Travel Tips To Pack Light With Ease Every Time

I despise packing for a trip.  To be precise, I despise it immensely.  I loathe every last detail so much I am ashamed to admit, a few times, I considered canceling my trip just because I didn't want to pack for it. And if you knew how much I enjoy seeing new places and how I feel it is part of living a healthy lifestyle, you would understand it's an issue!

And, to make it even more tragic, I think I passed my "hate packing gene" to one of my daughters. One time before we left for a trip when we had an early flight to catch, I opened her bedroom door to remind her of the time. There, I found her throwing her entire closet in a suitcase just because - you guessed it - she hates to pack and had procrastinated and left the packing task to the very last possible moment!

So, if you are in the "despise packing camp" like me and my daughter, I have a packing strategy to make it a little more bearable. Come see how I lessen the pain with a few travel multitaskers, a bag I always have packed ready-to-go as well as lots of packing hints from other travel masters that could help you, too! And, of course, I do hope you will add your packing and travel ideas in the comments as well!

5 Health And Beauty Multitaskers To Travel Light

Despite my shuddering at the thought of packing, I know travel is necessary to connect with those I care about, learn new things and to stimulate my mind (all part of creating that healthy lifestyle!).

One trick I implement is creating travel size containers (see my favorites in the next section) of items that can multi-task and save room in my bag. And I always refill them each time upon my return from my trip so that they are ready for the next dreaded packing task. (Check! One less thing to pack!) And, believe it or not and as strange as it sounds, five of them are food items that can be used for some effective home remedies, too. Here they are and how and why I use them:


1.  Baking soda

It is inexpensive, and I can use it as a facial skin exfoliator, toothpaste, bee sting remedy and more. I am not the only one that uses it a lot as here are 31 other uses for baking soda as well!


2.  Coconut oil

I use it as a body moisturizer, eye makeup remover, hair conditioner (on the tips if needed on the beach), and lip moisturizer before bed. I use this on my carry-on for long flights, too;

Don't miss this:  What to pack in that carry-on to make your time in the air feel just like home!

3.  Raw honey

Raw honey is best over the processed variety and here's why. You can sweeten your tea and wash your face. This is the method I have used.


4.  Lemon

I throw a few lemons in my bag to make my morning lemon water, and if I am going to the beach, sometimes my daughters and I rub it in our hair to lighten.

Don't miss this: You won't believe all the great things you can do with those citrus peels!


5.  Pink salt

I wrote about how this is the hands down, much healthier salt to use for cooking but I can also use it as a body scrub (mixed in with a bit of my coconut oil) and a scratchy throat elixir for me, my family or anyone I am traveling with at the time.

Create A Ready-To-Go Travel Bag

Having a makeup/toiletries bag ready to go at a moments notice really lessens my stress load in packing!  Taking the time to set it up once and never again, with the exception of a few updates and refills here and there, makes me a whole lot more excited for my next travel adventure knowing part of my packing is already done! 

Here are a few items that are really useful to create your ready-to-go makeup/toiletries bag in a snap:

1.  I have tried a lot of make-up/toiletries travel bags and have learned you need one that you don't have to dig through or even half empty out to find things to save a whole lot of time getting dressed. This drawstring functional travel makeup bag can easily keep you organized!  It is roomy, easy to find things in and I love all the sections and the extra pockets. You can throw it in the washer after each trip, too! Great price and cute colors.

2.  There are never enough mirrors when traveling (especially with daughters!), so a light-weight, travel make-up mirror is a life-saver.  If I am not using it, my daughters are!

3.  All those beauty multitaskers I talked about in the above section as well as your shampoo, soap, etc. fit so well in these leak-proof, BPA-free and TSA approved bottles.  They have a lot of extra features, are well-rated and they can be labeled, too, which I really appreciate.  (Before I had labeled bottles, I used conditioner on my hair as shampoo more times than I'd like to admit! ) 

Stress-saving tip: Just make sure to refill your bottles soon after your return home so your travel bottles are ready for next time!

4.  I purchased an inexpensive, well-rated extra make-up brush set like this one to keep in my travel bag leaving my other nicer set at home.  That way I never forget a brush and never leave my better ones in a hotel bathroom! Plus, these are smaller and take up much less space.

5.  This plug adapter takes up so little room, that I just keep it in my bag for international trips if I am lucky enough to plan one.  It is well-rated and works great!


6.  Another task I am not particularly fond of is ironing.  I rarely iron anything before I pack it anymore because it is just so wrinkled by the time I arrive. But, this travel steamer is great to quickly make you look presentable and wrinkle-free.

8 Other Expert Packing Hints, Travel Links & Travel Tips

There are some real pros out there with some amazing packing hints I don't want you to miss! Tap here for major ideas as well as a few other words I have about travel mixed in below:

1.  Oh my! This guy is a packing ninja and takes only 15 minutes to do it.

2.  International traveling takes a bit more thought. Here are important things to consider.

3.  Make your travel dreams a reality with this step-by-step plan to get you there . . . even if it seems impossible financially or logistically!

4.  Squeeze the most out of your travel adventure with these methods.

5.  You can't miss this fun and really helpful video on packing tips!

6.  How and why traveling can enhance your health!

7.  I don't think I could manage this, but I sure do admire those that do: pack for a month in a carry-on.

8.  Get every last detail here on packing lightly.

For Even More On The Topic . . .

• Consider throwing in your suitcase these other natural skin treatments!  

• While you are packing, best do a quick look-over in your bathroom and see if there are some things you could easily replace with healthier options. 

Please share any packing suggestions, tips or let us in on your secret on how you psyche yourself to prepare for your travel adventures! After all, I need all the help I can get!

This post previously appeared at THM but has been greatly expanded and updated.

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Secrets To Create Great Abs and Amazing Health

Stressing over the number on the weight scale? Well, get this! That number actually may not be as important to your health than the size of your tummy! Yes, studies say even skinny people with a BMI (body mass index) in the normal range could still be in the red zone, depending on the shape of their mid-section.

You see, the fat that lies just below your skin (not that we want to, but the kind you can grab with your hands) is called subcutaneous fat. In your belly, it’s called visceral fat because it builds up in the spaces between and around your viscera -- internal organs like your stomach and intestines. And, fat build up there -- not a good thing!  Keep reading to find out why that is so and find some exact steps to take to get rid of it that don't just involve exercise and diet.

Why Belly Fat Is Especially Dangerous To Our Health

Here are some reasons why we really need to pay attention to that spare tire that could be forming:

• This visceral fat is a different animal as the fat in your middle makes toxins that affect the way your body works.  Those toxins include chemicals called cytokines that doctors say boost your chances of heart disease and make your body less sensitive to insulin, which can bring on diabetes.

• Cytokines also cause long-term inflammation, our bodily enemy as this can lead to certain cancers of the colon, esophagus, and pancreas.

• Scientists think cancer is caused by cell mutations as they divide. Fat in your abdomen may spur on hormones that prompt cell division.  More cell division means more opportunities for cell mutations, which means more cancer risk.

3 Ways Creating Strong Abs Can Make Your Everyday Life Much Better

Besides not wanting to be a toxin-making machine creating possible disease and looking good in your clothes, here are some other reasons creating a strong core can make a big difference in your everyday life:

1.  Strong core. Stronger back. Less pain. Better mood.

Back pain can really get in the way of living life and make us cranky! And, a lot of back pain is related to weak muscles in your trunk. Thus, working on strengthening that midsection can help resolve many back issues. The muscles in your core weave throughout your torso and attach to your spine. Consequently, when ab muscles are weak, it creates some strain on the spine.

Don't miss this:  A list of other tips to keep your back strong and nimble.


2.  Trim tummy. Better sleep. More energy.

Belly fat can bring on chronic, loud snoring and maybe even sleep apnea. People who have sleep apnea literally stop breathing for a few seconds to even more than a minute sometimes all night long greatly disrupting sleep. Who wouldn't feel exhausted after a night like that? But, losing weight can often help remedy the problem so you can get a better night's sleep and, of course, more air!

Don't miss this:  Why and how cherries can be a smart snack for better sleep.



3.  Flat stomach. Protection from injury. More free time.

Who wants to spend their time on crutches with a sprain, at doctors' offices or worse on the operating table for a repair.  No one. A flat, strong, stomach can help protect you from injury.  Unlike any other muscles in your body, a strong core affects the functioning of the entire body and how it moves. Whether you garden, hike, run marathons or chase kids all day, the stronger the abs, the better protected you are from injuring yourself.

How To Successfully Create A Flatter Stomach and Much Healthier Body

Regular exercise and healthy food choices are fundamental to create a flat and strong core (as well as optimal health overall!), but here are some essential tweaks to creating success with that critical goal in mind:

1.  Eat well and don't starve yourself!

Going around hungry all the time isn't fun! And, if you think it helps lessen belly fat, scientists would tell you are wrong.  Eating enough food (yes, of course, healthy whole food choices!) keeps your body from experiencing hormone imbalances.  Eating too few calories reduces the amount of the fat-burning hormone leptin in your body, which will slow down weight loss.

Don't miss this:  None of these nutrient-dense foods will add inches to your waistline!

2. Stand tall and ready.

I am the Mom always on my daughters to watch their posture and I must say, they get compliments on their good posture! Not only do you appear more confident and positive, having good posture takes 5 pounds off! And carrying yourself all day strong and tall without slumping is much better for your back and keeps your abs strong, too.

3.  Create smart exercise routines that don't hog your day!

Don't get me wrong, that ab routine can help define muscles, but cardio for overall weight loss is important too, to show the definition.  Shorter cardio workouts that use high-intensity interval training is showing more effective for fighting belly fat, too.

Don't miss this:  Check out this 25-minute interval training routine I have been doing lately at home that doesn't hurt my knees!


4. Take time to unwind.

A constant high level of stress can lead to higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body, which can increase the amount of tummy fat.  For a flatter stomach and so many other reasons, find a few ways that lessen your stress today.

Don't miss this:  For many, it is hard to know how to unwind.  I have 25 ways that may help you destress successfully right here.


5.  Don't drink your calories.

Opt out of the sugary drink habit. There are many better options than choosing drinks that have calories and that can cause weight gain around the middle.  Clean water is always a great way to hydrate and support your body, but if you don't like the taste of water much, add citrus or a sprig of fresh herbs to liven it up.  Your taste buds will adjust to the lack of sweetness! My husband, an avid tea drinker, slowly learned to delete the sugar he adds to his tea and now he adds none and hates the taste of sugary tea. If he can do it, you can!

Don't miss this:  Here are some of my family's favorite toxin-free water bottles we use to stay well hydrated on the go.

For Even More On The Topic . . .

• Here is how I created an effective home gym that fits under my couch!

• Lots and lots of ab exercise routines can be found right here.

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Host Your Best Barbecue . . . the Healthy Way!

Fire up the grill, get those coals glowing. gather around the Barbie.  It is a favorite summer activity for many cultures -- grilling with friends and family!  There are endless cookbooks and even numerous TV competitions dedicated to this method of cooking.  But the TV hosts don’t mention that many studies have discovered cancer-causing compounds can be created when grilling those foods.

I certainly do not want to throw water on a favorite social past time and I don't plan to! Instead,  I have for you a few small measures you can take to counteract what science has been telling us about the bad effects of grilling our foods. Come take a look and get on with hosting your best barbecue -- the healthy way!

Why Grilling Can Be Bad For Your Health

Here is a bit more about what the studies about grilling are telling us:

• Grilling and pan frying can cause the harmful cancer-causing chemicals heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to form when meats like beef, pork, fish or poultry are cooked using high-temperature methods.

• These compounds are the same as those found in cigarette smoke.  And we already know how unhealthy that is.

• The formation of HCAs and PAHs varies by meat type, cooking method, and how long the food has been grilled or cooked.  Meats cooked at high temperatures, especially above 300ºF (as in grilling or pan frying), or that are cooked for a long time tend to form more HCAs. 

8 Easy Tips To Grill The Healthy Way

So, that was the bad news.  Here is the good news! There are remedies that can interfere or derail this HCA and PAH formation.  And here are some simple ways to do just that:

1.  Give it a soak.

Adding several antioxidant-rich foods to marinades counteracts those DNA damaging compounds nicely.  Reach for foods like these when grilling:

• Add spices to your dishes such as turmeric, garlic and sage when creating a marinade.  

• Fresh herbs like rosemary and parsley are strong counterparts.  

• Yogurt and olive oil make great bases for effective marinades as well as wine and especially beer and stout ale.   

• Fresh fruit such as grapes, cherries, prunes, blackberries and blueberries are great antioxidants to add as well.

Don't miss this: Tap here for a great tip on how to use that antioxidant, inflammation-fighting spice, turmeric, the right way to get all those amazing health benefits!


2.  Add Vitamin E.

Some studies have shown 400 I.U. from a vitamin E capsule rubbed in the meat can counteract HCA and PHA formation.

3. Turn down the flame.

Grilling low and slow is the best method to create lower levels of char.

4.  Flip often.  

Turn the meat over often to avoid too much charring.


5. Include lots of fruits and vegetables!

Those wonderful colorful veggies offer a free pass. There is no HCA and PHA formation when grilling vegetables. Serving some fruits like apples or pineapple alongside the grilled items can counterbalance the harmful compounds, too. 

Don't miss this:  You should try some of these healthy vegetable recipes.


6.  Choose foods wisely.

Skinless chicken creates 50 percent less risk of HCA and PHA formation. Fish and seafood tend to form much lower levels of cancerous compounds as well.


7.  What you drink can help, too.

Go ahead and tip your glass for a few suds as stout ale has been shown to be a most effective neutralizer of HCAs in red meat.  Green tea is the non-alcoholic beverage of choice with grilled items as well. They both make great marinades as well for taste and to reduce the dangerous compounds from forming.

Don't miss this:  Lots of ideas for hundreds of healthy drink ideas at your fingertips!

8.  Choose natural charcoal.

Avoid self-lighting charcoal and lighter fluid as they contain harmful petroleum products which can be absorbed into what you are grilling.

Don't miss this:  Follow my Pinterest board completely dedicated to healthy grilling!

Top Tools To Create Your Perfectly Healthy Barbecue

Create that perfectly healthy barbecue for your family and friends with tools like these that I have round-up for you.  See if any of these items I have linked to can set the scene for your best outdoor time:

1.  Mini Lantern Set: Can't have a party without festive lighting.  These strands are adorable and great for an outdoor barbecue to liven things up!

2.  Silicone Grill Brush:  Gotta use one of these to baste those tasty and healthy marinades on your foods!

3.  Quilted Hammock:  Your friends and family will love you for setting up a comfortable hammock like this one. It screams summer outdoors and fun times!

4.  Natural Charcoal:  No chemicals here to add toxicity to your beautiful healthy meals!

5.  Drink Dispenser:  Let everyone serve themselves with a great drink dispenser for that tasty green tea sangria (recipe below!).

6.  Grill pan:  Throw those critical veggies in here to keep it easy and not let them fall through the grates!

Two Healthy Barbecue Recipes

Here are a two favorite simple healthy recipes that you could serve at your next barbecue with a lot less worry over those unwelcome toxic, cancer-causing guests forming on your platter:

1.  Green Tea Sangria (Non-Alcoholic)

Gather

• 7 green tea bags
• 7 cups filtered water
• 2 cups blackberries, blueberries and pitted cherries combined
• 1 green apple sliced
• optional:  2 tablespoons or so of maple syrup or raw honey 
• fresh mint

Now Do This

• Place tea bags in pitcher or container that can tolerate almost boiling water.
• Boil the water just under the boil and pour over tea bags to steep for 5 - 10 minutes.
• While tea is steeping, slice apple and rinse berries and cherry pieces.
• Remove tea bags after the tea is reached desired strength.
• Add fruit and maple syrup or honey, if using.
• Stir and allow to cool and for flavors to mesh.
• Serve over ice and garnish with sprigs of mint.

2.  Grilled Chicken with Spiced Yogurt

Gather

• 1 pound boneless, skinless organic chicken thighs
• 1.5 cups organic plain Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 2 small cloves garlic minced
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon minced rosemary
• 1.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• few bits of lemon peel grated
• 1/4 cup minced, fresh parsley

Now Do This

• Combine yogurt with turmeric, cumin, garlic, oregano, rosemary, lemon juice and lemon peel.
• Stir well to make the marinade.
• Set aside half of mixture for sauce and refrigerate in a glass container.
• Cover chicken pieces well with remaining marinade and refrigerate for at least a few hours but overnight is better.
• Grill chicken until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• Cover and let it rest for five minutes.
• Sprinkle with minced parsley.
• Serve with extra set-aside marinade as dipping sauce.

Serve with steamed rice of choice and some grilled tomatoes and zucchini.

For Even More On The Topic . . . 

• Brush up on which healthy cooking oils you should use in your kitchen and on the grill.

• Here is why I choose maple syrup as a sweetener like I do in the Green Tea Sangria above.

Jump in! Do you have a favorite healthy grilling recipe to share? Please do and provide a link in the comments!

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Top Expert Tips And Tools To Clean Your Air Indoors And Out

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and everyone is smiling! Nothing beats time outdoors on a perfect weather day. It is spirit lifting at its very best! But, not to add a bit of, well . . .  rain to the equation, the air we breathe during those spirit-enhancing outdoor pursuits can sometimes, depending on where you are, not be so health-promoting! And, that goes for the indoor air we breathe too! But, let me assure you, there are easy solutions to help out. Read further for great tips to do today to counteract this issue from an innovative air quality expert.

Why Worry About The Air We Breathe

Say it isn't so! Now, we have to worry about actually breathing?!?! Worrying is never good for your health, but, yes, we need to pay attention to the air quality of what we and our families are taking into our lungs. According to this round-up of studies on air quality and pollution, our air is a lot dirtier than we think and it is a topic we need to spend a little time on.  But, the outdoor air is not all we should consider thinking about. After all, a majority of our time is spent indoors, where air quality can be many times worse! But, let me assure you, there are plenty of actions you can take!

But, before we get to the good part -- the actual solutions to this issue --  here is what even more studies (different from the ones mentioned above!) are saying:

• Smog could lead to lung cancer.
• Bad air may even cause weight gain.
• Long-term exposure to bad air may increase your blood pressure.
• Stroke and anxiety can be added to the list of results of breathing dirty air, too.
• Even a bit of dirty air can lead to pregnancy complications and adversely affect the fetus.
• Dirty air greatly aggravates asthma and COPD as well as other lung conditions.

And, believe me, the list goes on! 

Q /A with Air Quality Expert, Yann Boquillod

As I promised, here is the good part . . . expert tips on how to breathe cleaner air at your home that you can incorporate today!

Please meet Yann Boquillod. He is someone so concerned about air pollution, he actually did something about it! And, what he did not only helped his family, but it can help you and your family breathe cleaner and rest easier, too!  Yann began AirVisual with an app and web platform to provide free air quality monitoring and forecasting to help you plan your outdoor activities to optimize your health.  Now, he has expanded to provide even more detailed information for you. Come see what Yann has to teach us about where the dirty air comes from, how it affects us, a particular air pollutant we really need to be concerned about and simple actions to reduce or eliminate it for much better health.


THM: 1.  You are CEO of Air Visual, a web platform bringing important air quality information right to our fingertips - literally!  Please tell us a bit about your background, how you became interested enough in the topic to begin this venture and why it is so important to you.

Yann: The key thing is knowing the data for the air you breathe.  If you want to protect yourself from polluted air and you don’t have the data, you can’t do that properly.  As a father living in Beijing, I had the personal goal of wanting to know what my children were breathing so I could protect them. My background is in technology and IOT, so I was in a unique position to collaborate with big data specialists, programmers and others to get air pollution data out and make it available to everyone.


THM: 2.  I can understand being a parent in Beijing, air quality would be a big concern for your family!  I have covered this topic a bit on the blog as I feel it is an important issue, but can you please help me convince my readers at THM even more, why they should be paying more attention to this health topic and why they should care?

Yann:  Even in the United States, where air quality is considered to be pretty good, there are statistics showing that 200,000 people die prematurely from breathing polluted air every year.

The biggest threat is ultra-fine pollution caused by combustion, with vehicles being a major source. Since it can be fairly invisible, even at unhealthy levels, it’s important to grow awareness that it is in fact around us, everywhere we go.  Most people don’t realize that symptoms like headaches and drowsiness, a stuffy nose or sore throat can be indicative of air pollution - and health effects in the long term are much more significant.


THM: 3.  Some of the symptoms you mentioned I would never think to attribute to poor air quality. Please tell us about the different types of indoor and outdoor air pollution and their effects on our bodies and minds a bit more. 

Yann:  There are actually a number of air pollutants which can cause adverse health effects.  The U.S. air quality index takes 6 into account in calculating an overall air quality reading.  One pollutant, however, is more ubiquitous and, in our daily lives, frequently the most dangerous pollutant we encounter.  That’s PM2.5.  What makes it so dangerous is that these particles are super small in size. When inhaled, it’s not always able to be filtered out by our nose and lungs and can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream.

The other thing is that usually PM2.5 is a precursor for other pollutants, indicating other pollutant concentrations should be high as well.  Inhaling this type of air pollution can cause everything from irritation to the lungs and stuffy noses to high blood pressure, heart attacks, lung cancer and strokes.

Indoors, humans and animals naturally create another air pollutant, CO2.   It’s not especially harmful, but at fairly common high levels, it can cause headaches, drowsiness and poor decision making. More importantly, it’s an indication of stagnant air which tends to have less oxygen, and more bacteria, mold and other harmful particles, like VOCs.

THM:  4.  Great information on those small particles that can really cause the harm! Thanks, Yann. What are the top sources of indoor air pollution in our homes and how do we counteract the harmful effects?

Yann:  Top sources in our home tend to be from our stoves, fireplaces, cleaning supplies and odor masking fragrances.  If you live near a roadside, there's also a chance your windows and doors could be leaking in polluted air.

Preventative actions should depend on the source.  A few easy tips are:

• Always turn on your overhead vent when cooking, and to keep it running for a few minutes even after you’ve finished.  

• Avoid using incense and odor killing sprays.  

• If the air is clean outdoors, open your windows frequently, particularly after using any chemical cleaners. 

• If your window seals aren’t tight, buy some seal strips so you can block out dirty outdoor air when you need to.  

• If you live near a busy roadside or factory - I recommend getting an air purifier so that you filter out dirty air that may seep in (dirty air permeates into buildings very easily!).

THM: 5.  Those are all really easy measures we can all take each day to improve our air! Besides these practical ones, how do we take it a step further? What other critical measures that any of us should do right now to improve our indoor air quality? Can you recommend any special tools or tricks?

Yann: Sure! Three top actions are:

1. Come to understand your air quality.  Basically, come to know what your sources of air pollution are - if there is air pollution outdoors, or how it’s generated in your home. So. the first tip is to understand how polluted or stagnant your air is. 
2. Once you have the data, you can identify the sources.
3. Find solutions. 

I guess it’s a process really.  In the case of air pollution, an invisible threat, knowledge is power, and that’s kind of how we came to the idea of the AirVisual Node.


THM:  6.  Yes, that makes sense! It seems that understanding and improving your air quality could compare to finding what pollutants are in your water sources that many of us want to filter, too. 

You have recently released a new product, the Air Visual Node, a device to provide instant air quality information for both indoors and out. So exciting!  And, you are offering a discount on the product as well for THM readers. (See next section for details.) Please tell us more about this tool, who can use it and how it is different from the free app that you provide as well on your site.

Yann:  The free air pollution monitoring app that we have, first of all, it uses public outdoor government data, so of course the coverage is not the best, primarily because air quality is very localized. So if you want to know exactly what the air quality is in your backyard, (say for example if your neighbor is grilling food or burning wood), then you need to know what the air quality is at your very specific location.  That’s where the Air Node comes in - to provide a simple and understandable means for knowing what’s in the air around you - whether it’s indoors or out.

The free app and website are only to show you measured data at some specific points, but that doesn’t mean that’s what you have in your backyard, indoors, or wherever you spend most of your time.

THM: 7.  So, the Air Visual Node tells us about the particularly harmful small particle air pollutants you were telling us about.  It is also personalized for the individual as it determines the actual air you are breathing at that moment and where you are so that you can take immediate corrective measures.

I can see this tool working for many families, and with the discount running now, for under $170, it could be an economical choice as the device goes where we go - on vacation and at home or even if we move.  But how does the tool actually work? What is required of the user? For example, should the user check it upon awakening? Check it before bed?  Keep in a certain location? How do we use this tool the most effective way? 


Yann:  The tool is simple!  You just turn on the AirVisual Node and within a few seconds, you’ll be able to get a very good reading of your current air quality.  Beyond that, you’ll also receive specific recommendations on how to improve the air in your home.

The Node is a device that runs 24/7, measuring air quality in the long term to see how your home behaves in order to help identify air pollution sources.   We call it a comprehensive solution because it really covers every aspect of air quality - from how your air has been and how it is now, to how the air quality will be (with the outdoor air pollution forecast).

I check the Node every morning when I wake up to see what I was breathing throughout the night. Then, I usually glance at the forecast to see if it’s a good day to go for a run or play outside with my kids.


THM:  8.  That is simple and very useful! I like the fact it actually gives you solutions to the problems of each of our individual air quality issues. So, with new studies on the topic coming out every day, how do you keep users abreast of new research? And, do you update the node to keep up with new data?  Will there be free downloads, etc.?

Yann: We use the website and app, as well as social media, to help inform users and keep them aware of air quality issues.

As for the Node – we’ve implemented over-the-air software updates that allow users to download free software upgrades with the click of a single button.  It really makes staying up-to-date and getting the most of your Node very simple.  Gotta love technology!


THM: 9.  Yes, I love it when technology makes our lives easier, healthier and more efficient! Where can readers learn more about this topic? Are there books, websites that you feel are especially helpful? Please include your website as well, of course!

Yann: Of course, our Air Visual website and app shares blogs, community research, and news articles.  Our hope is that as the community grows, and as people start conducting their own home experiments with the Node - people will want to contribute their own findings.

For those wanting to delve a bit more into some interesting air pollution topics, Urban Emissions is a great blog that addresses a number of different air quality related topics.


THM: 10.   I learned so much, Yann. Thank you for being our air quality guru today and showing us the critical role our air quality plays in our daily lives and health. And, even more  importantly - what we can do about it!  Is there anything else you want to share with the THM readers that may help us all clean up our air and our lungs!

Yann:  Yes, one of the greater goals of AirVisual is to grow air quality data worldwide.  Currently, we have a  real-time air pollution map that reports air quality in more than 30 countries and 8,000 different locations. With the Node, we are able to fill in government data gaps so that we can better predict air quality trends and discover the impact of various sources.  In this way, we like to say we are democratizing air quality.  By purchasing a Node for outdoor placement, anyone can help protect their community and affect local policies so that we can all breathe a little easier.

Discount on Air Monitoring Device: Air Visual Node

Check out this video to meet Yann, see a demo of the Air Node, get testimonials and more! See how amazing and easy this device is to work with to achieve much better air quality in and around your home.

If the studies listed here, as well as Yann's informative interview on our air quality problems, have convinced you that the air you and your family breathe is something to do something about . . .

Tap here for a generous discount on the Air Visual Node for cleaner air and better health for your family. 

For under $170, you can have a portable device that goes where you go, wherever you move or even on vacation, for you and your family to find the best solutions to breathe cleaner and rest easier in one easy step! And, remember, future node updates are free!

For Even More Information On The Topic . . . 

• Here are tips on air purification at home that I follow every day!

• Please don't fill your home with harmful synthetic fragrances! I have 5 easy natural ideas to make your home smell great!

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