IS IT ALLERGIES — OR POOR AIR QUALITY?
Three Reasons Why Indoor Air Affects Your Health
Third, test for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas. The EPA estimates that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Radon gas is inert, colorless, odorless, and comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. While rising out of the ground, it can become trapped in your home. The solution: First test your home for radon. If you find alarming levels of radon, installing a radon reduction system can pull the radon from the soil beneath your house and release it outside. You can also seal cracks in the floor and walls and improve air circulation with the steps above. According to the EPA, indoor air quality is almost always two to five times worse than outdoors. With the right steps, however, you won’t sneeze as much. Great air quality will make your home feel like a healthy paradise.
When the weather starts getting cooler, people spend more time indoors — and that’s when the sneezing starts. But the problem isn’t always the season. Sometimes, it’s simply home air quality. Let’s break down the worst threats, plus some potential solutions. First, biological pollutants love homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), up to half of all structures have damp conditions that may encourage molds and bacteria to grow. This can cause major allergic reactions, including asthma. Other biological pollutants include animal dander (minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin), dust mites, cockroach parts, and pollen. The solution: Remove or relocate air quality threats. Dust and construction materials (wood, wallboard, or insulation) contain nutrients that allow bio pollutants to grow.
Firewood can also be a source of moisture, fungi, and bugs. Make sure your appliances (humidifiers, kerosene and gas heaters, and gas stoves) aren’t adding too much moisture into the air. You’ll be able to tell from musty odors, moisture on hard surfaces, or even water stains. Second, ome air circulation probably isn’t good enough. Most heating and cooling systems (including forced air heating systems) don’t bring fresh air into your house. Although cooking can smell delicious, it can introduce more smoke or air contaminants indoors. Hobbies like painting or welding can also add air contaminants. The solution: Because outdoor air tends to be cleaner, cracking open a window can do wonders to improve your air quality. Bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors can bring outdoor air into your home.
Train Your
BRAIN!
Creamy Parmesan Orecchiette
Inspired by PinchOfYum.com
INGREDIENTS
For pasta: • 16 oz orecchiette • 3 cups cubed butternut squash • 3 cups broccolini • Olive oil • Salt, to taste • Ground black pepper, to taste • Pumpkin seeds
For sauce: • 3 tbsp butter • 2 cloves garlic • 1–2 tsp fresh minced thyme • 3 tbsp flour • 2–3 cups chicken broth • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese • Lemon juice, to taste • Salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Cook orecchiette according to package directions. 2. On 2 baking sheets, place veggies. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast at 400 F for 20–30 minutes until tender. 3. In a pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and thyme, then sauté until soft. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Pour in the chicken broth 1/2 cup at a time, whisking to incorporate. Finish with Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and salt. 4. Toss everything together. Top generously with pumpkin seeds and Parmesan cheese.
www.federalbenefitsmadesimple.com |3
Published by Newsletter Pro . www.NewsletterPro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator