Heaters on, windows closed.. It's winter!!

It's winter.. achchooooo....Bless you!!

Winter is fast approaching. You should now be ready to turn the heaters on to high, close and seal all the doors and windows(especially if you are in a cold region like Minnesota). Even then, your family tend to get sick often during the winter with frequent cold, cough and headache and what not! Chances are.. its not the cold weather, but it could be the way you handle the weather which is making you sick. Here is something you need to know.

Cold and dry weather in the harsh winter time can result in one or many of the following symptoms.

• Cold
• Cough
• Headache
• Rough, dry and itchy skin
• Slight bleeding from the nose
• Cracked lips
• Dry throat
• Itchy eyes
• Nose Bleed

All the above could be because of the dry air trapped inside the house. 

What could be the link between cold air and our health? The cold air lacks moisture and when inhaled, makes the lungs dry out and this dryness makes it more susceptible to cold, cough etc. 

How do you know that the air is dry? Well, there is a quick way to find it out. Answer a simple question. Do you get static shocks whenever you touch anything in your house, especially in your bedspreads? If yes, this is an indication that the air surrounding you is very dry and you are now vulnerable to sickness. Isn't it scary? Here are a few things you could do.

Use a humidifier

Running a humidifier in your home will add moisture to dry, heated air. Wait, it sounds simple. But, there is a catch.

• Change the humidifier water each day
• Every third day clean the tank according to the manufacturer’s instructions
• Take care when cleaning your humidifier if using chemicals; they can be inhaled if the tank is not thoroughly rinsed
• Do not let water stand in the tank. Empty it when not in use, clean, and dry. If your humidifier calls for filters or demineralization cartridges, be sure to use them. Always clean before storing the humidifier for the summer unless you use it all year.

In case you use stagnant old water, the contaminants in the water finds a easy way to reach you through the humidifier. Also, make sure that The humidity level in your home is the amount of water vapor in the indoor air. The humidity should be below 60% in the summer and 30%-50% in the winter. Most common mistake people do is to set the humidifier to a high. This will lead to mold, fungi formation in the ceilings because of the excess moisture throughout the night.

Avoid chemical air fresheners

I can understand that in a sealed place, there is more need for freshening. But, if you are concerned about your health, you need to do this. The air already trapped inside will be more polluted with these chemicals and will become an overload for our health. Instead, you can get help from some fresh orange peels, baking powder or other natural fresheners.

Open some windows during the day

Yes, this will help circulate the air. Rather than recycling the used up air again and again inside the sealed house, let the free air come in and replace the stuffy air once in a while. This does not require you to fully open the doors. Just a few minutes of opening up the windows a little bit can help you out a lot.

Drink adequate water

You might not be feeling thirsty during winters. Still, you will be losing the moisture from the skin due to the cold air around you. Drinking adequate water will help you to keep hydrated. This is needed to compensate the moisture you lose through your skin and will help to prevent your skin from drying. You can even apply good natural products like coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil rather than choosing for harsh chemicals for moisturizing.

Hey, there are some extra benefits too.. 
Consumer energy center says, "For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs. Wear warm clothing like a sweater and set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the day and evening, health permitting."Also, Turning down the thermostat may shed pounds as cold activates calorie-burning fat. Ain't that good.Now you know how to handle the winter season, right? Hope you have a more enjoyable winter this time.

If you find this article useful, and if you think your near and dear needs to know about this, please care to share.

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2588424/Your-central-heating-reason-feel-ill.html
http://wellnessappliances.com/mistakes-to-avoid-when-using-a-humidifier/

Dryer sheets - The perfumed poison

Dryer sheets - The perfumed poison

In countries like India, clothes get dried thoroughly in Sun light as they still will be slightly wet even after getting through the dryer cycle in the washing machine. But here in USA, the dryers are powerful enough to dry the clothes completely. Though they end up with static clings and hard wrinkles on the clothes. Every time we launder, we remember to add dryer sheets and fabric softeners to take away these static clings and to reduce the wrinkles.

Ever wondered what these dryer sheets are? These dryer sheets are loaded with tons of chemicals and then tons of fragrances to suppress the odor of these chemicals. Chemicals that infiltrate the clothes we wear, which in turn get on our skin and absorbed into our body. They cause the worst effects on the younger kids as their skin is soft and more vulnerable to external damages.

Manufacturers are only required to list the ingredients that are active disinfectants (because these are technically pesticides) or known to be acutely hazardous (which to them includes ingredients that cause fires or explosions but not those that cause cancer or developmental diseases). People have shared their pathetic experiences of developing neurological disorders because of the use of such dryer sheets and fabric softeners.

Here is a list of just some of the chemicals found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets(Found by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA):

• Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer
• Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
• Ethanol: On the EPA's Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders
• Limonene: Known carcinogen
• A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema and central nervous system damage
• Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list
• Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders
• Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic
• Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

Moreover, these sheets are linked with early puberty in kids(both boys and girls) disrupting their hormonal balance. As you might be knowing, the earlier the kids enter puberty, the longer they are exposed to elevated levels of the hormone, which is a risk factor for certain cancers.

You need to know this.. Even if you are not using dryer sheets for laundering the kids clothes, they may be exposed to these chemicals from bed spreads, towels and your clothes constantly rubbing their skin. Worse is the case of those living closer to the apartment common laundry room vents. They continuously inhale loads of the chemicals even others use. Worst to all, these dryer sheets and softeners play a role in ozone depletion and pollution. Does the fragrance worth it?

Here is what you need to do. There are healthier options available for handling the static cling and to soften clothes. The kitchen rescuer vinegar serves best for softening the clothes. If perfume is your concern, essential oils come handy. Dryer ball is the other alternative. The makers of these rubber balls claim that apart from reducing static cling and softening clothes, these balls reduce the drying time. That's not it.. Even tennis balls do the trick. You can wrap those tennis balls in aluminium foil to get the most out of it. Switching on to these options makes us free from those harsh chemicals and put us back on track.

If you find this article useful, and if you think your near and dear needs to know about this, please care to share.

Sources:

http://www.immuneweb.org/articles/fabricsoftener.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-gavigan/5-secrets-conventional-cl_b_191845.html
http://healthylivinghowto.com/1/post/2013/04/healthy-body-7-toxic-reasons-to-ditch-dryer-sheets.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/scented-laundry-products-release-carcinogens-study-finds/
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/136119893@N07

Sunscreens - Hidden Truth

Summer is the best time for outside play, tour, travel and many other activities without worrying about jackets and umbrellas. As the ozone layer gets depleted gradually, the harmful rays of the sun too seem to be rising. Sunscreens come handy when dealing with the scorching sunlight throughout the day without getting a sunburn. Sunscreens have many chemicals which can effectively block the harmful UV rays. Sunscreens do a good work in helping to prevent skin cancer associated with UV radiation from the sun.

The effectiveness of these sunscreens are judged by the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) level indicated. So, to protect ourselves we go for sunscreens with high, and sometimes very high SPF. If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – about five hours. Now, YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS.

A report suggested that under certain conditions, sunscreens with estrogenic chemicals like Oxybenzone, Retinyl palmitate, Methoxycinnamate and Para amino benzoic acid(PABA) and other ultraviolet filters could lead to free-radical damage to the skin, a process that in theory could lead to skin cancer.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) published their guide to safe sunscreens. They reviewed over 2000 sunscreens and over 257 brands. They found more than 75% of the sunscreens contained toxic chemicals that can increase your risk of cancer and other health issues. Experts pity that  people are poisoning themselves by putting ounce-quantities of chemical sunscreens on their bodies, especially kids and pregnant or breastfeeding ladies. Studies show the reaction of these sunscreens on the hormones and are linked with early puberty of the kids.

Sunscreens are generally two types:

• Non mineral based sunscreen
• with chemicals like oxybenzone 
• thin in consistency with less stickiness
• gets absorbed by the skin and then gets into the blood very easily
• Mineral based sunscreen
• with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, 
• gooey texture
• does not get easily absorbed by the skin

Many studies have found that people are misled by the claims on high SPF sunscreen bottles.SPF values above 50+ try to trick you into believing they’ll prevent sun damage. Don’t trust them. Useful SPF protection tops out at 30 to 50. Nowadays, there are lots of spray sunscreens coming into the market. These spray sunscreens can be inhaled and causes lung damages, and they don’t cover skin completely.

Here is what you need to do. Go outdoors in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky. In case you happen to go outside during the peak hours of UV rays, first seek shade, cover up with clothing including a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses or an umbrella. If at all you need to use any sunscreen, consider zinc oxide based sunscreens rather than the ones using the dangerous oxybenzone. Please pay extra caution when applying sunscreens for growing kids.

If you find this article useful, and if you think your near and dear needs to know about this, please care to share.

Source:
http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/
http://www.skincancer.org/
http://www.doctoroz.com/article/your-sunscreen-might-be-poisoning-you
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/136119893@N07