According to the National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee, 42 billion pounds of chemicals are produced or imported into the United States each day. That’s 140 pounds per person—per day. Many of these chemicals are carcinogenic and besides increasing risks of cancer and degenerative diseases in people, but some of the chemicals also contribute to birth defects and abnormal development in children.
Seeking wellness and longevity means protecting ourselves from products in the home that can compromise our health. Household cleaners containing bleach or chemicals are harmful when inhaled. Luckily, in the last decade natural cleaning products have come onto the market that are safe and do not pollute the environment. Better yet, some can even be made at home and some have no chemicals at all.
Below are some of my favorite tips for making your home cleaner, greener, and less toxic:
• You may be dining on organic food prepared with the utmost care…. But has it been cooked on toxic surfaces? Commercial oven and stovetop cleaners are poisonous. When you’re faced with a buildup of baked-on grease, baking soda will do the job. Simply sprinkle it on, let it sit for five minutes, then scour the surface with steel wool or a scrub brush. For more stubborn spots, mix dishwashing liquid, borax, and warm water in a spray bottle, spray the mixture on the stain, and let it sit for twenty minutes before scouring.
• Diluted vinegar is an effective cleanser for kitchen and bath tiles, toilet bowls, windows, mirrors and carpets. The acetic acid in vinegar also inhibits bacteria and mildew. Just mix 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to 1 cup of water and use as you would any cleaning product. For scouring, scrub with baking soda instead of chlorinated powder.
• Watch out for terms like natural and eco-friendly because they should be backed up by specific ingredient information such as “no solvents,” “no phosphates,” “free of dyes, perfumes, and acids,” or “biodegradable in seven days” (almost everything biodegrades eventually). Also, buy spray bottles over aerosols, which produce a finer mist that’s more easily inhaled.
• Replace your existing cleaners with innovative technology like the Ionator from Activeion. We currently use the Ionator in our medical offices and home. According to studies the company reports that it is proven effective for killing up to 99.9 percent of harmful bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, Pseudomonas, Staph, Listeria, and H1N1 virus. It essentially cleans using electrified tap water, there are no chemicals used. The handheld unit applies a slight electrical charge to the tap water and the water is then ionized and separated into an oxygenated mixture of positively and negatively charged nano-bubbles.
Green technology like the Ionator is not new and in fact has been used in the food industry for years. It is the low electric field being applied to the water that kills the germs and also cleans, but it is perfectly safe for children and adults to use. If you are interested and want to see the Ionator in action please visit The Wellness Store in Santa Monica.
We all must contend with the by-products of modern science and technological progress and the damage to our health and lives from pollution and toxins. Removing chemical cleansers from your life will not only increase your longevity, but it will slow the buildup of toxins in your system and hopefully cut down on any risk factors for diseases that may affect your life.
May you Live Long, Live Strong, and Live Happy!
Dr. Mao Shing Ni, best known as Dr. Mao, is a bestselling author, doctor of Oriental Medicine and board certified anti-aging expert. He practices acupuncture, nutrition and Chinese medicine with his associates at the Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica, a Wellness Medicine group that won the “L.A.’s Best” Award. Dr. Mao and his brother, Dr. Daoshing Ni founded Tao of Wellness in Santa Monica over 25 years ago. In addition, he is the cofounder and Chancellor of Yo San University in Venice/Marina del Rey. To subscribe to a free newsletter please visit www.taoofwellness.com To make an appointment for evaluation and treatment please call 310.917.2200 or you can email Dr. Mao at contact@taoofwellness.com
