Natural Allergy Relief: Living Environment
Our homes should be places of comfort, rest and tranquility. But if not taken care of properly, our homes can exacerbate our allergy symptoms and diminish our overall sense of well-being. Fortunately, there are some simple, inexpensive changes you can make to transform your home into a healthy place for the family.
- Pillows (dust mites, fungus, bacteria): Dust mites are one of the most common household allergens. They love burrowing into pillows, which is why getting dust mite covers for your pillows is an absolute must! Pillows collect not just dust mites, but bacteria, fungus and the chemicals we use on our body and hair when we sleep. That beloved pillow from your teenage years might harbor more allergens than you can count! That’s why you should buy new pillows every two years and wash them — and your sheets — weekly.
- Air ducts (mold, dust, fungus): Ducts can trap mold, dust and fungus and spread them through the air to the entire household. Inhaling these allergens day after day can cause sneezing, runny noses and even feelings of tiredness and lethargy. To reduce these airborne allergens, clean your ducts and air conditioning filters twice a year.
- Childrens’ bedroom (plastic, dust): Here are a couple tips for helping your kids breathe easy in their bedroom. First, reduce the use of plastic toys. Plastic emits xenoestrogenic chemicals which are endocrine disruptors – altering the normal functioning of hormones in the body. Not only do these chemicals evaporate into the air, but they can be ingested when children chew on their plastic toys. You can provide wooden toys instead.
Second, move the stuffed animals out of the room at night. Stuffed animals, like pillows attract
dust and can contribute to sneezing and runny noses. Make a game with your children of putting the animals to sleep in another room.
Interested in even more tips for reducing allergens in your home and feeling vibrant and allergy-free? Check out Dr. Bennett’s e-book The 7 Day Allergy Makeover
