Healthy Home and Body!

I have been downsizing for the past 8 years—getting rid of stuff that no longer serves me. My most recent move in August finds me with even less space than ever, but I feel lighter in spirit with less to clog my chi! Now I just need to tackle the pole barn where the stuff is stored that didn’t fit. 😊

With so many of us spending unprecedented amounts of time at home with our families, it’s critical to ensure our domicile is as healthy as possible. In Yvette C. Hammett’s article, “How to Detoxify a Living Space,” we learn some smart steps including encouraging ventilation; swearing off of air fresheners; ridding the house of PFAS— chemicals found in non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing and stain-resistant fabrics; cleaning out chemical-laden cleaning products; testing water supplies; and getting a water filter if necessary. A new app also makes it easy to check on toxins in cosmetics and food.

The misery-making sniffles and coughs of allergic rhinitis affect one in five Americans, not just in spring but year-round, from exposure to mold, dust mites and pet dander. In her article “Breathe Easy,” Ronica O’Hara offers some alternatives to OTC antihistamines and decongestants, which cause unwelcome side effects, relief can be found using natural approaches that include probiotics, sublingual immunotherapy, quercetin, stinging nettles, omega-3s, nasal rinsing, acupuncture, homeopathy and doing a thorough anti-allergen house cleaning.

The urge to “spring-clean” our bodies arises naturally after the sluggishness of winter, but the wisest strategy for a detox program is to use it as a jumpstart to new habits, not as a short-term fix. In “Spring Cleaning the Body,” April Thompson shows us how this means eating more cruciferous vegetables and fibrous foods, drinking more water and fixing healthy smoothies. Fasting for a few days or intermittently is another tool for detoxification, but for a comprehensive detox, it’s best to consult a health practitioner to develop a personalized plan.

Cleansing my body at the change of each season is something I began years ago with a doctor’s counsel and camaraderie from a group of local women. It’s just a good time to check in, clean out for a week or two and get back on a healthy track.

So, with the onset of Spring solstice and a break in the weather—I am once again on my way cleansing and purging!

To conscious living,

Pamela Gallina, Publisher