Have you ever had a job that felt like it was sucking the life out of you? After college, I was given a great job offer to work for a Fortune 100 company. I took the job as a business analyst and got a great signing bonus, salary and benefits. I loved it…for about 3 weeks. I quickly realized that sitting in a cube for 40-50 hours a week was not the lifestyle I was after. I felt a little…
You know how it goes: a celebratory dinner here, an office party there, a few weekend barbecues and birthdays sprinkled throughout…and the next thing you know, a year’s gone by and you’ve mysteriously gained 10 pounds. Most people don’t intend to let excess weight creep on, but for many — year after year — it does. And it doesn’t take much for a few pounds to add up to some major health issues, especially as we get older. Maintaining a healthy weight is important not…
When it comes to tackling bad odors in your home, conventional wisdom (or a trip to your local grocery store) offers little recourse. The most available options are usually heavily-scented sprays or sachets designed to simply cover up the offending odor. So instead of a kitchen that smells like baked fish, you now have a kitchen that smells like baked fish and lavender. The only real way to stop odor is at its source, and the best way to do that is…
Resveratrol started gaining a lot of attention in the early 90s for its possible health benefits, though many people still wonder exactly what it is. Resveratrol is a naturally-occurring micronutrient found in grapes, red wine, purple grape juice, peanuts, blueberries, cranberries and some antioxidant supplements. It belongs to a class of polyphenolic compounds called stilbenes. Many studies have shown the effects of resveratrol in animals, and there’s quite a bit of anecdotal information available touting the benefits of resveratrol. Resveratrol can support the cardiovascular…
If you’ve ever owned a Vollara FreshAir unit, then you know what kind of positive impact it can have on your home, your family and your overall wellness. The FreshAir works by replicating a process that occurs in nature, which then destroys odors, eliminates smoke and reduces harmful contaminants ordinary cleaning can leave behind. So if you or someone in your family struggles with breathing difficulties, allergies or asthma, the FreshAir can be an invaluable asset to your home. But…
Most of us don’t want to think too much about what all we could be exposed to when we travel, especially when it comes to the super-scary contaminant king E.coli. But it’s everywhere – on transportation, at schools, and even in the sanctuary of our own (seemingly clean) home. In truly disturbing news, two researchers recently discovered that certain pathogens – of which E.coli is one – can linger on airplane surfaces for days. Considering the number of people who could…
With summer about to kick off and temperatures on the rise – with some Southern states looking at possibly 3 more months of 90+ degree days – it becomes even more important to make sure you and your family are staying safely hydrated. Even in cooler climates, it’s possible to become dehydrated – the symptoms of which will come on at a slower rate than in hot weather. But the heat, especially when combined with outdoor activities, can quickly take…
Laundry detergent allergies are complicated because they can be caused by any number of chemicals used in detergents. Because of this, there’s no allergy test that can be done to detect detergent allergies. Though doctors can’t give you forewarning about possible detergent allergies, there are things you can do after you discover that you’re allergic to certain laundry soaps to help prevent further allergic reactions. If you plan on using detergent, try some of these tips to protect yourself. Once…
In most first-world countries, water seems like a plentiful resource. Even in times of drought, it’s still easy to walk into a convenience store and grab a bottle of water – a luxury many countries and people don’t have. And while 71% of the earth is covered in water it is still a sought-after and essential necessity. (Just ask the state of California right now!) By some estimates, the average person uses 50 gallons of water a day. If each…
Can understanding the significance of the pH of drinking water help you choose better water for you and your family? In short, yes. When you’re choosing between bottled, tap, or filtered, understanding the role that water plays in assisting your body in its quest to maintain proper pH at 7.365 is critical. The pH level of a substance tells you whether it’s an acid, a base, or neutral. On the pH scale, which is 0-14, things with a pH of…