet Craig and the Sweet Chico were able to reduce VOC's from the air by up to 70%!  When plants take in oxygen and carbon dioxide, they also take in any toxins in the air.  The toxins travel down the root into the plant's soil where bacteria in the soil breaks down the chemicals into nontoxic compounds that the plant then uses for food.  A plant on your desk at work or home can make a significant difference in the air quality of your work space.  If someone could teach me a green thumb so I could GROW plants to start with, I'd be breathing easy!

These easy-to-care-for plants all scored high marks for their ability to remove chemical vapors. Whether you work in a cave-like cubicle or a sunny corner, one of these "office" plants will work for you.

1 Florist's mum (Full sun and semi-sun) Best seasonal plant for removing benzene, ammonia and formaldehyde.

2 Kimberley queen (Semi-sun to semi-shade) Effective for removing alcohols and formaldehyde.

3 English ivy (semi-sun to semi-shade) Adept at eliminating formaldehyde.

4 Dracaena "Janet Craig" (semi-shade) Scored well for its ability to remove indoor toxins; can grow for decades.

5 Golden pothos (semi-shade to shade) Easy to grow, it ranks high as an all-round air cleaner.

Source: How To Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office by B.C. Wolverton, Ph.d., (Penguin Books, 1996) and Prevention Magazine.

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 08:40 AM | Permalink

A couple of weeks ago, I attempted to clean my oven; a task that I approach with disgust and a little bit of fear.  It seems like every time I use traditional oven cleaners, I ingest the fumes (even though I AM careful!) and end up feeling dizzy and not being able to get the scent out of my nose hairs.  I often wonder if the leftover residue gets in our food too.  Well, this month in First magazine, they offer a natural oven cleaner which is safer, and doesn't smell bad at all!

 Traditional cleaners often contain Sodium hydroxide (lye), methylene chloride, 2-butoxyethanol and ammonia which are just a few of the potentially toxic ingredients on their list.  Besides their noxious smell, the harsh chemicals have been know to cause liver, kidney or respiratory damage, according to Karyn Siegel-Maier, author of The Naturally Clean Home.

Here is her suggestion for a natural oven cleaner which can actually be used in many areas of the kitchen.  Combine 2 TBSP each of baking soda and liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner) and 1/2 cup of hot water in a spray bottle.  Preheat your oven to 250 degrees, then turn it off and spritz the interior.  Let sit for 20 minutes then wipe with a clean damp sponge.  The alkaline baking soda dissolves grease and neutralizes odors, while the soap molecules trap the grime so it can easily be rinsed away!  It works and I didn't have to lie down after completing this chore!

Posted by Cindy Burreson at 12:22 PM | Permalink