SUSTAINABLE YOU

SUSTAINABLE One thing you can do... YOU

PROTECT YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT’S IMMUNITY IN THE DORM OR AT HOME

BY KAREN LANGSTON

Even though we are in the midst of battling a viral invader, believe it or not, the advice I am going to share with you today for a safe and healthy back to school is the same advice I would have given to you five years ago when my daughter was a college freshman.

Off-gassing from freshly painted walls, carpet, furnishings and disinfectants, over time, will take its toll on the immune system. Did you know building materials, furnishings and electronics can release pollutants continuously? Known volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene and benzene are found in glues, paints, fabrics, furniture and bedding, and can linger in the air for years.

Although you may not have control over the off-gassing process, there are things you can do. Choose organic bedding and pajamas. Organic fabrics allow skin and lungs to breathe and avoid further assault on the immune system. My favorite brand is Avocado mattress. They carry organic mattresses, toppers, pillows, sheets and organic certified face masks. I believe, if you are going to wear a fabric mask, it should be organic to avoid breathing in chemicals from the bleaching

and dye process of regular fabric.

Learn about the negative health effects of conventional air fresheners and chemical disinfectants. According to the 2016 study “Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the USA: a population-based disease burden and cost analysis” published in The Lancet, health issues caused by chemicals cost about $340 billion a year in treatment. One study, “Postnatal Exposure to Household Disinfectants, Infant Gut Microbiota and Subsequent Risk of Overweight in Children,” published in the National Library of Medicine, found the endocrinedisrupting chemicals in household disinfectant affected the gut microbes in infants, later leading to weight gain in children as young as 3 years old. Weight gain leads to increased inflammation, and decreased immunity.

Instead of air fresheners, look to essential oils. Organic essential oils diffused, or a couple of drops in water in a spray bottle, have numerous well documented health benefits. Many essential oils can help clean the air, and boost the immune system. Look at lavender, clove and lemon oil, as well as the antimicrobial action of eucalyptus, tea tree, oregano oil, rosemary, and clove bud oil.

A couple of drops of essential oils, mixed with a mixture of vinegar and water or hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, are excellent for cleaning surfaces, as a hand sanitizer, and for disinfecting the air. Although these products are not listed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of registered disinfectants for use against the novel coronavirus, some studies show they can help.

For example, the study “Effectiveness of Common Household Cleaning Agents in Reducing the Viability of Human Influenza A/H1N1,” published in PLOS One, showed that 10% malt vinegar rapidly and completely inactivated influenza virus. According to the study findings, “In the context of the ongoing pandemic, and especially in low-resource settings, the public does not need to source specialized cleaning products but can rapidly disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces with agents readily available in most homes.”

In an interview with Shape magazine, Donald W. Schaffner, Ph.D., a professor at Rutgers University who researches quantitative microbial risk assessment and crosscontamination, found hydrogen peroxide “‘very effective’ against coronaviruses on surfaces when it's left on the area for a minute.”

If you are considering using hydrogen peroxide, please use only food grade, and no more than 3% solution. Anything above this is corrosive and can damage skin. We have been using Essential Oxygen 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide for years in our home, along with essential oils. You can either order from www.essentialoxygen.com, or you can find it locally at Sprouts, Natural Grocers, and most health food stores.

I am not sure if you have noticed, but plants are finally getting their moment in the spotlight. If you missed April’s edition of Green Living Magazine, check out my article on the health benefits of plants. Add plants to your student’s homeschool area, desk, and for sure, in the dorm. The leaves, roots, and even the dirt help to remove pollutants from the air and are also antimicrobial. Plants with large leaves like the rubber plant, golden pothos and peace lilies are notably good at purifying the air and also boosting moods. Not a green thumb? Spider plants are quite hardy, and they are effective at reducing common household chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene.

Cleaning the air can also be achieved with the help of air purifiers. Studies have shown high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filters can remove 70%-90%

of pollutant particles. Check out Austin Air systems, which are medical grade, clinically proven, with studies proving their effectiveness at removing gases, chemicals, VOCs, formaldehyde, microbes and viruses.

We are all a little stressed out, worried, and trying to do the best for our families. If you can prepare your college student by doing things you can control to boost the immune system, you can ease a bit of the emotional burden. We may not be able to control some things, but we can control how our body is going to react. Whether your student is back in the classroom or is setting up a virtual class in the home, these tips are one sustainable thing you can do for peace of mind.

Karen Langston is a certified holistic nutritionist working with clients and professionals on how to have three healthy poops a day. Poop well, be well. www.healthygutadvisor.com