The New Year is typically a time of new beginnings, of diet and fitness regimes, and a chance to detox your body and mind.
However, it might not be just your body that’s in need of a detox, but your home as well. We spend large amounts of time in our home environment, and a few simple steps can make sure it is as healthy as possible for ourselves and our families.
The indoor environment can play unwitting host to many hidden threats to good health, triggering coughs, colds, sneezes, wheezes and allergic reaction.
Maxima Skelton, of family-run business The Healthy House, knows first-hand how important it is to maintain a healthy environment. Both Maxima and her daughter suffered from severe sensitivities that caused a range of symptoms, including chronic fatigue, depression, and general illness. It was only by stripping their home of synthetic materials, and installing air purifying systems, that they were able to live a normal life. Eventually the family also moved from Canada to the UK to benefit from the milder winter climate.
For the last 20 years Maxima has supported around 50,000 people who suffer from allergies and sensitivities, providing support, advice and tried-and-tested products.
Here she lists some of her top suggestions for giving your home that much-needed New Year detox. All of the products have been tested, and are subject to Trading Standards regulations. The Healthy House website – www.healthy-house.co.uk – has a wealth of information on allergies, products and top tips.
Mould:
Although most of us associate mould with the nasty looking green stuff that grows on bread, it is commonly found in most homes, and can trigger off all kinds of reactions – commonly runny noses, watery eyes and sneezes, and in severe cases illness and depression. As we often don’t know it is there, a MouldCheck kit can be the solution. This simple to use kit rates your mould levels within a few days, enabling you to decide whether it is enough of a problem to take further action, such as following up with a Mould Solution kit. The MouldCheck was used by Maxima herself to make sure her home was mould-free. The kit is available from The Healthy House for £12.99, and follow-up mould products are available from £12.25.
Water purifiers:
Sensitive or allergic people can react extremely badly to water, either the water they bathe in or drink. In particular, chlorine – which is added to water to control bacteria – can be a major irritant for conditions like eczema. Use of a simple product such as the Crystal Ball Bath Dechlorinator or a shower filter can make a big difference. Both items can help prevent flare-ups of eczema by removing vast amounts of chlorine from domestic bathing water. Both are also affordable (from £40.85, or £73.53 as a set), and simple to use. If chlorine in drinking water is a concern, then the stainless steel gravity water filter could be of interest. The filter will hold 8 litres of drinking water, and removes in excess of 97% of chlorine, 99.999% of pathogenic organisms such as bacteria: E-coli, cholera, typhoid and cysts: cryptosporidium and giardia. The Super SterasylTM filters will also reduce chemicals, and a heavy metal filter option is also available. The large yet portable filter provides a day’s water and requires no plumbing. Available from £104.
Dust mites:
Dust mites are in all our homes, and for many people are the cause of annoying conditions such as waking up with a runny noses; sneezes, or asthma. Relatively simple steps can help to reduce or even eliminate the problem. Using dust mite proof bedding is essential as it eliminates exposure to the dust mite while you are in bed. The dust mite proof barrier cases offered by The Healthy House have been tested by the Medical Entomology Department in Cambridge and found to act as a barrier against the house dust mite, and are available from £7.50. You could also consider a product like the Airfree, an air steriliser that is of great benefit to people who suffer from dust mite allergies, hay fever or mould allergies. Within fourteen to twenty one days the level of microorganisms and allergens will have been reduced by 85% and from then on are kept to a minimum. Airfree and similar products are available from £119.
Paints and varnishes:
You may be thinking of redecorating for the New Year – in which case it is worth considering the paints and products that you use on your walls. Ecos paints and varnishes offer a completely unique range of decorative finishes. The range has been independently tested to reveal 0.0% VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).VOCs are a major contributor to low-level atmospheric pollution and the use of these compounds leads to global warming. In addition, the use of solvent-based paints is a major cause of Sick Building Syndrome, Danish Painter's Syndrome, asthma, allergies, chemical sensitivities and the general flu-like symptoms reported by many people using conventional paints including Matt and Silk wall paints. Products are available from The Healthy House from £13.70.
S.A.D:
Most people are now familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the way it can result in fatigue, depression, food cravings and general anxiety. As there are many dark days ahead, a simple solution for the home could be the LitePod – a portable light box that can be used at home or at work. Lack of light causes an increase in the production of Melatonin (the hormone that makes us sleep at night), and a reduction of Serotonin, the lack of which causes depression. The exposure to bright light therapy reverses the process, and has the additional benefit of being drug free. By treating yourself daily with a light box the symptoms of S.A.D. can be alleviated and the gloom of winter reduced. Studies have also shown that bright light therapy can prove beneficial for pre-menstrual syndrome, jet lag, shift work disorientation, insomnia and with some cases of MS and ME.
The Healthy House offers a range of light boxes to rent or purchase. Rental prices start at £19 (ex VAT) per month for the LitePod. Each box is charged at a monthly rate. The minimum rental period is one month and if you decide to purchase the box you will get the first month’s rental deducted from the purchase price. This is ideal for anyone who is not sure that light therapy will help them or for those on a tight budget. This light box is also available to purchase at £105 ex VAT.
For further information, please contact The Healthy House, either at www.healthy-house.co.uk, or on 0845 450 5950. For media information, please contact Debbie Johnson on 0791 9038443, or at debbiemjohnson@hotmail.com, or Maxima Skelton on 01453 752216, maxima@healthy-house.co.uk