A couple of days ago What Doctors Don’t Tell You e-news published some facts on the effect cleaning chemicles may have on health:
There’s a 20 per cent chance your chronic disease is caused by chemical intolerance
If you have a chronic health problem – such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or allergies – there’s a 20 per cent chance it’s been caused by a chemical intolerance. But if it is, there’s almost no chance your doctor will detect it.
Doctors have a blind spot when it comes to chemical intolerances – usually of household products such as cleaners, fragrances, and the fire retardants on new carpets and furnishings.
In a study of 400 patients attending one health clinic for chronic problems, 20 per cent had a chemical intolerance – but the doctor hadn’t picked up the association. Instead, they were treated in the usual way – further tests, prescription drugs, even possibly surgery – when just taking the chemical out of their lives would have reversed the condition.
Clues of a chemical intolerance include fatigue, changes in mood, difficulty thinking or concentrating and digestive problems, say researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
(Source: Annals of Family Medicine, 2012; 10: 357-65).
Of course, there may be other factors contributing to your current health status, and this is where a Nutritionhelp report and contact with one of our associate nutritionists may be of help. But being careful which chemical cleaners you use around the home may help remove some of the load from an already struggling immune system. Dr Mercola bloggs about specific cleaning chemicals to avoid and adds some natural replacements for cleaning the home.
Half-a-Dozen Uses for Baking Soda.
Here are half a dozen examples of how plain and simple baking soda can replace dangerous commercial cleaning products in your home:
- Use as a safe non-scratch scrub — for metals and porcelain.
- To clean your oven — simply sprinkle a cup or more of baking soda over the bottom of the oven, then cover the baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste. Let the mixture set overnight. The next morning the grease will be easy to wipe up because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven.
- To unclog a drain — pour 1/2 – 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then slowly pour 1/2 – 1 cup of vinegar in after it. Cover the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes. If it bubbles like a volcano, it means it’s working as planned. Flush with a gallon of boiling water.
- Deodorize dry carpets — by sprinkling liberally with baking soda. Wait at least 15 minutes, then vacuum.
- To rid your garbage disposal of foul smells — add vinegar to water for ice cubes, then let a few of them get chopped by your disposal.
- To clean your silver — boil 2-3 inches of water in a shallow pan with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and a sheet of aluminum foil. Totally submerge silver and boil for 2-3 minutes more. Remove silver from the pan and wipe away the tarnish with a clean cotton cloth.
