Knowing the quantity of irritants that are in the air right now, people who suffer with allergies as well as other breathing disorders are encouraged to find effective ways in which to clean the air they breathe. Today there is a lot more at stake when we reflect on the variety of harmful contaminants that are within our environment as a direct result of pollution. Bigger challenges of course then require improved tools to provide a solution. Enter air purifiers.
Air purifiers are complex because they are specifically designed to clear pollutants, such as pollen and other airborne irritants, as well as take the dust out of the air at the same time.
These air purifiers come in many sizes, including a practical portable version. In this variety, the air from the room is taken to the bottom of the cleaner, and then it is pushed upward through an aluminum mesh filter. This filter is where the pollutants are sealed in before the air is then moved on to the next stage of the process.
An electronic air purifier, such as the Honeywell HEPA Air Purifier, needs to be placed within an area that will see the highest amount of foot traffic, though you can put it in any of your other rooms as well.
As economical as it is useful, air purifiers do not require any special electric wiring of the home, and use roughly the same amount of electricity at a light bulb.
Understanding the amount of harmful irritants which are present in the air we breathe today, it is not at all a surprise that more people in the world are suffering with breathing troubles and allergies than ever before. Air purifiers are not the end solution, but they sure are a good start.
When people think of bamboo, the first thing that likely comes to mind is the bamboo tree of Asian descent, followed by bamboo chutes (common in asian food dishes). Few people would think of bamboo as a fabric. But bamboo fabrics made from pure bamboo fiber yarns can make excellent clothing. The trait of interest in bamboo material is its unusual ability to breathe, and its coolness. Because bamboo fiber is filled with micro-gaps and micro-holes (a physical trait of the material), a bamboo fabric has better moisture absorption and ventilation. Bamboo fiber apparel absorbs and evaporates human sweat in a split second, and thus garments feel cool and comfortable in hot weather.
Despite bamboo fabric being on the fringe of the mainstream, products such as bamboo towels, pants, and fabric accessories are manufactured and are available for purchase over the internet and in specialty stores.
Fall is often considered the most beautiful of seasons, especially in places where the turning of the leaves plays out slowly. In the Northeast and parts of the Midwest, people even go on color tours. Autumn is also the end of the lifecycle for many plants and animals. For others, it marks the start of a dormant period – bears get set for hibernation and trees become threadbare as they lose their foliage.
Unfortunately, autumn is also known as the height of allergy season, when ragweed pollen and other natural irritants float freely through the air and into unsuspecting noses. Those same allergens can follow people indoors, and in a small, enclosed space they can wreak havoc on the respiratory system. By setting up a Honeywell air purifier in your home, you can drastically reduce the chances of allergic reaction due to pollen and other airborne allergens.
To many people, moths remain a rather mysterious insect. Most of a moth’s actions – its flight through the dark night air, spurred on by the light of the moon or a distant star; its mating habits, etc. – go largely unnoticed by humans. Only when the bug infringes on our lives do we pay it much heed. Light a candle in a dark room and any moths in the vicinity will be drawn perilously close to the flame. Often, they will catch fire and die.
In some cases, moths can create a nuisance – although they do it in an indirect way. Clothes moths are attracted to wool and other organic fabrics. To them, these articles of clothing present a chance to tuck in for a hearty meal. A few decades ago, many organic fabrics were treated with an insecticide. These days most people handle their organic insect control in another way – combining effective repellent with dependable traps.
It’s a common misconception that cotton is the king of all bedding materials. While cotton might be the most popular fabric on the scene, it’s not necessarily the most desirable. For starters, cotton crops are often slathered with pesticides and harsh chemicals before they are even picked. By the time the material is finally turned into fabric, it’s drenched with bleach and other artificial substances.
Bamboo bedding, on the other hand, is all-natural and untouched pesticides and other undesirable chemicals. Just like with cotton, you can evaluate the softness and durability of bamboo sheets by looking at the thread count. Hold the sheets up to a light source and make a mental note of your findings. If the sheets are mostly opaque, they should be comfortable and sturdy. If they’re translucent, they are thin and won’t last long.
As any proud homeowner will attest, it takes hard work and dedication to get your lawn and garden up to snuff after a long winter. When the snow melts, there’s an abundance of debris to be raked and cleared away. Flower beds must be dug and fresh bulbs planted. With all these tasks and more vying for your attention, it’s easy to forget about the importance of pruning your trees.
The aesthetic advantages of pruning are obvious, but there are significant health and safety benefits to the practice as well. Reduce the likelihood of falling branches and limbs causing injury to you and your family members by getting out the gardening tools and eliminating the dead patches of trees. Trimming dead branches promotes healthy growth in the future. Lush, green trees and shrubs should be the centerpiece of your well-manicured yard.
When allergies begin to flare up, many people mistakenly limit their exposure to the outdoors. They have been misled to believe that most of the triggers that aggravate allergies are limited to the outside world. In fact, the vast majority of allergens, including second-hand cigarette smoke, pollen, pet dander and mold, are found in abundance inside the average American home.
In order to limit and eventually eliminate these allergens, it’s always a good idea to have an air purifier on hand. Consider the size of a given room before selecting an applicable purifier. High Efficiency Particulate Arresting filters, better known as HEPA air purifiers, remove more than 99 percent of air pollutants from the area, so they are practically essential in the war against allergies.
I hate to judge, but some of the food my friends feed their dogs is practically unthinkable. Most pet owners know that table scraps are only acceptable in strict moderation, and that too much human food can cause severe digestive problems. But what about those mainstream, brand-name dog foods? Could it be that they are just as harmful in their own way? According to my veterinarian, the answer is yes.
Commercial dog foods often contain sky-high levels of sodium and preservatives, which can be detrimental to a canine’s health. Worse yet, mainstream dog food is not necessarily free of pesticides. Organic dog food, on the other hand, is guaranteed to be all-natural and bereft of harmful chemicals. The whole grains used to create the food come from reliable sources, and pesticides don’t come into contact with the food at any point.
For many people, bamboo brings to mind exotic furniture and panda food. But this versatile crop is more than just a favorite snack for those lovable creatures. Bamboo fibers can be used to create fabric, which in turn creates some of the softest sheets known to man. Cotton gets a lot of the glory, but case studies have shown that people often prefer the downy comfort of bamboo sheets.
Bamboo is available in abundance in many parts of the world. The crop grows quickly and easily, and it is incredibly sustainable compared to most commercially grown plants. Bamboo material absorbs about three times as much moisture as cotton, meaning that the sheets remain dry and comfortable on even the hottest of summer nights.
Saturday-
Ta Daaaaah!
I’ve reached my second weight loss goal! I’ve lost 20 pounds. Actually, I’ve lost 21. I’ve cleansed my body of the bad stuff of last week and I’m back on track. After eating dairy, meat and some fats, I felt awful. My body had gone for almost eight weeks without it and it was like taking poison. It took several days to clear that stuff out of my system, but now I feel fine.
I’ve pulled out my dehydrators and am drying all kinds of things. Fuji apples make the most wonderful apple chips. They’re like potato chips, but they’re sweet, crunchy and completely good for you because there’s no oils. It’s all completely natural. I gave some to my neighbor and they went nuts for them. The only problem is that they’re so wonderfully addicting. I’m eating them up almost as fast as I can make them. They’re way better than the store-bought apple chips. At least though, eating several apples (even in the form of chips) each day is good for you. Even though the apples are dry, they retain their fiber content. One thing you must remember…. drink lots of water when you eat dehydrated foods. If you don’t, you will become horribly constipated.
I’ve dried zucchini, bananas (didn’t like them), apples, and peaches. I bought a box of peaches and they ripened to fast. I prepped them and slapped them onto the dehydrators. Tonight, they were ready. Yum! I’m thinking about drying chunks for putting on cereals too.
Sunday-
Although there hasn’t been any change in my weight today, I realize that I’ve been a little obsessed with getting on the scale. For the past eight weeks, it had become a morning ritual. I realize it can be encouraging and empowering, but at the same time, it can be discouraging for those reading this blog who are waiting for the numbers to drop and they aren’t dropping as fast as they would like.
Something important to note though, even though I ate some things that were not particularly good for me, my weight didn’t balloon, and after returning to my eating regime, my weight dropped right back down. I had eaten dessert – something I hadn’t done for eight weeks. That could have been dangerous. I found myself craving sweets.
Thursday-
I have now lost a grand total of 25 pounds in less than ten weeks. I haven’t weighed this little for many years. Today, my daughter registers for school. I’m in a terrifically good mood and well, frankly, I’m feeling a little sassy (in a still overweight kind of way). I dressed nicely today. My husband asked me why I was all dressed up and I told him, “because I can. I’ve lost a lot of weight, I feel good, I look good, so I’m going to dress the part.”
“Well good for you!” was his reply with a smile.
What can I say? I got on the scale this morning and got an attitude. It’s not that I’m so thin, but I’m thinner than I was. Next week, I’ll be thinner than this. It’s all little stepping stones to the ultimate goal. Each step is a small victory and I’m going to savor each one.