Mold Growth In Your Home: How To Prevent It

Mold in your home is an easy problem to overlook—it likes to grow under living room upholstery, in damp kitchen corners, and behind bathroom fixtures. But, because it can cause various health problems, it’s wise to be aware of the best practices to prevent mold growth in your home. What is Mold, and Why Does it Matter to Your Health? Mold is a fungus that grows and spreads when mold spores come in contact with a damp surface. It is found primarily outside but can become a problem in your home if you’re not careful to keep your environment clean and dry. Mold in your home can cause health issues like: Allergic reactions Asthma attacks for those with breathing issues Irritation of eyes, skin, nose, skin, throat, and lungs Sneezing, coughing, and wheezing From there, repeated mold exposure can cause even more severe reactions and health implications. Mold can enter your house through doors, windows, air vents, on your clothing and shoes, and when your pets move from outdoors to indoors. Here are a few tips to limit mold growth in your home. 3 Tips to Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home 1. Keep Your Home Well-Ventilated to Promote Air Circulation One of the most effective ways to prevent mold growth is to keep your home well-ventilated. Open windows and doors to help air to circulate and keep humidity levels low. Mold can also grow in a house with polluted air. To improve the air quality in your home, vacuum regularly and dust all surfaces to remove potential pollen and mold spores. You can also fill your space with air-purifying plants like snake plants, spider plants, English ivy, or aloe vera.  If you have a ventilation system in your home, make sure it’s working properly. A broken or malfunctioning ventilation system can contribute to mold growth, so have it checked regularly and repaired if necessary. 2. Avoid Moisture Build-Up The most common cause of mold growth is moisture. So, stay on the lookout for growing patches of dirt-like matter in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and basement, where water leakage is common. Take steps to prevent moisture in these areas by… Using an exhaust fan when cooking. Keeping the bathroom door open and using the ceiling fan when showering. Putting screens in all kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room windows so you can easily open them to promote airflow. Wiping down wet surfaces immediately and drying them off completely. Running a dehumidifier in your dampest home areas. 3. Keep Humidity Levels Below 50% Mold thrives in humid environments, so it’s imperative to keep the humidity levels in your home below 50%. One way to measure the humidity levels in your home is to use a humidity monitor. This device measures the amount of moisture in the air and will help you determine if you need to take steps to reduce the humidity levels. There are several different types of humidity monitors available. Choose one that best suits your needs. Some humidity monitors plug into an outlet, while others are wireless and can go anywhere in your home. If you have a ventilation system, your HVAC technician can take a reading (or multiple readings) throughout your home to determine current humidity levels. The ideal humidity level in your home is between 30% and 50%. If your home is measuring higher than that, try… Running a dehumidifier or air conditioner to help take some of the moisture out of the air. Drying laundry outside on a clothing line. Taking cool showers. Keeping gutters clean. Fixing leaky pipes, windows, and roofs. Opening windows and running fans to promote air circulation. Pro tip: Move the monitor from room to room and keep a journal to track humidity levels in different parts of your house. Moral of the story: Stay on the lookout for musty, earthy smells and growing patches of moisture and dirt-looking material on walls, carpets, tiles, and ceilings. Keep your home as cool and dry as possible, do everything you can to promote airflow, and be especially careful in wet places like your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and basement.  It is easy to get stuck thinking that health is only influenced by nutrition and perhaps, exercise. But, so much more plays into feeling your best and being your healthiest self. Improving the health of your home improves the health of your body and helps you live your most Nutritious Life. (Image: Shutterstock)

These Healthy Homemade Cleaning Products Actually Work

Save money and avoid chemicals. (P.S. You won’t believe how simple these are!)

Is Aluminum Foil Dangerous for Cooking?

Q: Should I be cooking with aluminum foil or parchment paper? A: The short answer is, I prefer parchment paper. But, before you throw out the three bulk rolls of aluminum foil you have in your pantry, keep reading. How Aluminum Foil and Parchment Paper are Similar Both aluminum foil and parchment paper are good for lining pans when baking or roasting veggies, chicken or fish. Because nobody likes scraping pans for 20 minutes after dinner until the charred bits finally come loose, and that cookware Aunt Susie got you for your wedding will last awhile longer, too. Both can also be used for wrapping foods to cook or store. The last two ounces of leftover balsamic chicken surely won’t go to waste when tossed in the fridge neatly wrapped in a foil swan. How Aluminum Foil and Parchment Paper are Different Unlike parchment paper, aluminum foil is good for retaining heat (remember the days when you told mom you’d be right down for dinner and you’d come down to a lonely plate on the table covered in foil?) and can withstand very high temps. High as in higher than your home oven will probably allow for. Parchment paper on the other hand can’t be used with recipes that require you to cook above 420 degrees. But unlike aluminum, parchment is non-stick and you won’t need to add cooking spray or extra oil for your burnt broccoli. Aluminum foil and parchment paper also differ in terms of how they will make your food taste. When making recipes involving acidic foods such as roasted tomatoes or fish topped with lemon wedges and thyme, cooking them on aluminum foil may actually make them taste worse than had you cooked them on parchment paper. That’s because the acid in the foods reacts with the aluminum, which can alter the flavor. Why Aluminum Foil May Be Dangerous for Cooking Here’s the part that begs the safety question: the aluminum in the foil actually transfers into your food when it’s heated. Adults naturally consume on average 1 to 10 mg of aluminum daily through water, processed foods, and contamination through cookware and utensils. Some research shows that there’s no real reason for concern, and the Center for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry suggests that it’s “generally safe.” However, CDC also reports that consuming higher than average levels of aluminum may be linked to nervous system, brain, bone diseases, and puts you at risk of anemia. Especially if your kidneys aren’t filtering it out of your system properly. People who cook often with aluminum foil (and aluminum pots and pans) are at greater risk than another person. So, what’s a home chef to do? Don’t throw away the bulk roll of aluminum foil, but minimize using high heat and instead wrap your leftovers in it before tossing them into the fridge. The next time you’re stocking your pantry opt for parchment paper to use when roasting or baking (below 420 degrees!). 

Are Toxic Phthalates Lurking On Your Skin?

We all know the feeling. It’s been a long day so you treat yourself to a vanilla scented bubble bath. Your face feels a little dry and a cooling cucumber mask is just what the doctor ordered. The hell with it, let’s open the purple body scrub that smells like grapes and slather it all over. Do not disturb Mama, this girl needs a restful detox soaking in her … wait for it… a phthalates filled toxin bath?! While you’re lying in the tub have you ever turned over your bubble bath and read the ingredients label? If you did, you’d jump your naked self right out of that chemical filled water! Or have you wondered, “What in the world makes my shampoo smell so good?” Well it’s nothing from mother nature that’s for sure. You can thank (or smack) scientists in a lab for creating fragrances that contain hundreds of chemicals that are crazy toxic to our health. So those vanilla, cucumber and grape products that were supposed to feed your soul actually feed your cancer cells, hormones and more. The word that defines this class of chemicals is as hard to pronounce as it is for our bodies to digest. Ok say it with me, phthalates. Yup I felt like a jackass the first time I attempted to pronounce this word too. Let me break it down phonetically: Thal – Late. Here’s the definition from my buddies over at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used as solvents (dissolving agents) for other materials. They are used in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes).” Our skin is the largest organ in our body and it’s absorbing every single thing we put on it. Just as you wouldn’t go out with someone who you know is going to break your heart, why put lotions on your body that you know are going to make your skin cells cry? 4 Reasons to Avoid Phthalates The National Toxicology Program lists phthalates as, “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” DEHP (a class of phthalates) causes liver cancer in lab animals and the Environmental Protection Agency considers it a probable carcinogen. The National Toxicology Program concludes high levels of DINP (another class of phthalates) may adversely affect human reproduction or development. Other human and animal studies have found links to birth defects, decreased sperm counts and damaged sperm, increased risk of developing behavioral problems, premature birth, and respiratory difficulties in children with bronchial obstruction (such as asthma). How to Ditch Phthalates From Your Beauty Routine Alright, so how do we prevent smothering phthalates all over our beautiful bodies?  Check out every product’s backside. If there’s any ingredient with the following words: fragrance, fragrance blend, parfum or any version of the word paraben, put that sucker back on the shelf. The scary thing is you’ll rarely see this chemical straight up listed as a phthalate; it usually comes in the form of a fragrance. Companies don’t have to list what the “fragrance” is comprised of claiming it’s a trade secret. The other secret is that their secret can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals. When a scent stays with you for a long time, think, that’s phthalates sinking their teeth in like a snake injecting you with poisonous venom. Plenty of companies manufacture amazing lotions and body care products that are scented with essential oils and natural oils that are nourishing for your skin and overall health. Another upside, they’re almost always Cruelty Free. My two rescue dogs just licked my face for not testing on them. Before you soak, dip, scrub and get intimate with any product, have a date with The Environmental Working Group, www.ewg.org, and they’ll rate your product on a scale of 1-10 for toxicity and define exactly what’s in it. From here on out, any fragrance means no first base with me! About Jill: Jill Anenberg Lawrence is a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach, and is certified through Nutritious Life and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Jill also whips butts into shape as an ACE Certified Personal Trainer releasing humorous exercise videos on YouTube with silly cameos of her two rescue dogs. Raised by very health conscious parents, a health food store outing being a reward, a healthy lifestyle has always been second nature and a topic she’s consistently asked about. Health and fitness are Jill’s second passion after laughing so hard her abs get a workout. After many years performing stand-up making people laugh, she’s transitioned that love of entertaining to her true passion, educating others on health and wellness while keeping it fun & edgy!