It is easy to ignore the environmental factors when it comes to our overall health; because unlike diet, exercise and sleep, environmental factors often seem beyond our control. But there are environmental factors we can and must control if optimum health is desired.

Clean air, pure water, adequate and appropriate sunshine, avoiding toxins and chemicals are some of the environmental factors we can control.

Clean the indoor air

We might play a small part in keeping the outdoor air clean but we sure have more control over the quality of air inside our homes.  Just a simple air purifier can do so much.  Air purifiers come in different price ranges so you need to find the right one for the size of your room, the amount of dust you have around depending on your flooring type (wood vs carpet) and your budget; but this is one item you don’t wanna go with the cheaper ones; because a high quality air purifier can deliver so much more.

An air purifier helps refresh stale air and it can trap dust before it has the chance to settle, reducing build-up and leaving you with less to clean. Air purifiers remove up to 99 percent of airborne bacteria.  Small airborne particles like pollen, mold spores and other bacteria float around in the air, causing your family to get sick.  Make sure the air purifier you get is Ozone free so it doesn’t create more health issues while purifying your air. 

Increase connection to nature

There is strong scientific evidence that even three to five minutes of contact with nature can significantly reduce stress and have a complex impact on emotions, reducing anger and fear and increasing pleasant feelings.  Spending time in nature away from environmental stressors like excess noise and toxic substances should be a daily routine.

Hiking in the woods or walking barefoot on the beach a few times a week can improve blood pressure, boost mental health and decrease cancer risk.  So get out and spend some time “forest-bathing” to improve your health.  And be wise when choosing your personal care products.  Opt in for clean, natural and non-toxic products to minimize your exposure to household toxins and chemicals.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air pollution can interfere with heart health, triggering heart attacks, stroke or an irregular heart rhythm. It is also a trigger for asthmatics and can make symptoms worse.

What you can do

On hot, smoggy days, consider moving outside activities, or exercise, indoors.  For indoor air pollution, avoid using scented candles or fragrant scents; invest in a dehumidifier if you live in a humid area.  Dehumidifiers reduce humidity levels, making your home less hospitable to allergens such as dust mites, mold, and mildew.

On the other hand, if you live in a dry area and if you suffer from certain conditions like excessive dryness, allergies, etc, you might need a humidifier.

Humidifiers add moisture to the air to prevent dryness that can cause irritation in many parts of the body.  Humidifiers can be particularly effective for treating dryness of the skin, nose, throat and lips. They can also ease some of the symptoms caused by the flu or common cold.

It is funny how some might need to reduce the moisture level in their environment and some might need to add moisture but that’s what it comes down to.  You have to get to know your body; find out what helps and what doesn’t and change your environment in order to achieve the optimal health.

In my next blog post, I will cover the effect of psychology on lifestyle.  So Stay Tuned!