The issue of air pollution is one of the most urgent problems nowadays. On average, a person breathes about 3,000 gallons of air every day. If we live in an industrial region or in a city with heavy traffic, that means we are inhaling a great amount of harmful substances every moment. These toxic chemicals threaten our health with respiratory, cardiac, as well as endocrine diseases, degenerative ailments such as cancer, and autoimmune disorders like asthma.
Making air more suitable for breathing requires the joint efforts of scientists, engineers, and manufacturers. Unfortunately, there are no signs that mankind will be able to cope with this problem in the near future. Therefore, we should become aware of the consequences of our exposure to the contaminated environment and take measures to lower their impact on our health by developing individual approaches to get protected from all possible risks. Here are some useful rules:
- Stay informed.
Check the forecasts on air quality. This information is issued by the local authorities. Try not to leave the house if you don’t need to when the forecast isn't favorable (more than 100 points).
- Consider the weather conditions.
In hot weather, the amount of ozone in the air of many large cities increases because of the sunshine. This could be harmful, so try to limit your staying outdoors to mornings and evenings.
- Work out in the gym.
When the quality of air is reported to be poor, don't exercise outdoors. Deep inhaling of the polluted air may result in consequences that are harmful to your respiratory and cardiovascular health.
- Monitor the level of indoor air pollution.
You can do little to influence the levels of outdoor pollution, but it's up to you to make your home a safer place to live in. Make your house free from dust, use natural building materials, avoid using detergents packed with toxic substances, and decorate your dwelling with plants which will clean the air.
Use quality air filters which will protect you against particulate matter. When taking care of your lawn or garden, use natural methods for protecting plants.
- Become “green” in your everyday life.
To lower the pressure on the environment, make “green” choices where possible. When going to work, use a bicycle or arrange carpools with your colleagues or neighbors. Avoid walking or bicycling along streets with heavy traffic.
- Enrich your diet with antioxidants.
Foods packed with antioxidants may be a powerful weapon in your struggle against the consequences of air contamination. Eat more foodstuffs with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as selenium. Numerous studies enlighten their role in the protection of the human body from the effects of toxic pollutants. They defend the cells of the body from the damage caused by free radicals and support the immune system. Vitamin E plays an especially important role in lowering the negative effects of the pollutants in the liver and lungs. It can be found in olive oil, avocados, sunflower seeds, and almonds.
- Consume more foods rich in fiber.
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and especially legumes are great detoxifiers due to the high content of fiber in them. They ward toxins off the body and cleanse the gut, blood vessels, kidneys, and liver.
- Pay special attention to broccoli.
According to recent studies, this vegetable in the form of a powder made from its sprouts is beneficial for the excretion of pollutants out of the body.
- Consume Omega 3 EPA/DHA.
