We all have basic necessities for survival and health. Clearly, those things shouldn’t be compromised. It’s my belief (based on solid evidence) that we are best off when these necessities are “clean”. Not only should your health-conscious “gift-receiver” have them, but you should too!
Firstly, light is the most important thing we need for long-term survival and health. Without the sunlight, nothing we need to thrive would be available. Thankfully, the sun is free and you have full access to it, depending on where you live on the planet. This article discusses the next two majorly important things we need to survive and thrive. The first (after light) is oxygen and the second is water. Unfortunately, both of these are often compromised.
Generally speaking, the air we breathe is very contaminated. According to the EPA, 187 pollutants have been classified as hazardous. See this link for more information. Frankly, my guess is that the EPA is missing a few hundred or thousand more… We often assume it’s the pollution outside our homes that’s the problem. But in fact, indoor air is often more toxic than outdoor air. Think about all the furniture, rugs, drapes, air “fresheners”, perfumed products, etc. that we bring in to our home. They are often required to be treated with chemicals for a number of reasons, not the least of which is fire-retardants. Unfortunately, these chemicals “off-gas” into the air and end up in our bloodstream. Also, think about the potential of hidden mold that may be lurking from an old water leak or simply from humidity. And do realize that just because you don’t actively smell these chemicals, you may still be inhaling them. When that happens, our organs are affected and ill-health often ensues whether it’s immediately noticeably or in the long-term.
So how do we deal with this? Buy a high-quality air filter! Without clean air, it’s not going to be easy to live a healthy life. You can’t live without oxygen for more than about 5 minutes unless you’re David Blaine, or a master yogi. So one great thing to gift your loved one (and yourself) is an air filter. The absolute best ones on the market can range from $900-$1500.
After light and oxygen, the next most important thing for our health is water. Recall, you’re mostly made up of water. Just as you wouldn’t want to swim in a dirty lake or ocean, your cells don’t “want” to be engulfed in contaminated water because they can’t function optimally in an environment like that. The EPA lists contaminants in water based on categories. Those categories are: microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and radionuclides. Click this link to read more from the EPA. Those are just the categories. There are a number of chemicals under each of those categories. Additionally, there are chemicals which are unregulated but still may be in the water and may (likely) pose a threat to your health.
So how do we deal with this? Buy a high-quality water filter! Again, on a physical level, you are mostly made up of water. Why not have that water be as clean as possible? The best water filters are very often much cheaper than air filters and range from $200-$400 for regular use and can go up to $2000 or more for a whole-house filter.
Even though the price tag of these “gifts” can be high relative to typical gifts; they’re worth their weight in gold in my opinion. And if you live with the recipient, you’ll reap the benefits as well!
Happy Holidays! Stay healthy throughout the year!
Dr. Rob D’Aquila – NYC Chiropractor – Diplomate and board-certified teacher of the International College of Applied Kinesiology – Member of the International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation – Associates Degree in Homeopathy