Our health and environment are connected and that is a universal truth no one can deny. But every day, we infect this environment and thus our health with products which are harmful to both. We are always concerned about our home is clean but not the environment as such, which in turn pollutes our home as well.

Thinking about a product which we use daily that can affect the environment and us as well, everyone will think of plastic at first, but there are lots of other everyday items and products which are destroying our health and the environment without any notice.

So, to live a healthy life, we need to care and build a healthy environment for ourselves and for precaution one must preserve the healthy environment. Here are such daily-use products which are destroying the equilibrium of nature and our health:

1. Detergents

EPA or Environmental Protection Agency continuously warns about the dangerous effects of using chemical-based detergents. Most of the detergents are found to contain an excess amount of Nitrogen and phosphorus which affects the lives in the waters and the marine plants get destroyed. These destroyed, or the dead plants and corals are eaten by the fish which affect their health and contaminate the water body on a whole. Our health is also compromised as this is a food cycle, we eat those fish/seafood which is affected. Thus, switching to biodegradable detergents is the only solution to this problem.

2. Paint Thinners

These are used in every household often either when construction or home, repainting, renovation etc. but these products are inflammable, toxic, reactive as well as corrosive which not only pollutes the air inside the home or the room but also the human residing there. This can cause irritation in the eyes and burning sensation on the skin.

3. Disposable Tea Bags

Once a report in “The Guardian” came out which indicated that not even the paper tea bags which we think are completely safe for us and the environment are biodegradable. They are also biodegradable to a certain extent and thus the remaining is going to affect the environment.   

4. Pesticides

This whether used in the agricultural land in huge quantity or for indoor garden areas at the end contaminates the water bodies which in turn affect the marine life and finally the human civilization. Even the crops on which excessive pesticides are being used retain those chemicals and affect the human body which can cause severe illness and critical diseases.

5. Cleansers or Body-Gels with Microbeads

Face wash, Bodygels uses microbeads which we think are very good exfoliant but, these microbeads are nothing but plastic granules which get mixed in the water and finally enters the water bodies which destroys thousands of marine lives.

6. Aluminum Foils

These foils can retain the heat in the food items for a longer duration, but they produce greenhouse gasses which are harmful not only for the environment but also for the person eating the wrapped food since the chemical or the gas get mixed with the food as well if kept for the excessive time.

7. Deodorants

Deodorants or body sprays are necessary for a country like India where most of the seasons are like summer. But these deodorants contain a chemical called Triclosan which is used to kill the bacteria in our body but this chemical according to the reports of Tuff’s University, is contaminating the nature, have ill-effect on the animals and marine creatures. One can use the deodorants with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol which has less or nil effect on the environment or the human body.

8. Facial Wipes

Facial wipes or wet wipes contain plastic which blocks and contaminate water bodies. Though the companies claim they are biodegradable, but studies have found that they are not biodegradable and thus blocking sewer system and contaminating the water bodies.

9. Sulfate-based Soaps or Hairwash (Shampoo)

Soaps and Shampoos are being used every day in every household especially in the urban area and most of these products contain sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate which is a chemical that cannot degrade easily and thus contaminates the nature.

10. Toilet Cleaners

Toilet cleaners are used in almost every urban and in rural households, but these products are chemical based which degrades the quality of the water bodies and when comes in contact with the human body can cause a severe burning sensation, irritation of the skin, eyes, etc.

11. Processed Meat

It is one of the most favorite foods of this generation as all the burgers, sandwiches use processed meats. But to produce these processed meats, cattle are raised and to feed them, innumerable agricultural lands are overgrazed causing soil erosion, soil pollution, which finally affects the environment. On top of that, processed meats are not at all a healthy substitute for freshly cooked meat.

In any case, even the healthiest of the environment does not guarantee a life sans sickness. Therefore, health insurance should be an essential part of your portfolio. Mediclaim, heart insurance, cancer and critical illness covers are the type of health insurance plans you should consider buying for self and family.

Health insurance plans will offer financial assistance not only in availing the best treatment, but also in running the household in case you must leave work for a while.

                                                                                                ADVT