Become a Healthier You

Healthy Home: Mold Detection Through Smell, Touch, and Sight

Evelyn Parham — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:00:12 +0000

This is a guest post written by Ashely O’Conner.

Our house keeps us safe in different ways specifically from the changing weather. Imagine without a home, we would be sleeping on the streets – chilling because of the cold gusts of the wind. Did you know that our home has likewise impact on our health? If you live in a dirty environment, chances are you can easily acquire virus and get sick. For this reason, it is vital to take care of our home as a preventive measure. “Health is wealth” as the saying goes.

One way to care for our dwelling is keeping it clean. But there are several elements that can create havoc in our house. So, it is important to dealt with it instantaneously. If you want to check your home for possible mold growth, there are simple things you can do. Pretty simple indeed! Just make use of your senses! By using these senses, you can easily detect which part of your home is infested.

Sniff Like Honey Bear

FYI: Honey bear has the best sense of smelling.

Molds often have distinct smell – strong and mildewy. Open those kitchen cabinets and try to smell the inside. But not too close, you don’t wanna inhale this microorganism as well as the dust. Be aware of the stinky odor. If you smell something strong, chances are molds accumulate in the area. The stronger the smell, the bigger the affected area. Airborne spores can cause difficulty in breathing. Therefore if molds cover larger space, the more spores are produced.

Touch Like Manatee

FYI: Manatee (sea cow) is widely known as one of the animals with the best sense of touch.

If you do not want to smell the odor of the mold, use your hands to detect the affected spots. Check everywhere in your house since molds can grow at any place, any surface. Touching is ideal in checking difficult areas including cabinetry below the sink and pipes attached in higher places. Molds are soft to touch as they are cottony. Try to reach out your hand in those hidden places and touch the wall or corners. If you touch something velvety, it is surely mold formation. Be sure to wash your hands after feeling the mold to get rid of the spores.

Be as Sharp as an Eagle

FYI: Eagles are among those animals with very sharp eyesight.

Well then, if you don’t wanna smell nor touch the molds, you can just use your eyes. Take a look at those areas which often get wet. Or, those spots with moist. Molds tend to develop in areas that are moistened. Check if you can see something that looks fuzzy. They come varied colors, such as orange, green, black, purple, pink and brown. The color usually vary based on the surface. For instance, brownish or greenish molds can be seen on wood surface. Meanwhile, other colors like pink and orange develop on food or carpets.

Mold detection is quite simple. Make sure you use proper equipment when doing the inspection to protect yourself, like surgical mask and goggles. In case you do not have time to carry out these tests, there are establishments offering mold test services, such as Lincoln Military Housing mold inspector. Mold test provider can quickly determine the affected spots.

Remember a healthy home is a safe haven for you and your children. Make your home free from virus-carrying elements. Prevention is better than cure!

Author Bio:

Ashley O’connor is a blogger, who have been in the industry for more than four years. She writes posts related to home improvement, family matters and frugal living. She strongly believes that making your home comfortable and more livable does not require you to spend a fortune. She and her friends maintain their own blog at www.wordbaristas.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AshleyOconnor, Google+ or add her on Facebook.

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Spring Detox Program for 30-Day Meal

Evelyn Parham — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:00:34 +0000

This is a guest post written by Iryna Ostapets.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, obesity is a big factor to the deterioration of one’s health. It affects the respiratory, reproductive, memory and also the mood of a person. Obesity, which is a chronic disease can lead to illnesses that are life threatening and even fatal. The treatment of this condition is not instant. Treatment should be a lifelong commitment which will have to include good eating habits, regular physical exercise and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.

Toxic buildup is harmful to the body

When too much toxins accumulate in the body, it could involve the fatty tissues that may contribute to the development of obesity. As more fats accumulate in the body, the more likely chemical and toxic buildups occur. These toxins are known to prevent our body from burning fat. According to the Nevada’s Division of Biochemistry, chemical toxins weaken a special coenzyme that helps the body to burn fat more effectively by 20%.

Remove toxic wastes with the Spring Detox Program

According to health experts, there are ways to remove and cleanse the body from these harmful toxins. A diet program like the Spring Detox Program for 30-day meal plan would be a perfect step to reduce the toxic build-up in the body. This program helps in achieving weight loss as well. This 30 day diet program is specifically designed to bring about a rejuvenating experience that would help eliminate toxins for a healthy digestive system.

The Spring Detox Program for 30-day meal helps individuals attain their health goals towards reducing toxic buildups in the body. The program also includes a health promoting diet that will help the detoxification process in the body. One will follow a healthy recipe that will be a good bodily cleansing regimen. The meal plan will motivate individuals to practice a healthy lifestyle through healthy eating habits that they can maintain for a long term. The program also helps one identify unhealthy foods that should be avoided in their diet plan.

Who are not good candidates for the Spring Detox Program

While the 30 day program is a safe meal plan for maintaining a healthy weight, it is not for everyone. It is worth noting that there are conditions that are contraindicated in the program and the following must be taken with high consideration before participating in the 30 day meal plan:

This program is not suited for pregnant women or suspecting to be pregnant. It is also not recommended for women who are breastfeeding.
This program is not recommended for people under the age of 18.
This program is also not recommended for people with having diseases like cancer, type 1 diabetes and liver disease like hepatitis and cirrhosis or other similar illnesses.
People who are also taking in medications for bipolar disorder or other similar illnesses are also prohibited to take the program.
It is also contraindicated for people who have known allergies to the different ingredients to the diet that is provided in this program.
It is also important to consult your doctor before intending to start this diet program. This is not designed to treat or cure any diseases. And also not intended to diagnose any disease or illnesses.

Always bear in mind that no money can buy health. We only have one body and let’s aim for good health for us to live in longevity. The Spring Detox Program 30-day meal plan is optimized for promoting a healthy diet for detoxification but it must be taken with precaution to ensure its effectiveness in maintaining your ideal weight.

About the Author:

Iryna Ostapets is a health writer and blogger that advocating health news via online exposures and she is really interested in healthy living and sport. She runs her own site: RaiPharamcies.

Image courtesy of Praisaeng / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Add Power Walking To Your Exercise Routine

Aqiyl Henry — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:30:57 +0000

Today our guest blogger is Aqiyl Henry.

Evelyn recently posted an important article about maintaining your health with daily exercise routines. Exercising is sometimes looked upon as a daunting task and is a reason why we may not exercise daily. But there is an exercise that is not stressful, can make you lose weight, and can improve your cardio.

Power-walking is here to rescue you! I started power-walking to take pressure of my knees. I used to jog and skip rope a lot which took its toll on my knees, which resulted in me having surgery on my knee.

I didn’t want to continue to put that type of pressure on my knees, but I did want cardio and leg strengthening I gained from running and I ran into power-walking.

Power-walking is a great exercise to burn calories and lose weight, and surprisingly it will strengthen and tone your legs, stomach, back, and arms. It is a total body workout and will tone and strengthen your body without putting a lot of stress on it. The key is to power-walk with correct technique. Using the correct technique is vital to maximize the full benefits of power-walking.

Power-walking Instructions:

1) Wear a good pair of sneakers

2) Warm up first

3) Start slow and gradually work your way up to 3.5 to 4 miles per hour

4) Align the posture by keeping the back straight and the shoulders rolled back and down

5) Bend the elbows and keep them close to the body, while pumping the arms up and down so that the hands come to shoulder height or higher

6) Take short strides, push off the back leg and roll the feet landing from mid-sole to toe. A power walk should last between 20-60 minutes

7) Cool down period at a speed of 2 -2.5 miles an hour

I have added a video which goes over the steps above.

Author Bio:

Aqiyl Henry writes for Natural Life Energy which explores the benefits of a whole food, plant based diet, and its effects on alkalizing the body and fighting disease, cancer, viruses, bacteria, and fungus in the body. Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, increases energy, controls weight, and improves mood, so we must also look to exercise along with eating a healthy diet to promote healthy living.

9 Daily Tricks Can Improve Your Memory

Evelyn Parham — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:00:53 +0000

This is a guest post written by Iryna Ostapets

It is quite frustrating to find yourself in a situation when you experience a memory block out. Your memory does falter especially when you start growing old or when you are stressed. But having a poor memory is something that you can manage by practicing these simple tricks that will help sharpen your memory function.

1. Give meaning on codes

You inserted your ATM card into the ATM machine and you suddenly find yourself dumbfounded because you forgot your PIN. This may be a temporary mental block out but imagine how frustrating it could be. In order to improve your memory on coding information such as your PIN, user name and password for your financial or personal accounts, experts suggest to give meaning on codes to retain them in our long term memory. According to Dr. Zaldy Tan, the author of theAge-Proof Your Mind, unless you keep a meaning to an information, the brain will likely store it as part of your short term memory that you can easily fail to remember in the long term. Associating codes and passwords with relevant meaning such as birth dates of your loved ones will help the brain retain the information better.

2. Get enough sleep

A brain with enough rest and sleep is likely more active in memory retention and activities like problem solving and critical thinking. If you are sleep deprived, the brain does not function well and the memory falters. Research shows that the brain is able to recuperate while sleeping, making it more active and refreshed to function well the moment you wake up. Your memory is enhanced and the brain is able to perform efficiently in processing information in your mental state.

3. Bring more oxygen to the brain through exercise

Performing exercise is a brain stimulating activity because it brings more oxygen to the brain. As you do some physical activities, you improve the blood circulation in the body. Consequently, the blood carries oxygen to the brain helping it to be highly functional in carrying out its physiological functions such as an active brain function and enhanced memory.

4. Establish a routine and be organized

In case you forgot where you keep your wallet or car keys, you need not have to worry because you already established a routine where you usually keep things for easy retrieval. Being consistent is the key in order to help your memory retain this information. If for instance you routinely place your car key on a dish in a particular area of your home or your wallet in a particular drawer every day, you will not have any trouble in finding misplaced items because your brain is already accustomed of doing this same routine every day. Sometimes you need to establish a good routine and habit in order to maintain an active memory.

5. Remember words by using substitutes

Sometimes our mind could not instantly remember the words that we are trying to retrieve from our memory. It is too common for us to find ourselves saying “The word is at the tip of my tongue!” In order to help the brain retrieve the word in our memory, try to use substitute word that means the same to the word you are trying to recall or try to focus on images that would describe it. Soon enough, the word will just naturally show up in your mind. The trick is not to lose connection to the word you are trying to remember.

6. Be in control of stress

Stress is the greatest foe of the brain and memory. Whenever the mind and body are under stress, they lose their ability to function well resulting to poor thinking and delayed memory recall. Chronic stress occurs when a person is unable to control the causes of their stress and in the long term stressful condition could cause the brain to release harmful chemicals that could affect the brain cells. This eventually affects the hippocampus which is that part of the brain which is the seat of memory. Try to relax, learn to meditate and keep stress in check to prevent a memory lapse caused by stress.

7. Nourish the brain with brain boosting nutrients

The brain is not a machine. It needs a supply of energy in order to function well. That is why it is essential to feed the brain with brain boosting nutrients such as foods that are high in omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. A healthy brain is functionally active in retrieving old memories and storing new ones.

8. Read and memorize aloud

Reading and memorizing something aloud will often do the trick of helping you activate your memory function. To some people, expressing their thoughts aloud makes it easier for them to remember something. If this trick works well for you then you are not precluded to give your brain some mental exercise by memorizing something aloud to keep it working. Just make sure it will not irritate someone else who can hear you!

9. Meditation is good for the brain

There are widely accepted studies that support the claim that meditation could cause some physical activities in the brain that enhance memory recall and function. Keeping the mind off from stress and letting it commune with the body and spirit peacefully is one way of maintaining mental health which can essentially improve your memory function.

About the Author:

Iryna Ostapets is a health writer and blogger that advocating health news via online exposures. She is really interested in healthy living and sport. She would like to help people to stay healthy and happy via the change of the lifestyle. She really likes writing about natural health, nutrition, fitness, healthy tips and beauty. She runs her own site: RaiPharamcies. She has a master’s degree in English and builds experience in the Medical Writing. She had an advanced training in the medical field. Now Iryna earns continuing education certificates from the AMWA.

Image courtesy of Stock Images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Maintain Your Health by Daily Exercise Routines

Evelyn Parham — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:11:19 +0000

This is a guest post written by Collin Zauner.

Wellness and good health can be achieved with daily exercise and proper diet. If you know how to prepare healthy and balanced meals, you can focus on the daily routines. It can be hard for some people to exercise because of their busy lifestyle, but now is the right time to change.

There are many exercise routines that you can choose from. You can pick a routine that works best for you and one that you can adhere to in order to achieve your fitness goals. If you can exercise regularly, you can enjoy the following benefits:

Improve your well being and strength
Decrease the risks of heart diseases
Improve the health of your heart

It is very important that you choose a program that is safe and effective. Don’t forget to do your homework about the options that are available to you. By doing so, you can establish a daily exercise routine that is not overly complicated and easy to follow.

In most cases, the right exercise program will include aerobic exercises like walking, swimming, or cycling. The moderate intensity activities must be performed at least 30-40 minutes per session. The secret is continuous activities to get rid of unwanted calories and stored fats.

Perhaps you’re wondering that daily exercise is too much. Some say that you have to spend an hour each day for your exercise routine. For most people, this is too much. Just keep in mind that daily exercises are performed to maintain health and to lower the cardiac risks. On the average, you should exercise twenty to thirty minutes daily.

However, if your aim is to lose weight or get rid of stubborn fats, you will need to decide on the appropriate workouts to help you achieve what you want. If you want to proceed with an hour of daily exercise, you may do so. Still, a great number of people will stick with the under 30-minute option especially the professionals.

Before you get involved in exercise routines, you must be aware of the things you must do. There is a need to perform warm ups for a couple of minutes that includes stretching, low intensity workouts, and a variety of motion activities inside the house or office. This is followed by the conditioning exercises or the main workout, then the cool down exercises.

Consult your doctor first, so that you can determine the safe level for you to exercise and achieve the best of health.

Author Bio:

Collin Zauner is a content specialist for www.AllWorkoutRoutines.com. Through All Workout Routines’ website, he provides informative articles on home workout plans and exercise routines.

Image courtesy of Stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

5 Tips to Help You Kick Food Cravings in the Butt

Evelyn Parham — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:43 +0000

It has been almost a month since I started eating to live. What does this mean? It means that I am eating foods that are nutrient-dense or those foods that are high in nutrients.

I am happy to tell you, that I have not had any cravings for the junk foods (sweets, fries, and pretzels). This is truly amazing, because all I did to alleviate the junk foods, was to eat more nutrient-dense foods.

I decided to share these tips with you because they have helped me and I know they will help you, especially if you are trying to get a handle on the food cravings.

Tip # 1 Eat more nutrient-dense foods

When the body craves junk food, it is the body’s cry for the nutrients that it is not getting. Nutrient-dense foods are high in nutrients. These are the highest nutrient-dense foods: raw leafy green vegetables, solid green vegetables, non-green, non-starchy vegetables, beans/legumes, fresh fruits, starchy vegetables, whole grains and raw nuts and seeds. (Eat to Live)

Tip # 2 Have an exercise routine

Having an exercise routine helps keep your mind focused on improving your body. When you are focused on improving your body and staying fit, you make better food choices.

Tip # 3 Don’t bring junk food in your home

If you don’t have those food that you crave in your home, then it is easier for you to avoid the food. Family members might cause you have slip, because they bring the food in the house. If this happens tell your family member that you are not eating those foods anymore. Ask your family to help you by not bringing those foods into the home.

Tip # 4 Eat before you leave home to avoid temptation

Everyone enjoys eating out, but eating out can result in you eating those foods that you crave. Eating before you leave home helps you avoid those foods that you crave when you are out. If you happen to grab a bite to eat while you are out, you will more than likely not eat too much.

Tip # 5 Plan a time when you eat the food that you crave

Plan a time when you eat the food that you crave. When you eat the food that you crave, you will observe that your taste buds have changed and that the food doesn’t taste as good as remember. This results in you not craving for that food anymore.

Final Words

Kicking food cravings in the butt is not easy. It is one of the most challenging things that you can do. However, if you stick with eating nutrient-dense foods, you will discover that you will not have the food cravings that you once had.

When you see that you no longer have the food cravings, you will make it a priority to eat more nutrient-dense foods. Give it a try, you’ll be glad you did.

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Top 6 Ways of Confirming the Biological Father of a Child

Evelyn Parham — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:30:37 +0000

Today our guest blogger is Helen Burns.

Wondering how many different ways there are of knowing if an alleged man is the biological father of a child? Do you really think that paternity testing is the only test available? Well if so you are wrong. There are actually a range of tests available which can help you know whether a man is the real father of a child or not. And further to this, what is so great about the science of DNA relationship testing in this day and age is that in some cases you do not even need to test the alleged father.

#1 Test the father

Paternity testing is of course the most obvious choice. If the father is available and willing to be testing you can carry out the test directly be testing his DNA sample and that of the child. A paternity test will show with astounding accuracy whether he is or is not the biological father of the child. All you need to do is provide the DNA samples for the test. Wondering how this is done? All you need is just a click away. There are many laboratories that sell these types of services online. Once you place your order, they send you a kit with all the oral swabs you need to collect the samples and the easy paper work you need to fill in. In a few days, you could have your results.

#2 Test the father without the father

So perhaps the father has passed away or is in some remote part of the world and entirely inaccessible. What now? Well you might still be able to carry out a home paternity test. If you lived with the man, you could find you are still in possession of something he owned, perhaps some cigarette butts, his sunglasses, a hat or his tooth brush. If you do have any of these samples (a many more are possible) are in luck. You can send the sample you have available along with a sample of the child. The samples of the father and the child do not even need to be the same. You can send a tooth brush for the father and an oral swab for the child.

#3 Test the grandparents

Are both parents of the alleged father still alive? Well this would just be great. DNA tests are today so advanced that it is possible to reconstruct the alleged missing fathers profile by using the DNA of both his parents. It is crucial however; that both grandparents can provide their DNA sample as testing with grandparents is only accurate in this way. Once you have the samples of both grandparents you need to obviously also include the sample of the grandchild. The results will show the likelihood that the grandparents tested are the biological grandparents of the grandchild.

#4 Test the child’s aunts or uncle

Aunt and uncle testing is a good way of indirectly establishing the paternity of a child. The child of the alleged father must of course have a genetic similarity with the blood relatives of his or her father. If there is no genetic similarity, then it most likely would indicate the child is not related to the untested, alleged father. Aunt or uncle testing will show a probability of relationship between the child and his or her alleged biological relatives.

#5 Test the siblings

Siblings who need to know if they share the same father can do a sibling DNA test. The test can be done between male and female siblings, only female siblings or only male siblings. But it is important to note that depending on the gender of the people taking part in the test, there will be a different test recommended. For example, if the test participants and males and females then the right test to do is the full STR test. On the other hand, if the people taking part in the test are female, an X chromosome test will be the test to opt for.

#6 Test Male blood relatives

Male alleged relatives who want to know if they share the same paternal line (and thus, whether they share the same biological dad) can chose to do a Y chromosome test. This test is extremely precise and accurate and will confirm paternity of the male involved. If the tests males have the same father, they will also have the same Y chromosome profile.

As we have seen, there are many ways of establishing the issue of paternity even without testing the father. Depending on your particular situation and the people involved, there is bound to be a DNA test for you.

About the Author

Helen Burns works in the field of genetics and biotechnology. In her free time the author enjoys writing on a variety of topics. Helen Burns regularly writes article for the DNA news sections for homeDNAdirect USA. The author lives in South London with her husband and daughter.

Image courtesy of healingdream / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Shopping Green: How to Make Informed Choices

Evelyn Parham — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:30:56 +0000

Today our guest blogger is Stefanie Gomez.

Your home is supposed to be your sanctuary. The place you live and breathe. The place you prepare your meals, relax, and rest. We can spend the entire day navigating our way through a world that is full of hazards and toxins that may harm our health, but when we get home our expectation is that we have arrived somewhere safe. Nothing in our living environment will be harming our health. At least that is what the majority of people would like to believe.

Surprisingly, your home can be full of chemicals and toxins that negatively impact indoor air quality and your overall health and well being, as well as that of the environment. We have a few tips and some advice to help you think differently about the products you bring into your home and to help you identify hidden health hazards in products before you buy them.

Are All Consumer Products Safe?

When news began to break of imported toys and other products containing lead and harmful toxins, the reaction was shock and disbelief. Since North America had prohibited the use of carcinogens in manufactured products decades ago, how was it possible that imported toys were allowed to be manufactured and sold with lead paint? The entire issue of standards of production for North America versus international manufacturing practices became questioned openly, as consumers struggled to understand how it could be legal to sell something that was harmful to their health.

The scandal of the lead paint took place in 2007 and pointed back to manufacturers in China who supplied trusted brands including Mattel. The Chinese Government later opted to sign an agreement to prohibit the use of lead paint for North American toys and other products, marking the beginning of a new age of consumer awareness. The incident opened eyes around the world and consumers and health officials began to consider the loop holes that exist for manufacturers. Economies of scale will always lead manufacturers to seek the most inexpensive method of production. Cost cutting by unscrupulous businesses could be detrimental to our health.

What They Don’t Tell Us

Health Advocates pointed out that while most inspections of consumer goods are conducted on a finished product and before sale, there are very few regulations that monitor the long term use of any product. The information regarding poor air quality and other toxins within the home has been slow to be communicated to shoppers. Consumers have always had a somewhat blind faith in the quality of the products they purchase. We believe that our government agencies have laws and standards in place that will prevent the sale of any material that could be detrimental to our health.

You can understand why most manufacturers would be eager to suppress information that might reduce the sale of their products. If you knew something had the power to negatively impact your health, would you buy it? Probably not. So if present laws and standards do not do a good job of eliminating harmful products, the onus is on us to be informed and make the right choices when it comes to the products we purchase.

Making an Informed Choice

With some research and information you can start to reclaim your healthy home. Familiarize yourself with the different names for known carcinogens and read the labels on any product you are interested in purchasing. Pay special attention to products such as mattresses and furnishings. Take time to thoroughly investigate the materials that are used in their construction. While it may provide no harm as a new product, what tests have been conducted to measure the amount of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) or harmful vapors are emitted after extended use?

While flame retardant materials are an asset to safety,emissions from soft upholstered products are one of the largest contributors topoor indoor air quality. Mattresses are frequently treated with toxic chemicals to reduce flammability, however over time those chemicals are released and can create respiratory problems and other significant health conditions as they are absorbed into the body. PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) for instance, is one popular flame retardant that has been found to accumulate in body fat, blood, and breast milk.

Take charge of your choices and stay informed about the products you bring into your home. Create a healthy and nurturing environment by eliminating harmful carcinogens and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). With cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other serious conditions increasing in frequency around the world and directly linked to carcinogens, empower your family now to make changes to reduce the risk to both your health and the environment.

About Author:

Stefanie Gomez is associated with Essentia. She is Self proclaimed internet addict and shopaholic. She is Eco lover who write about healthy living options. Stefanie also contributes on Essentia blog as well as many other platforms.

Image courtesy of Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A Nurturing Home Drives Progress and Self Discipline

Jakob Barry — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:30:15 +0000

Image credit

Whether it’s eating better, changing locations, or going back to school sometimes it pays to make a serious change in life. This stepping out of the comfort zone not only builds character but can open a person up to new experiences where previously unused talents lead to much needed fulfillment.

For success a positive outlook, faith in yourself, and hard work are all parts of the puzzle but one of the things that drives these motivating factors most is an open and orderly living space.

Why is this so essential?

Because there’s a lot of fear attached to changing directions yet providing a nurturing environment to reflect on each step of the way is one of the keys to driving progress and self discipline.

After all, trying to reach goals in the midst of chaos can be extremely distracting and physiologically weighty.

That being the case, since spring is a time of renewal and people are energized to try something new consider some of the following tips for fostering a healthier personal setting so new goals can be actualized as the seasons begin to change.

Air Quality

One of the first priorities in cultivating a nurturing home is making sure the air isn’t heavy, stale, or contain unhealthy particles. That’s because when the breathing space is negatively affected so are things like sleep, composure, and creativity.

There are many avenues towards better air quality but some of the most common include:

Central air: Filters on central air systems should be replaced or cleaned regularly throughout the year. That being the case if you live in a place like Saint Paul, Minnesota inspections should be done regularly and in most case don’t need an HVAC professional.

Window panes: Wipe down window panes and screens which collect dust particles ready to enter the home. This is especially true in drier regions where dust is naturally in the air in greater amounts or in cities where the air carries a lot of pollution. Washing curtains periodically can also help stave off dirty air.

Be a Minimalist

We’ve all been to museums and are familiar with that feeling when walking into a room with a display. Usually there’s enough space to review a sculpture, painting, or artifact without distractions and from different angles.

Our homes should be warmer spaces than museums but a hint of that minimalist touch can go a long way towards creating a calming atmosphere that is easy to maintain.

This means, of course, keeping what’s necessary and letting go of everything else but most objects that come into our lives are mainly taking up space anyways. Early spring is a great time to make the case for parting with old and unused possessions in order for the home to be a more wholesome place for moving forward in life.

Go clutter-free

Being a minimalist doesn’t mean clutter won’t sprout up here and there and when it does it can wreak havoc. Sometimes it grows slowly over time and because the process is gradual it may take a while before recognizing how serious it is.

Keeping clutter to a minimum isn’t always easy, though. If you find clutter is a perpetual issue designate a bin for each room where it can be dumped but try not to wait till it’s overflowing to go through it. Take thirty minutes once a week and go bin hopping through the home emptying, sorting, and clearing up.

About the Author: Jakob Barry is a green living journalist for Networx.com. Networx.com helps homeowners save time, money and frustration by connecting them with home improvement professionals. From plumbers and roofers to heating contractors and handymen, Networx simplifies the process of locating a reliable professional.

Pulling the Blinds on Sleepy Misperceptions

Evelyn Parham — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:30:11 +0000

Today our guest blogger is +Elizabeth Lotts writer for Vitacost.com

Sleep is an interesting paradox. Some people treasure their nightly eight hours, while others treat it like a guilty pleasure, enjoyed only in small “dozes.” As sleep deprivation becomes the norm, it’s rationalized by notions like, “I’ll sleep in tomorrow to catch up.” It’s time to quit dreaming and open your eyes to the importance of a good night’s sleep.

The Dream: “I’m out like a light.”

Reality: Ironically, the body is not completely inactive during sleep. It’s true that muscles in the limbs become temporarily paralyzed; but eyelids are jerking rapidly, heart rate increases and breathing becomes shallow. You may feel “dead to the world” or “out like a light,” but your brain technically is still turned on.

The Dream: “I can catch up on sleep this weekend.”

Reality: The body needs adequate, consistent rest in order to maintain a healthy immune system. Sleep is not like a savings account – you can’t add more when you have time. Sleeping until 2 p.m. on Sunday throws the balance of your circadian rhythm (internal clock), which throws off your mental and physical fitness. Stop running on the hamster wheel and start a routine of balanced sleep, healthy eating and regular exercise.

The Dream: “My body can adjust to sleeping during the day.”

Reality: A grave-shift worker may be able to coax his body to adjust, but his brain knows best. At night, the eyes send a signal to the brain that there is less light, and the internal clock will produce more melatonin to induce sleepiness. Sleeping after sunrise does not generate enough melatonin, making it difficult to fall asleep – and stay asleep.

The Dream: “I function better on less sleep.”

Reality: Sleep deprivation negatively affects the areas of the brain associated with motivation and desire. A sleep-deprived brain will seek food as a reward, because food is the most accessible treat, leading to weight gain. Lack of sleep has also been linked to depression, anxiety and other mood disorders.

The Dream: “I never dream.”

Reality: We sleep in stages: stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the fifth stage is rapid eye movement (REM). The brain cycles through these five stages over and over throughout the night, with REM being the deep sleep and dreams stage. Any time the brain reaches REM, you dream – if you don’t remember them, then that’s your own reality.

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