Ladies: Is DIRTY AIR sabotaging your health?
I’m not about to incite a debate on climate change…
But I don’t know a soul who is “okay” with air pollution… especially when it comes to how it can affect your HEALTH.
Sure, smog can make a seemingly beautiful day look depressing… but that dirty air can also do some serious damage to your heart and your lungs.
And LADIES, today I’ve got new research on a risk factor specific to YOU.
But I’ve also got some tips on how to keep yourself safe – without packing up and moving to the middle of nowhere!
University of Michigan researchers have found that middle-aged women exposed to smog may be MORE LIKELY to experience:
- Weight gain
- Higher body mass index
- Larger waist circumference
- More body fat
While the study focused on women in their 40s and 50s – the question we have to ask is could these effects be felt by women AND men of all ages?
The study also highlights an important connection between air quality and physical activity.
Folks that live in areas with long-term air pollution tend to be LESS active (especially outside). And the less active you are, the greater the risk of packing on pounds.
So, staying active is important – no matter where you live.
Now, I know most of us aren’t ready to pack up and move to a place that has better air quality. But there are ways to expose yourself to cleaner air in your home (which can offset the effects of polluted air).
For instance, did you know a recent study found that adding common houseplants can help improve the air quality inside your home (or office).
Three houseplants in particular – Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) and fern arum (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) – reduced nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – a common pollutant – by as much as 20%.
Visit your local nursery to see if they carry these “cleaning” plants.
And don’t forget a good air purifier for your home. These will help filter out allergens and dust particles that can litter the air inside your house.
Have a great weekend,
Sarah Reagan
Sources:
Anderer, John. “Air pollution may lead to weight gain, obesity in women.” https://studyfinds.org/air-pollution-obesity-women/
