How to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution—And Boost Your Energy and Immunity in the Process
Certain compounds can trigger foggy thinking, fatigue and more
We count on our homes to be warm and cozy during winter and cool and comfortable on hot summer days. But closing doors and windows to keep out unpleasant weather (as well outdoor air pollution from triggers like wildfire smoke) can cause indoor air pollution to climb.
That’s a problem, since contaminants that lurk in the air can lead to health problems like foggy thinking and fatigue. And according to researchers reporting in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere, & Health, exposure to indoor air pollution can inflame airways and impede immunity to increase risks of cold and flu. Here’s how to keep your air clean and your energy and immunity up.
How to reduce indoor pollution
The good news? You don’t have to overhaul your entire home to breathe cleaner air and sidestep unwanted health effects. A few small changes can make a big difference in lowering indoor air pollutants so that you feel your all-time best.
Woman's World Answers
Pot these plants
Houseplants such as purple flags and nerve plants do more than just pretty up a room—they can also lower indoor toxins known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). So say researchers at the University of Georgia, who found the plants effectively removed VOCs such as benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene (TCE) from the air. Other plants that delivered air-clearing benefits in their study include asparagus fern and English ivy.
Go for green cleaners
The cleaning products we use on a daily basis can harbor high levels of energy-sapping pollutants such as carbonyls, glycol ethers and hydrocarbons. Luckily, a report published in the journal Chemosphere found certified “green” cleaners were so much lower in the chemicals that experts deemed them 50 percent safer than conventional products. For assurance that a product meets stringent green standards, check for the EPA “Safer Choice” seal on its label.
Consider a cookware switch
Nonstick cookware may be convenient, but researchers reporting in the journal Clinical Toxicology caution that when coatings containing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, found in brands such as Teflon®) are exposed to high heat, they can release toxic fumes into the air. Inhaling these vapors can cause “polymer fume fever,” a flu-like illness marked by coughing, shortness of breath, fever, chills, body aches and headaches.
A simple way to eliminate the risk: Opt for ceramic, stainless steel or cast iron cookware. According to Monisha Bhanote, MD, a culinary and integrative medicine physician and author of The Anatomy of Wellbeing, these materials don’t release harmful fumes when heated. One affordable option: Farberware Vibrance Ceramic Frying Pan.
Take a ‘lipo’ C supplement
Findings in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety suggest that supplementing with vitamin C defends against the draining inflammatory damage indoor air pollution can do. In fact, the study determined that folks who took 2,000 mg of vitamin C daily experienced significant reductions in pollution-induced inflammation within just one week.
Pro tip: For the best benefits, opt for a liposomal vitamin C supplement. Adding tiny spheres called liposomes to vitamin C increased its absorption by 77 percent in a Journal of Liposome Research study. One to try: NOW Supplements Liposomal Vitamin C.
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