London is pretty polluted due to the size, the stop-start traffic and too many tall buildings. Air Pollution has been linked to health effects such as lung and heart conditions and adverse pregnancy.
Oxygen is our most important nutrient. We can live without food for weeks. Without water for days and without air for seconds. Oxygen is key for breathing, growth and detoxification. There is not much we can do about the polluted air on the streets but we have the control over our oxygen quality in our homes so give these a whirl.
My 7 air purifying tips
Use natural air purifiers
100% Beeswax candles are natures air purifiers. They are great to have dotted around the house when hay fever season is upon us as well as other allergies and asthma. The beeswax is said to release negative ions that neutralise the positive ions in dust, pollutants and pollen. Himalayan salt lamps are also said to be powerful. Similarly to the beeswax they emit negative ions into the air removing toxins. They are also said to increase energy levels, aid in a better nights sleep, improve mood and decrease stress. Ok maybe they are a certain look and don't fit in with your interior scheme but having one in your bedroom could be beneficial for overall wellbeing indeed.
Click here to buy the best 100% Beeswax candles from Gold&Black.
Click here to buy a Himalayan salt lamp.
Image of Himalayan Salt Lamp from Urban Outfitters USA
Switch to natural candles
Soy candles are made from vegetable oil (soybeans) and paraffin candles are made from petroleum oil. Paraffin is a sludge waste product that fills your home with toxic chemicals contributing to indoor air pollution. Make sure your switching to soy candles made from 100% soy wax essential oils or 100% bees wax. Soy candles burn longer and are more cleaner. I personally love a candle so I mix it up between soy and 100% beeswax.
Exercise outdoors where there is good air quality
Get out there and get your breathing rate up. As the rate of your breathing increases and deepens your lungs are able to absorb more oxygen.
Air out your home daily
Opening windows is great to get fresh oxygen circulating plus shifting energy around the house.
Drink clean water and fresh vegetable juice.
Get yourself a water filter to help remove contaminants. Right now I've got a BRITA water filter jug (I'm still looking for a glass one) and the Russell Hobbs purity kettle which is glass filtered by BRITA.
Try and experiment with fresh, raw green juices as they are full of vitamins and minerals which your body utilises to aid in the uptake of oxygen and hopefully breathe a little easier.
Switch your cleaning products
Lets evaluate the ingredients in our cleaning products we're using along with detergents and synthetic fibres which are common suspects for indoor air pollution. Go to my 7 toxic free cleaning products that work to switch it up.
Use plants to oxygenate your home
During the 80's NASA studied house plants as a means of providing purer and cleaner air in space stations. Most things we bring in our homes are outgassing VOC'S (volatile organic compounds). You can't filter that our but plants sure can. I'm talking about that new carpet smell, cleaning products, air freshners, newspapers, plastics, computer keyboards, plugs, printers, plastic toys, nail varnish remover, moth balls etc. NASA came up with the following plants as the most effective. I give you the Spider Plant, Chinese Evergreen, Lilyturf, Weeping Fig, Bamboo Plant, English Ivy, Flamingo Lily, Peace Lily, Red Edged Dracaena and more! Seeing as we spend 90% of our time indoors it's probably worth a trip to the market. (FYI the Spider Plant and the Peace Lily are not recommended if you have pets.)
Image from Pinterest
Get an Air Purifier
Not the most attractive of things but Air Purifiers give you the ability to breathe in more of the pure oxygen your body needs and less of the harmful pollutants such as pollen, dust, mould, smoke and chemicals. Owning a Air Purifier gives you a healthier breathing environment and a better nights sleep.
Click here to buy an Air Purifier.