Nowadays, it seems that more and more people have been focusing on making the change to a healthier lifestyle. Even those who don’t know how, they try doing their best at copying those who do; and who can blame them? There is no instruction manual. But, what we can offer are a bunch of ideas that can point you towards the right direction.
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Grow a Garden
You’d be surprised that some of the best suggestions are the simplest, most basic steps towards a healthy life. What is healthier than a small garden? With a garden, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint, providing cleaner air for your family, and finally, providing your home with more vegetables or fruits. Not only that, but also some produce isn’t purely organic; more often than not, chemicals are added in the form of pesticides and fertilizers. These chemicals are not good for a person’s health which is why growing your own garden is a much healthier option, since you get to be in control of what you’re consuming.
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Install a Bathroom Vent Fan
During showers, a non-ventilated bathroom can fill up with steam increasingly fast. Now this can negatively affect our health in two ways. First of all, some people have a hard time dealing with the vapors. Poor oxygenation leads to loss of consciousness which can lead to severe brain damage. Secondly, accumulated water vapor results in the growth of mold which is the cause of several health issues. Having proper ventilation within a bathroom can save you all of that trouble.
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Breathe High Quality Air
People ignore the fact that houseplants are so much more than just simple pieces of decoration. They are, after all, plants. Meaning, they absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. In addition to plants, it is extremely helpful if you make a DIY air purifier. All what you need to do is to strap a HEPA filter on a fan; and that’s only one way out of many! The effect of the purifier and the plants together is guaranteed to increase the air quality in your house.
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Go for Linoleum Flooring
As surprising as it sounds, different types of flooring can actually impact the health of a house’s residents. However, when you look deeper into the subject, it is only logical that they have an effect. Unlike vinyl flooring; which is made of a combination of chemicals, including PVC, Linoleum flooring is manufactured using only natural materials. Granted, vinyl flooring is shinier and has a more modern look; yet, it also contains some toxins. Not to mention, Linoleum doesn’t collect as much dust particles, or bacteria, other types of floor coverings.
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Get a Water Filter
Most people usually blank out over the fact that one can actually get clean, drinkable water from their own tap. Of course, taps have always been seen as an extremely unhealthy water source but that’s a crude generalization. If you have good water filters, then there shouldn’t be a reason your tap water isn’t perfectly safe. Keep in mind, though, that unclean water can also have an effect on skin; rashes and infections are not uncommon among places where water has a high chlorine percentage. This is why to achieve a healthier lifestyle, it is important to filter not only drinking water, but all water coming into your house. For this reason, it is advised to invest in a whole house filter which can be a complicated process given the number of available types of filtration. And if you’re the kind who likes to get into the DIY approach, then there are ways to do that. Fortunately, according to BOS, at least the installation process is simple; it only requires basic plumbing skills and some tools.
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Radon Testing
It is not a bad idea to make a habit out of testing for radon in your house. After all, it is a major health concern, and one of the main causes of cancer. While the gas is hard to detect given that it is without color or smell, a simple DIY test kit can be of great help. All what you need to do is follow the directions on your kit, and you’ll be good to go.
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Make Your Own Air Freshener
Most, if not all, air fresheners are completely laden with chemicals which can be extremely harmful for people; especially, those of us with respiratory disorders. With constant use, chemical-based fresheners act as constant irritators for the lungs which can cause cancer. This is why it is recommended to make your own all-natural freshener. The steps are easy, you just need to boil a pot of water, add a cinnamon stick or two, and some vanilla extract. Within a little amount of time, your house will be smelling like a delicious apple pie.
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Take Care of Your Lawn
Above, we talked about how chemicals can be harmful to us when added to produce but, we didn’t mention anything about how harmful they can be to the product itself. Despite the fact that chemical-based fertilizers are a lot more effective than organic fertilizers, they can have a detrimental effect on a plant’s immunity system. By now, you should understand that a diseased lawn can pose a serious health threat. So, in order to avoid risking your or your family’s health it is recommended that you use organic fertilizers.
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Nylon is the Way to Go
Vinyl shower curtains are made of PVC which can be harmful due to the percentage of phthalates it contains. Health experts recommend that you use nylon shower curtains or, at least, polyester ones so, as to avoid any risks due to the direct exposure to phthalates.
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Dampen the Ashes in Your Fireplace
We all know how toxic carbon monoxide is. One of the places where it is usually found is the fireplace which makes it all the more necessary to give it a regular cleaning. However, when doing so, there is a chance of the toxic ashes going airborne and spreading in the house. To avoid so, you can try to dampen the ashes just a little bit to settle them down before you sweep.
Our health is not something to be treated lightly. In other words, there is no such thing as too insignificant of a precaution. If you can protect your health even a little then, it is recommended that you do so. Finally, as a general rule, keep in mind that going natural is always better. So, if you ever find yourself at a crossroads, not knowing what’s the healthiest option for your household, just go with less chemicals and more natural components.