Indoor Air Quality Matters
So, I’m sure you are just dying to know how our detox went last week! Overall, it went really well. My husband lost 5lbs and I lost 3lbs. As I said in last weeks post, weight loss isn’t really the main reason to do a detox but it often helps the process. But, reducing inflammation, eating easier to digest foods, and letting go of toxic water weight, gets the ball rolling.
Simple healthy meals
I have felt like my energy has picked up and my mental clarity is sharper. Plus, I always love how I become more intentional with my food choices. I feel lighter and refreshed from eating lots of veggies and clean protein and reducing some of the digestive load on my body.
Now often times there are at least some negative detox symptoms as the body does some really hard work through the week. For me, I felt irritable and short tempered for about 2 days and I had some headaches the first 2-3 days. This could also have been exacerbated by PMS. I would not recommend doing this during your luteal phase and it was a bad move on my part! Cravings are stronger, irritability is already likely to be present, and then, of course, once my period started I had to contend with all of the effects of that. So, even though it seems like it would be a good time to cleanse the body (when the body is already cleaning house), I would not recommend it. My husband had some headaches and felt pretty sluggish. These are all common responses as the body is working hard to let go of toxins. So, we tried to just give ourselves extra rest, by going to bed early, we kept social engagements to a minimum and we didn’t take on any big projects.
Now that we are on the other side, I’m going to be very intentional in what I add back in to our diet and portion sizes. We are planning on 2 “flex meals” a week, where we can eat and drink whatever we want. Otherwise, we’ll do our best to stick to a very clean diet of fruits and veggies, clean meats, healthy fats, and quality carbs. I’m hoping this readjustment in our food along with continuing my walking routine and adding in some cardio and weight training over the next few months will help me lose those extra pounds. Being in your 40s isn’t for the faint of heart, am I right or am I right, ladies?! I’m looking forward to being in an even healthier and happier place in my life, so I’ll be able to keep up with my cute little energizer bunny. Aging gracefully and having lots of healthy years to live with my family is my goal and my hope for my husband, as well.
If you want more info on the Functional Medicine Liver Detox that we just did, check out my last blog post.
If you are interested in other ways to lower your toxic burden, so you aren’t putting all that pressure on your liver in the first place, looking at your air quality is a good place to start. I find it important to both aid my liver in the detoxification process regularly and reduce the toxins that are coming in.
We don’t often think about the air we breathe unless we are being warned about smoke from a nearby wild fire or maybe if you live in a big city dealing with smog and have breathing issues. Its easy to assume that the air around us is just fine unless there is imminent danger. But, there is a lot to think about when it comes to the quality of your air and how it greatly affects your body and brain.
What’s Wrong with Our Air?
Indoor air is often 2-5x more polluted than outdoor air, but can be as bad as 100x more polluted
Most people spend 90% of their time inside
Homes are designed to be more energy efficient, which also means that newer houses don’t “breathe” like older homes. They hold the indoor air inside and keep the outside air out.
New building materials off gas for months or even years after a new house build or a remodel
Natural sources affecting our air: mold, dust mites, pet dander, radon, etc.
Chemicals that we add to our environment (tobacco smoke, air fresheners, scented candles, dryer sheets, laundry detergent, etc)
The good news is that we have a great amount of control over our indoor air quality! We choose what we bring into our homes and use on a daily basis; therefore we are choosing what we put into the air that we breathe most of the time. What often goes overlooked are the chemical pollutants that we use every day. Obviously, at this point in time we all know that smoking is bad for our health, our family’s health, and our home environment. But, what about the other stuff?
Cleaning supplies, air fresheners, scented candles, laundry detergents (including scent boosters and dryer sheets), bug sprays, body products, hair products, the list goes on. These products are often a cocktail of air pollutants that leave you and your family:
fatigued
headachy
burning irritated eyes, nose, throat
dizziness
respiratory problems (such as a chronic cough or asthma)
And these have been connected with even more serious problems such as
heart disease
infertility/hormonal imbalances
central nervous system problems
cancer
This all sounds really scary and it is! But, remember, there is a lot that you can do to change the trajectory of your family’s health (and your own) by making small consistent changes to your environment and lifestyle. So, how can you change the air in your home (and even, in some cases, your work environment)?
What Can I Do to Clean Up the Air I Breathe?
Throw open your doors and windows! Cheap, easy, quick. Our grandmothers knew to do this, but somewhere along the way we lost this simple tactic for keeping a fresh, clean home. Don’t pay money for toxic “fresh breeze” scent in a can, get the real thing from the outside! Do it even in the cold or hot weather, you only need to leave your doors and windows open for about 10-15 min. to allow an exchange of the old, stale, polluted indoor air for fresh, clean air.
Replace scented candles, air fresheners, plug-ins with a simmer pot on the stove (or even in a crockpot) that will add delicious smells to your home and increase the humidity in the dry winter months. When you feel like your skin is the Sahara desert and your nose is wanting to bleed in the middle of winter, boil some water on the stove. Toss in aromatics like cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, citrus peel.
Invest in a good air filter. This is the one that will cost some money, but it’s invaluable for really cleaning up your air, especially for people with allergies, asthma, or if you have small children (who are more affected by the air they breathe). Look for words like carbon, HEPA filter, Zeolite, UV light, Ozone (this one needs to be used cautiously and in certain circumstances but can be very useful). If you have to choose only one room to have it in, put it in a bedroom. We spend 7-9 hours a night sleeping in that room, not to mention any other times we might be hanging out in there.
Salt lamps, plants, and beeswax candles can also be helpful in purifying and cleaning indoor air
Begin the process of replacing one product at a time that affects your air quality. Start thinking about those products I listed above. Many of them are loaded with respiratory irritants, hormone disruptors, and fragrances that lead to headaches and burning eyes.
Don’t be fooled by “green washing”, a common way that companies fool you into thinking their products are safe. Words like “green”, “natural”, or “clean” aren’t regulated and mean nothing. Looking at the actual ingredients or better yet, making your own for pennies on the dollar is the safest way. There are apps that can help you figure out which products are clean or toxic. EWG is a great resource and they have an app, as well. Look for fragrance-free or essential oils, not “unscented”…believe it or not, fragrance or other chemicals are often added to unscented products to cover over the smell of the other chemicals used.
Breathe easier in your home and your lungs and liver will thank you. You’ll be more capable of coping with the other elements in your life that are out of your control.
If you are interested in more details on replacements for specific products, let me know in the comments!
