One of the biggest challenges in modern day health is the continued struggle from the toxic environment we have created around us. It effects the air we breathe the foods we eat and the products our body comes in contact with. Fortunately are bodies in the short term deal well with the continued bombardment of any number of contaminants and toxins we come into contact with everyday. Unfortunately over the long term our bodies start to either become over saturated or organs responsible for eliminating contaminates wear out form over use and just cannot keep up with the demand.
The good news is there are several things we can do to help our bodies cope with this dilemma. The simplest approach is to first minimize your exposure to harmful byproducts of our industrialized age. You can do this by eating as organically as possible avoiding artificial ingredients and hydrogenated oils. Avoid airborne contaminates such as second hand smoke, drink filtered water and use a high quality Air Purifier system for your home. This will not only help you stay healthier, with the body devoting less time detoxing it will have more time to keep you energized and feeling great.
Clean air is so important to our health and although other than doing our best to help reduce outdoor air pollution such as driving less and buying green most of us have little direct impact on outdoor air quality control. Fire season and natural occurring pollen is not something we have any control over.
All though the media focus is almost exclusive on out door air quality through sound bites and air quality alerts like spare the air days, the truth is we spend more time in an indoor environment than out. How much time do you spend indoors? Of course, the answer will vary. However the average is… in our modern non-agricultural society, Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors! 65% of that time is spent in our own homes.
Recent studies have shown that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. In fact indoor air is quite often a cause of greater health problems than the polluted air we may encounter outside our homes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the contribution of a range of risk factors to the burden of disease and revealed indoor air pollution as the 8th most important risk factor and responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease .
The off gassing of building materials, household furnishings and personal items is far more toxic than most outdoor pollutants. Simple because of the concentration levels do to the very efficient modern building techniques creating a energy efficient closed environment. In other words you are trapped inside box with very little natural air circulation or proper HEPA air filtration system.
A friend of mine that works in the local Fire Dept. explained to me that it is not the fire itself that is so dangerous but the chemicals that are being released in the smoke from the building materials and household furnishings that is so deadly. It is HIGHLY TOXIC.
These same materials when not burning continue off gas small but steady amounts of harmful gasses. More lives are lost to continued exposure to indoor air quality issues than alcohol related car accidents in the US each year.
WHATS THE ANSWER?
Change your central air filter regularly with a high quality HEPA filter. Get a High Quality Room Air Filter (approved HEPA filters only) we will explain that in more detail in our next blog. But this will give you the best way to balance the air quality and reduce the exposure to harmful indoor pollutants.
In an ever present world of rising health care costs people are realizing that a pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure. It use to be an ounce and a pound but inflation is rampant in the medical business forcing basic services out of the reach of many. Between the cost of medical services and medical insurance (if you can get it) more and more people just can’t afford to get sick, literally.
The bad news is there is no end in sight soon, but the great news is prevention awareness is on the rise. People are making healthier food choices and using alternative therapies such as massage and acupuncture to stay healthier.
Many people are going back to the basics and are taking there own health into there own hands by finding ways to “stay” healthy. Staying healthy is truly the best way to avoid rising health care costs. We are not of course suggesting you should not seek out medical help when necessary or you should self diagnose. However we do believe that you can do some simple things to be pro active in prevention and to avoid the high cost of medical services. Prevention is allot less expensive.
With just a few simple basic time tested steps you not only can help minimize having to go to the doctor you might just find that you fell better, are fully energized and getting more living out of life.
Here are our top six steps to a healthier you “Health Basics 101″.
- Eat Whole Foods – Organic Whenever Possible
- Drink Plenty of Pure Fresh Water
- Get Lots Fresh Clean Air
- Get Proper Rest
- Take Appropriate Nutritional Supplements for Nutrition Insurance
- Exercise,- Get Your Body in Motion.
Watch for future blogs as we take an in depth look at these six simple ways to staying healthy.