This weekend, I am traveling to spend time with a very close friend. I didn’t want to miss “Footprint Friday,” so enjoy what follows…
Because it’s wintertime in the Northern Hemisphere, most of us spend more time indoors with our doors and windows shut tight to keep out the cold. This contributes to the potential for poor indoor air quality. And one of those contributors can be the products we use to “freshen” our indoor air–to eliminate that stale and/or musty smell. We think we’re freshening our air when in fact we may be contaminating it with irritating and potentially harmful chemicals. Most commercial products created to add scent to the air are made from chemicals which contribute to many potential problems.
The chemicals used to add scents to products, such as home air fresheners, can cause serious health problems for some people, especially for people with lung diseases such as asthma or COPD. Being near a scented product can actually make some people sick! The chemicals in scents can cause many different reactions. Even products containing natural plant extracts can cause allergic reactions in some people. Scents not only enter our lungs, but enter our bodies through our skin as well. You may remember from your high school or college physiology class that our skin is our largest organ–it’s important therefore that we think about what passes through our skin into our bloodstream as we consider the products and ingredients to which we expose ourselves.
While some people are only mildly affected by scents, others have severe reactions. Some common symptoms include:
* headaches
* feeling dizzy
* feeling tired or weak
* shortness of breath
* nausea
* cold-like symptoms
* worsening asthma symptoms
So exactly what ingredients are found in scents? Scents are usually made from a mixture of natural and man-made chemicals. A typical fragrance can contain between 100 to 350 ingredients! The problem with scented products is not so much the smell itself as the chemicals that produce the smell. When we get a headache or feel “stuffed up” from smelling a product, it may actually be the chemical ingredients causing the reaction. Scented products can contain several toxic chemicals that constantly turn into vapor in the air and attach themselves to hair, clothing, and surroundings. Most (95%) of the chemicals used are synthetic compounds made from petroleum. These include chemicals made from benzene, aldehydes and many other known toxins and sensitizers.
One commonly used chemical is diethyl phthalate, which is used to make scents last longer. (I previously blogged about phthalates–click here to read the full post.) It can cause allergic skin reactions (contact dermatitis) and is classified as a skin sensitizer and a reproductive toxin, according to HAZ-Map: Occupational Exposure of Hazardous Substances of the National Library of Medicine of the United States.
Since we’re looking at the impact of “scented” products, you might be wondering whether products that are labeled “unscented” or “fragrance-free” could be safer alternatives. In other words, do the labels “unscented” or “fragrance-free” really mean there is no fragrance? The answer is no. Even products labeled “unscented” or “fragrance-free” may actually contain fragrances used to mask the smell of certain ingredients. Health Canada has specific rules about how companies can use these words on their labels. According to Health Canada’s labeling regulations, “fragrance free” or “unscented” means that there have been no fragrances added to the product and no masking agent has been added in order to hide the scents of the other ingredients in that product.
So what you can do at home to keep your air “fresh?” The best solution is to keep your home well ventilated. If you don’t have an air exchange system, open a window to get fresh air in and stale air out. Even in the winter months, there are usually days or times of the day when we can open some of our windows. You can also put a fan in a window drawing air out and open another window to increase air circulation–this should be reserved for those “warmer” days.
In the winter, in addition to looking for opportune times to open your windows, here is an easy-to-make home recipe that leaves your home smelling wonderful and your family feeling loved. In dry climates, as well as anytime we are heating our homes, this recipe has the added benefit of providing much-needed humidity in your home.
THE BELLISIMA GODDESS AIR FRESHENER
A large pot filled with water
The peel of one-two oranges
1-2 tablespoons of whole cloves
2-3 cinnamon sticks
Place the orange peel, cloves and cinnamon sticks in a large pot of water. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil. Remove the lid and reduce the heat to simmer. Allow the aroma and steam to waft through your home. To prevent the water from evaporating completely, remember to check the pot frequently and add more water as needed.
Have a bellisima week!
Have you ever thought about the impact of the words and phrases you say to yourself and/or to others? I’ve been thinking a lot about words lately because of the writing I’m doing for my book. And then yesterday, I saw a friend’s post about her impending divorce. One of the comments she made validated the timeliness of pondering this topic. 
Whatever we are waiting for–peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance–it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart! -Sarah Ban Breathnach
Do you love that morning cup of java? Whether you brew your coffee at home or stop at a local coffee shop, please consider supporting Fair Trade as you decide what to purchase:
*Supporting environmental sustainability. Fair Trade farmers and artisans respect the natural habitat and are encouraged to engage in sustainable production methods. Farmers implement integrated crop management and avoid the use of toxic agrochemicals for pest management. Nearly 85% of Fair Trade Certified™ coffee is also organic. 
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This winter, I’ve been enjoying sweet potatoes prepared in a variety of ways. Here is a recipe that warms the body and the soul. Even the fussiest of eaters might enjoy the “sweetness” of this yummy soup! Bon apetito!
1. Doughnuts. Doughnuts are fried and full of white sugar and white flour. Additionally, most varieties contain trans fat. According to Dr. Mercola, store-bought doughnuts can contain as much as 35-40 percent trans fat. Trans fats are also referred to as trans fatty acids and partially hydrogenated oils. No matter how they’re named, they–along with highly processed white sugar and white flour–are horrible for us to consume. Research has shown that trans fats contribute to ischaemic heart disease and cancer. 
2. Soda. “One can of soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar, 150 calories, 30 to 55 mg of caffeine, and is loaded with artificial food colors and sulphites,” according to Dr. Mercola. If you choose a diet soda to avoid the sugar, that is not really any better because diet sodas contain aspartame, a harmful artificial sweetener.
3. French Fries (and nearly all commercially fried foods). Potatoes in general are not good for us since their simple sugars convert to glucose which raises insulin levels. Add to that the cooking process of a french fry in trans fat at high temperatures and the detriment to our bodies is even worse. “Anything that is fried, even vegetables, has the issue of trans fat and the potent cancer-causing substance acrylamide,” according to Dr. Mercola. (In September 2002, researchers discovered that the amino acid asparagine, which is present in many vegetables, with higher amounts in some varieties of potatoes, can form acrylamide when heated to high temperatures in the presence of certain sugars. High-heat cooking methods, such as frying, baking or broiling, are most likely to result in acrylamide formation. Boiling and microwaving appear less likely to form acrylamide. Longer cooking times increase the amount of acrylamide produced when the temperature is high enough. Acrylamide is considered to be a probable human carcinogen. There are other ways humans are exposed to acrylamide, but exposure through food is one of the largest sources.) 
4. Chips. Most commercial chips–whether they’re potato chips, corn chips, or tortilla chips–are probably high in trans fat. Some companies however have started producing chips without them. Although the chips may not contain trans fat, they are still usually prepared by cooking at high temperatures. As explained above, this process can cause the formation of carcinogenic substances like acrylamide. Therefore, even if the chips do not contain trans fat, they can still be harmful to your health.
5. Fried Non-Fish Seafood. Fried non-fish seafood includes fried shrimp, clams, oysters, lobsters, and more. When we consume these foods, we are not only being exposed to trans fat and acrylamide, but we’re likely ingesting mercury. Seafood is loaded with toxic mercury. Dr. Mercola also warns that shellfish, such as shrimp and lobsters, can be contaminated with parasites and resistant viruses that may not be killed with high heat. Shrimp and lobsters are scavengers, so they consume foods that may be harmful to us. This group seems to be the worst of the worst because we may be ingesting a quadruple dose of toxins: trans fat, acrylamide, mercury and possibly parasites or viruses.
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