Have you heard of formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene? They are all air pollutants that can be found inside your house. Indoor air pollution can trigger several health problems in people. Some of them include:
How can you purify the air inside your home?
The easiest way to purify the air inside your house is through indoor plants. The ‘Clean Air Study’ carried out by the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) had found that there are several plants that can purify the air inside our homes. They can remove germs, dust and toxins and help you breathe fresher air indoors.
Florist’s chrysanthemums or “mums” are ranked the highest for air purification. They’re shown to eliminate common toxins as well as ammonia. Treat yourself to a fresh pot, as this flower only blooms for about six weeks.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
5 best indoor plants for purifying the air inside your house –
Do you think that you are not a ‘plant person’? Well, think again. Having plants in your house will not only result in cleaner air but also pretty corners and pictures for Instagram. Moreover, you won’t have to burn a hole in your pocket by investing in expensive air purifiers.
Below are some indoor plants that can get the job done for you:
Is there anything this super-plant cannot do? Probably not. Aloe vera is excellent at cleaning benzene and formaldehyde from the air inside your house. These toxins are found in floor finishes, varnishes and detergents. Apart from cleaning the air, you can also use it to treat cuts and burns very effectively.
Taking care: Water once every 2-3 weeks and ensure it gets consistent sunlight.
Read More: 9 Aloe Vera Benefits for Skin & Face
This is one of the top indoor plants that help in cleaning the air. Peace lilies help by breaking down and neutralizing toxic gases like carbon monoxide, acetone, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde and benzene. Not only can they improve air quality by 60%, but they can also keep shower curtains and tiles free from mildew.
Taking care: Water once a week and keep in medium, indirect sunlight.
Pothos is another great indoor plant that has been shown to lower indoor ozone levels, which can make it easier to breathe and reduce your risk for respiratory ailments.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Think flowering plants are for décor only? Chrysanthemums help in filtering many toxins including benzene and ammonia. These toxins are found abundantly inside the house in objects like plastics, glue and detergents. You can keep chrysanthemums in your living room or kitchen to brighten up any corner while enjoying its benefits.
Taking care: Place it near a window that receives plenty of sunlight.
This is one of the easiest plants to take care of. If you have no prior experience in taking care of plants, opt for a snake plant. Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, it is known for filtering toxic gases. Not just that, these yellow-tipped succulents release a lot of oxygen at night that can help you breathe better while you are asleep.
The best place for a snake plant is inside the bedroom. While most plants produce carbon dioxide at night, snake plants continue to produce a lot of oxygen.
Taking care: Do not overwater as the roots can rot in moist soil.
Do you find spiders to be scary? This plant is anything but scary. Another great option for houseplant newbies, spider plants can battle carbon monoxide and xylene very effectively. Xylene is a solvent used in rubber and printing industries and is very harmful to humans. This plant is also very pet-friendly.
Taking care: They pretty much take care of themselves. You can re-pot the tiny plants and have a whole lot of low maintenance natural air purifiers inside your house.
Bonus- Some other plants that work equally well are the English Ivy, Pothos, Chinese evergreen, Weeping fig and the Broad lady palm.
Invest in these plants to purify the air and also make your home look prettier than ever before.
Also Read: Butterfly Pea Flower: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Yes, our favourite festival is right around the corner. Diwali – the ‘Festival of Lights’ is here to brighten our lives yet again! It’s time to share sweets, gifts and light diyas. While you are busy enjoying this festival of joy and togetherness, you need to watch out for a few things that can end up harming your health if you are not careful.
Here are a few tips that will ensure that your Diwali is not just happy but also healthy-
1. Put a Brake on Binging
Diwali is intimately associated with sweets! When guests come over or when you go over to your friend’s house then as per tradition, sweets will be passed around. Very tough to say ”No” right?
But do keep in mind the sweets you intake are loaded with calories and you may end up putting on some unnecessary kilos in just a few days if you binge too much on them. Also, they instantly raise your blood sugar level which is harmful not just for people with diabetes but even those who have normal blood sugar levels.
So what do you do? You should opt for small portion sizes. We all know anything in excess is poison, right? And don’t forget to end your meals with yoghurt or sour curd because that helps with digestion.
A quick tip-
Drink plenty of water to detoxify your system and prevent indigestion.
In my practice over the years i have seen that children with asthma have exacerbations during diwali due to the crackers, as it increases the attacks of asthma. Hence it is recommended that children with asthma should always stay away from crackers.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
2. Curb the noise demon
India has been waging a losing war against noise pollution during Diwali for years. The crackers that go off with thunderous bangs easily breach 100 Decibels which is 30% more than the permissible limit. Such high decibel sounds can have major health complications for children and the elderly. So, let’s take a pledge to be a more responsible citizen and scale down on noise pollution this Diwali.
A quick tip-
Avoid bursting crackers yourself and provide earplugs to kids and the elderly in the house.
3. Air Pollution is a Big Concern
Fireworks in the sky make for a beautiful sight, don’t they? But what about the smoke and harmful fumes that they emit? That can corrode your lungs and is totally not worth it. Also, it takes a very long time for the outside air to clean itself up. So till that happens, you keep inhaling those harmful chemicals. Over time, this can result in fatal respiratory illnesses like bronchitis and wheezing.
Here are a few things you can do to limit your exposure to the fumes-
Firecrackers may cause skin burns if precautions are not followed. While it may be very tempting, DO NOT pop the blisters on the burn. Popping a blister creates an easy and accessible pathway for bacteria to get into the wound, Cool the burn down with cool water, a dry, nonstick, sterile bandage helps.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
4. Sleep Soundly
Diwali is celebrated in the evening but the celebrations at times tend to drag on well into the night. This could disturb your regular sleep cycle and cause you to sleep less. Insufficient sleep can result in fatigue, mood swings, and tiredness. And when your body does not feel well, Diwali too won’t be the same.
To ensure you are at your best for the celebrations, ensure that you don’t compromise on sleep.
A quick tip-
Take a long nap in the afternoon so that your sleep quota for the day is not disturbed.
A few other safe Diwali tips–
Diwali is about sharing happiness, don’t let it be the cause of misery. With a few simple measures, we all can enjoy a safe, happy and healthy Diwali.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
