Here is another great article posted by www.HealthExtremist.com Check out her site...it's awesome!!
SOURCE: http://www.healthextremist.com/indoor-plants-that-clean-the-air-and-remove-toxins/
Indoor Plants that Clean the Air and Remove Toxins

March 24, 2013 By Lori,

6 Indoor Plants that Clean the Air in Your Home

Do you have any plants in your home? Typically, the indoor air quality is significantly worse than it is outside.  There are several steps you can take to greatly improve the indoor air quality in your home. One way this can be done, is by having several indoor plants that clean the air and reduce toxins.

Several years ago NASA studied houseplants and their ability to purify the air in indoor spaces. They found that certain plants were better at filtering the air and removing volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) than others.

Why Indoor Plants that Clean the Air Improve Health

Not only are indoor plants beneficial for increasing oxygen levels in our homes, they have also been found to reduce the toxins in the air we are breathing.

The air in our homes has been shown to contain harmful toxins which ultimately end up in our bodies. Whether the toxins are from building materials, paint, out-gassing carpets, dust, or flame retardants, the levels of these toxins in the air can be reduced.

These plants can reduce many air pollutants including formaldehyde, microbial pathogens, benzene and microbial pathogens.

How Many Should You Have in Your Home

According to NASA it is recommended that you have about 15 to 18 of these plants in your home (this was recommended for a 1800 sq foot home). Remember to also place at least one plant in your bedroom, preferably more.

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, these indoor plants that clean the air are very easy to take care for and require little work.

6 Indoor Plants that Clean the Air:

These plants are the most beneficial for improving  indoor air quality. You should be able to find all of these plants locally.

 1. Aloe

Aloe plants are very beneficial for increasing oxygen levels in your home. They have also been found to absorb formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. According to Earthship, one pot of aloe is equivalent to nine biological air cleaners.

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are able to perform photosynthesis under minimal lighting. They aid in absorbing toxins in the air including formaldehyde, styrene, carbon monoxide, and benzene. One spider plant is able to effectively filter a room of 200 square feet.

3. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English ivy is another great indoor plant that removes toxins. This plant has been shown to reduce 60% of airborne mold and 58% of airborne feces after being placed in a room for only 6 hours!

4. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ’Mauna Loa’)

Having a peace lily in your home greatly reduces the chemical toxins in the air. Peace lily plants filter out harmful benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.

5. Snake Plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata‘Laurentii’)

This indoor plant that cleans the air is just about indestructible, if your looking to start out with easy to care for plant, this would be the one to choose. Snake plants aid in removing toxins from the air and require little to no lighting.

6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber plants excel at removing  toxins from the air, particularly formaldehyde. These plants require minimal lighting and also easy to care for. Note: the leaves can be toxic, so if you have any pets in your home, be careful.

Want More Variety?

NASA also listed the following plants as beneficial for improving the indoor air quality in homes. These plants may be more difficult to find locally, but if you come across any of these plants, be sure to pick one up!

-Golden pothos or Devil’s ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
-Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
-Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
-Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn.Philodendron cordatum)
-Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn.Philodendron selloum)
-Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
-Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
-Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans Massangeana)
-Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis Janet Craig
-Warneck dracaena (Dreacaena dermenisis Waneckii)
-Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

Do you have any of these indoor plants that clean the air in your home?

Sources:

Photo source:

http://www.naturalnews.com/035593_indoor_air_plants_detox.html

http://thisgreenearth.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/top-10-plants-to-improve-indoor-air-quality/

After many doctor and ER visits one common thing would occur in my fight to fight mold:  "Jennifer, your potassium is VERY low".

In the medical world they see this as "your fault"...."your diet".  They scold me on how I should eat more bananas or more potatoes.  "You mean plenty of potassium-rich greens like a giant bowl of spinach a day aren't enough doctor?". 

This made me scratch my head and do more research.  What I found was astounding and how it LINKED directly to my exposure to toxic mold.

I found out that a "Mycotoxin" called PETULIN can inhibit the uptake of potassium meaning it blocks it from being used by the body.

Information about the mycotoxin, Patulin

• Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by a variety of molds, in particular, Aspergillus and Penicillium. It is commonly found in rotting apples, and the amount of patulin in apple products is generally viewed as a measure of the quality of the apples used in production. ...

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulin

• Patulin is produced by Paecilomyces variatii and P. expansum. Health effects: inhibits potassium uptake, possible carcinogen.
  
  http://www.dynamiclist.com/export/static_html.aspx?node=53687436-2e3a-4aec-9f29-cc878ce9974d

(all articles belong to their original owner and were found via internet research)
SOURCE: http://www.healthextremist.com/lemon-peel-benefits-why-you-shouldnt-throw-out-that-lemon-peel/

Lemon Peel Benefits:
Why You Shouldn’t Throw Out That Lemon Peel!

January 27, 2013

The health benefits of lemons and lemon juice are pretty well known. But if you’re like the majority of people, you are probably squeezing out the lemon juice and tossing the left over lemon peel in the trash! I use to do that too!

But wait, wait, wait, that lemon peel contains even more nutrients, vitamins, and health benefits than the lemon juice.

Nutrients and Health Benefits in Lemon Peels

Lemon peels contain about 5 to 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice! Yep, that’s what you’ve been wasting!

They are also an excellent source of fiber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, folate, and beta carotene. Lemon peels improve bone health too! Since they contain high amounts of calcium and vitamin C, lemon peels have been shown to aid preventing osteoporosis, inflammatory polyarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Don’t forget all the fiber you will get from lemon peels! 3.5 oz of lemon peels contains 10.6 grams of fiber.

Reduce Oxidative Stress

We all want to reduce our levels of oxidative stress. Lemon peels contain citrus bioflavonoids which are very powerful at reducing your levels of oxidative stress . This portion of the lemon also aid in eradicating toxic elements in the body and removing carcinogenic elements.

Help Fight Cancer

Lemons have been used to prevent and treat cancer. Lemons are anti-microbrial and ward off against bacterial infections and fungi.

When lemon peels are consumed, they have been shown to prevent various types of cancers, including skin cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer.

A study found that the consumption of lemon peels in tea was beneficial in preventing the development of cancer cells.

Lemons are also very alkalizing! Cancer thrives in an acidic body, by making your body alkaline this will prevent cancer. Take advantage of the whole lemon and don’t just juice and toss!

Lemon peels contain salvestrol Q40 and limonene, which have been shown to prevent and treat cancer. These components fight against present cancerous cells in the body.

How to Eat a Lemon Peel

There are a couple different ways you can prepare your lemon peels.

1. Place your lemons in the freezer for a couple of hours. Then take them out and grate them. You can sprinkle the grated lemon peel on your meals or in your drinks.

2. Grate the outside of your lemon (without freezing).  Sprinkle the lemon peel pieces on your meals or in your drinks.

3. Or you could just bite right into one.

Grated lemon peels make a great addition to salads and teas! They add amazing flavor to any meal!

Do you usually throw out the lemon peel?

Sources: http://www.naturalnews.com/033649_citrus_bioflavonoids_oxidative_stress.html