Did you know that environmental toxins can cause cancer? These toxins are both natural and manmade that are equally capable of disrupting your health and sensitive biological functions.

In this article, we will discuss the potentially dangerous effects of these environmental pollutants, and how to minimize its exposure so that you and your family can remain healthy.

But before we do that, let us discuss what environment and man made toxins really are. The naturally occurring toxins include – lead, mercury, cadmium, radon, and benzene. There are also manmade chemicals such as BPA, pesticides, and phthalates.

When our bodies are exposed to these pollutants, it can lead to grave health risks. Some of its ill-effects include the following:

• Cancer caused due to exposure to radon, benzene, and formaldehyde
• BPA, pesticides, and phthalates act as endocrine disruptors
• Exposure to lead, mercury and cadmium can lead to organ failure

We all know the lead that is found in old paints as well as pipes installed in old structures is toxic. Mercury and cadmium are also well known toxins that cause damaging effects to our bodies.

While these environmental toxins are recognized, there also others out there that are readily available in the environment and remain unregulated. We will discuss these popular toxins that you are exposed to on a daily basis and how you can reduce your exposure to them.

BPA

This endocrine disruptor is a compound that is commonly found in food packaging materials made of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. They are even used in baby bottles, water supply lines, water bottles etc. When exposed to BPA, you are vulnerable to the risk of obesity, infertility, anxiety, hormonal imbalance, breast cancer, low testosterone, and prostate cancer.

BPA exposure happens when the chemical is released from the plastic/resin product into food and drinks when the containers are washed or heated.

Did you know that the highest consumers of BPA are infants and kids? According to a survey, 93% children above 6 years had significant levels of BPA in their urine! While this is certainly worrisome, the good news is that BPA can exit from the body quickly if you make some simple lifestyle changes.

To reduce BPA exposure, you can:

• Limit the use of plastic containers that have #3 and #7 mentioned on the bottom
• Avoid using plastic food containers to heat your food in microwave
• Don’t wash plastic containers in dishwasher
• Replace canned foods with freshly cooked meals
• Choose glass and porcelain containers over plastic cups
• Use BPA free baby bottles

Pesticides

These chemicals are used in agriculture to kill or repel certain types of pests. However, these synthetic toxins seep into the soil and then into our foods. Since most food manufacturers use pesticides, people are exposed to small doses of these chemicals in their lives through their diet. According to research, the farmers that use pesticides in their agricultural practices have experienced increased instances of headaches, insomnia, neurological disorders, dizziness, and fatigue due to high exposure. In fact, there are also studies claiming that regular exposure to pesticides can increase your chances of Parkinson’s disease by 70%! Well, if toxins cause illness, is a question you had on mind, we hope you got the answer.

To reduce the pesticides exposure, you can:

• Wash all your fruits and vegetables vigorously before consumption
• Consume organic produce over conventionally produced vegetables and fruits
• Grow your own veggies

Formaldehyde

This colorless chemical is used in building materials and manufacture of household items. It is also found naturally in the environment produced by organisms as part of their metabolic process. There are many government agencies that recognize formaldehyde as a carcinogen.

At your home, this toxic substance can be found in pressed-wood products such as plywood, and other products like glues, adhesive, cigarette smoke, certain types of fabric etc. Additionally, it is also used as a disinfectant, fungicide, and a preservative in medical laboratories. According to research, staff exposed to formaldehyde is susceptible to cancer and leukemia.

You can reduce or prevent its exposure by:

• Using exterior-grade products in your home
• Maintain ventilation and controlled indoor temperature
• Keep humidity levels in check
• Use natural plants inside home to clean indoor air

While there are many more toxins out there that are exposing you to a health risk every day, these are some common ones that can be easily controlled by making conscious decisions. You can prevent a lot of toxin exposure by simply living a natural lifestyle and preventing the use of synthetic chemicals.

When it comes to holiday packing, gone are the days when you would throw caution to the wind, pack a few clothes and toiletries in the bag and be gone. All of that changes with kids in tow as the concept of creating lists has never sounded so appealing! (Oh how life has changed). Along with that, common sense and creativity become key to both stress free packing and giving yourself the freedom to let your mind drift to all the holiday fun in front of you!

Here are my top tips to help you concentrate on the fun rather than on the fuss!

MAKE A LIST AND STICK TO IT

Simply spend half an hour writing down all the things you need to remember to bring. Put together a clothing, equipment, toiliteries, first aid, toys, documents and ‘additional’ list. Taking this time means a lot less stress. I really recommend an app called ‘Paperless Lite’ which allows you to create your lists and tick them off as they are packed!

CONSIDER THE HOLIDAY

Consider the ‘actual’ holiday you want to achieve for you and your family. We can be bad at packing for every eventuality but be honest with yourself. Do you want to relax by the pool and just have time with your kids? What’s the point in bringing hiking boots and high heels in that case. Anything that you don’t really believe you will use, should not be packed.

HOME COMFORTS

Young children love their toys and home routines, so they can be comforted while travelling (making your life easier) by having some favourite items from home at the ready. Let them help you choose two or three things they want to bring.

‌TOP TOY TIPS

Aside from a stash of the usual crayons, paper, books and super heroes, when packing toys, consider the noise factor and the pain quotient. Don’t bring anything that will give you (or anyone else nearby) a migraine. It can be nice to stash away a few unopened birthday presents to bring out when they least expect it. A great distraction and what child doesn’t like to open a present?

CLOTHING RULES

Holidays are all about keeping things simple. It is where the idea of the capsule comes into it’s own. Items should be chosen based on the fact they can be worn in at least two ways. For kids, it can be useful to create outfits, which you pack together. Use ‘packing cubes’ so you can pack each childs outfits together. Do pack lots of denim, darker colour and long sleeved PJ’s (for those air conditioned evenings). Avoid too many light colours and delicate fabrics.

PACKING TRICKS

I am a big beleiver in rolling clothes in the suitcase. You fit heaps more. Start by packing your shoes at the bottom and surround them with things like kids macs, underwear and other such items that creasing is not an issue for. This is also a great way to use this otherwise lost space. If you are packing anything remotely tailored, turn it inside out, tuck the sleeves in, roll and it will arrive in the best shape possible.

PLAN THE EMERGENCY BAG

Having a small backpack with all the essentials right there for the airport is a godsend. Snacks and games for the kids, all documents, itineraries, passports and tickets, any medication, plasters, painskillers, international adapter, water and an extra pair of clothes for kiddies accidents.

GET THE KIDS INVOLVED

It can be both fun and worthwhile to get your kids involved in the packing process. It builds their excitement for the trip and also helps to teach them the responsibility they share with Mum and Dad to mind their toys and bits and pieces. Ask them what they think they might need and let them pick out the toys, books and activities they want to enjoy while on the road. Perhaps about a week before you leave get them to help you pack either their own carry on bag or help to pack yours.

Explore the Laya Healthcare site for more information on family travel insurance or to get a health insurance quote online today.

It is officially fall, and it’s that time of the year when there’s the air is fresh and those chilly breezes, brush beneath your clothing, the leaves start to change colour and families start coming together to celebrate the upcoming holidays.

The suggestions below by Acorn Stairlifts, are safe full activities that can involve all the family, including grandparents.

1. Make Decorations: You can find a wide variety of DIY decoration ideas on Google and Pinterest. Some fall decor examples are: a fall leaf garland, ribboned pumpkins, and centerpieces. It’s also a good way to incorporate those coloring pages you made!
2. Make Festive homemade goodies: Baking isa common activity to do with grandparents or family members. You can find fall-friendly easy goodies to make online.
3. Prepare for Halloween trick-or-treaters: Halloween is approaching, so if you plan on handing out candy, have an older adult help you. They can prepare different goody bags to pass out or help decorate the house to welcome the trick-or-treaters.
4. Enjoy the natural Air: As the weather starts to cool down during the fall season, take this opportunity to embrace it, and enjoy the great outdoors. If mobility is an issue, try cracking open a window or relaxing on a porch or in your backyard.
5. Fall-themed coloring pages: You can never be too old for coloring, as it’s an activity anyone can enjoy no matter their age. You can enjoy it alone or together and specialists also say that coloring is a good stress relieving activity.
6. Work on a fall-themed puzzle (or any puzzle for that matter): Solving puzzles is a great way to bond with the family. Cozy up on the table with a warm cup of your favorite drink and celebrate the season. These puzzles don’t have to be fall themed but doing a fall puzzle can get put you a more festive mood.

Technology has a huge impact on our everyday lives, and for some of us, we can’t live without it. We can connect quickly with family and friends across the world, spend money in our bank accounts with the tap of a card and even track our fitness levels through a wearable device. But how is technology benefitting our aging population? And what prototypes are in development?

Mobility Assistance
Physical inactivity costs the NHS on an estimated £10bn per year, with £2.5bn of this spend on care as a result of poor housing. In fact, although many older people may want to move into a ground floor flat for example, the facilities simply aren’t there. There’s said to be a bungalow shortage occurring in the UK too — emphasising the need for in-house help for those with mobility limitations.

Between the ages of 65 to 85, the percentage of people who have difficulty with a least one activity involved in their daily lives increases from 16% to 50% at age 85. Yet, home aids and adaptations can increase people’s ability to perform everyday activities by 49% and reduce depressive symptoms by 53%.

Dr Helen Meese, who is a member of the Institution of Mechnical Engineers, said: About seven million UK homes are headed by someone aged over 65 years, who will undoubtedly need some form of assistive technology to help with everyday living, within the coming decade.”

“Homes built with older people in mind, as well as retrofit technology for our existing housing stock, could not only allow people to live in their homes for longer, but also massively reduce costs for the NHS and social care system.”

Although not a recent technological advancement, the stairlift is often a life-saving device for many. Over 50% of customers bought a stairlift from Acorn Stairlifts in order to help them ease the pain that they experience due to arthritis. This innovation allows elderly people to stay in their home for longer and enjoy their independence whilst they can.

There are many smart home devices that have been developed to help people with mobility difficulties around their home. Users can control important variables in the home such as heating and lighting without having to move. There are many variants of these devices, some which can be controlled by voice and others which can be controlled via a specially designed remote or app. There are also robot vacuums available which navigate themselves around the home and hoover up any dirt — a job that a frailer person may struggle to do.

There are new designs that are currently in their later stages of development. One of these is a piece of technology that guides people to the toilet when it predicts that they need to go. This can prevent unwanted accidents and embarrassment for an individual whilst making them feel less reliant on carers and family members.

Similarly, developers in Japan have been focused on designing devices that can help older residents get out of bed, into a wheelchair, or to the toilet. Again, this has been prototyped to ease the strain of limited carers and an aging population.

Combating loneliness
Loneliness and social isolation are two growing issues in the UK. Shockingly, one study discovered that around 200,000 older people in Britain had not had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month. Those who feel socially isolated and lonely are more likely to use public services too, due to a lack of support networks and an increased likelihood to develop health conditions such as depression, dementia and heart disease.

We are fortunate, that there are some innovators that are trying to tackle the problem through technology research and development. Currently, interventions such as video calls, computer training and access to the internet have been shown to have a positive impact on social isolation — but what else is available?

The Japanese have invented Paro, which is a robotic seal pup. This device has been employed in nursing homes since 2003 and encourages the residents to interact and talk with the robot. It has found to be very therapeutic and can be used as a catalyst for those who suffer from depression — encouraging a return to a healthier state.

A prototype called Family in Touch (FIT) was developed by a research student who discovered that elderly people touch photos of their loved ones to relive memories that they have involving that loved one in the picture. This discovery led to the creation of a picture frame that is surrounded in LED lights. When the user touches the frame, family members are informed, and they can send a video message back to the user. Older people reported that the enjoyed the invention and how easy it was to use but they said that they’d like to send a message or video back if possible.

InTouch Living, was developed in Australia, which allows carers to deliver care remotely through digital technology. The elderly person is provided with a tablet from which they can connect with others. Carers can set up virtual meetings to talk about isolation feelings and general wellbeing and can also hold a group call with older people of similar interests. If the user become confident in using the device, they can initiate their own calls. Research discovered that InTouch Living allows care to be delivered at 60% of the cost of face-to-face support services.

Improving health and wellbeing

When individuals age, it’s known that they are more prone to health complications and memory loss. There are some devices that have been invented to help with these issues.

There are now interactive pill boxes on the market that remind individuals to take medication at the right times. One of these is MedMinder, a collection of automatic medication dispensers. First, the relevant dispenser flashes to remind individuals to take their tablets. If the medication still isn’t taken, the dispenser makes a noise and after this it makes a phone call to the user. If the tablet still isn’t taken, the device cleverly notifies a caregiver or member of family.

Hearing loss is a common age-related problem. As a matter of fact, according to the National Institute of Aging, one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 has difficulty hearing.

Luckily, hearing aid technology has come along way in recent years with affordable, quality hearing aids being more widely available and better than ever.

With mobility issues, older people are more prone to falls and loss of balance. A fall can really affect an elderly person and can lead to hospital treatment. There are now fall sensors in care homes and specially-adapted homes which can alert a warden if someone is out of bed who is at high risk of falling and inform them of a fall.

individual more confidence when walking outside of the home. Similarly, alarms can be fitted so that a carer or relative is informed of a relative leaving the home — this can be tailored to certain time frames to avoid night-time wandering.

As we can see, there is a range of technology out there that is aiming to help our older generation. And, with many ground-breaking innovations still in the development phases, who knows what the future holds for elderly care.

Whether you’re keen to dress up as Tinkerbell for Halloween or as her sister Piriwinkle, simply continue reading to discover a simple guide to creating a fuss-free fairy outfit which is bound to leave your friends and family members spellbound.

Tinkerbell and Piriwinkle Homemade Costumes: Tips and Tricks

1. Use an old dress as the basis of your halloween costume

There’s no need to go out and purchase a brand new green on blue dress, in order to put together a stunning Tinkerbell or Piriwinkle costume. Instead take a look through your closet, to see whether you can find a basic blue or green dress, which you’ll be able to spruce up into a fairy costume, with a few simple adjustments.

2. Purchase a few meters of tulle to place over your blue or green dress

Next, head to your local craft store or fabric store in order to purchase a few meters of blue or green tulle, which you’ll be able to use to create a simple skirt, which you’ll be able to place underneath your chosen dress or on top of your chosen dress. So that your old blue or green dress will look more like a fairy dress and less like an ordinary dress.

If you’re keen on this idea, make sure to pick up 2 meters of elastic which you’ll be able to use to create the waistband of your homemade fairy costume. If you’re feeling particularly creative you may also want to consider covering your tulle skirt with green or blue sequins, which will sparkle all night long!

3. Create your own fairy wings using cardboard and elastic

If you don’t want to purchase store brought fairy wings, you have the option of tracing out oversized fairy wings on large, stiff cardboard, which you’ll then be able to cut out and paint. Again don’t be afraid to go a little crazy when it comes to using glitter and sparkles as every fairy deserves to shine.

Also, make sure that you have enough elastic on hand to create two loops which you’ll be able to attach to your cardboard wings so that you’ll be able to wear your fairy wings comfortably!

4. Decorate a plain plastic headband with gold glitter or blue glitter

To top off your Tinkerbell or Piriwinkle outfit it’s well worth covering a plain plastic headband from your nearest dollar store with gold glitter if you plan on dressing up as Tinkerbell or blue glitter if you plan on dressing up as Piriwinkle.

Just remember to put your hair up a Tinkerbell style bun. If you don’t have blonde hair you may also want to consider purchasing a blonde wig which you’ll be able to style in a bun, to look just like your favorite fairy.

5. Make sure to craft your very own DIY fairy wand

Use a straw or a pencil to form the base of your fairy wand, which you’ll be able to top off with a cardboard star covered with gold glitter. Feel free to paint the base of your fairy wand so that it no longer resembles a straw or a pencil.

So if you have your heart set on dressing up as Tinkerbell or Piriwinkle for halloween there’s no time like the present to get started on crafting your costume!

If you have your heart set on dressing up as Olaf from Frozen one of Disney’s recent animated films, simply continue reading to discover how to put together an easy, fuss-free Olaf costume.

How to put together an easy Olaf costume:

1. Pair white overalls over a brown long sleeved shirt

If you’re able to get your hands on a cheap pair of white overalls, such as the type of white overalls which painters typically wear to work, you’ll be able to put together a fuss-free Olaf costume without any difficulty. Simply wear your white overalls over a long-sleeved shirt as Olaf has brown twigs for arms.

To complete your outfit stitch three oversized black pom poms onto the front of your white overalls as Olaf has three buttons on his torso. If you’re really looking to wow your friends, also place a white beanie on your head as Olaf’s head is made out of snow.

Finally, paint your nose orange or wear a carrot shaped nose created out of cardboard, as Olaf has a carrot as a nose. If you choose to opt for a cardboard carrot for your nose, just punch two holes through your cardboard carrot nose and threat elastic through both holes, which you can then tie up, so that you’ll be able to wear your carrot nose like a red clown nose.

2. Simple use an oversized white plastic bag in order to create a fun Olaf costume

If you can find a long oversized white plastic bag, simply cut a hole at the top for your head in order to create the base for your cute low effort Olaf costume. Then use a black sharpie to draw three buttons onto your white plastic bag to simulate Olaf’s buttons. You may even want to consider strapping a pillow to your stomach so that you look a little more like Olaf, who has a full body shape as a snowman.

Underneath your white oversized plastic bag, make sure to wear white leggings or jeans. Again you can’t go wrong wearing a brown long-sleeved t-shirt underneath your white plastic bag, in order to simulate Olaf’s twig arms.

4. Pair white or black shoes with the rest of your Olaf outfit

You have two options when it comes to choosing shoes for your Olaf halloween outfit. You can pair white flat shoes such as plimsoles, Converse or Vans with your Olaf costume as Olaf is white as he’s made out of snow or you can choose to wear brown flat shoes as Olaf could theoretically have twigs for feet.

5. Consider painting your face white to complete your halloween outfit

As Olaf has a white face, you can’t go wrong choosign to use white face paint in order to complete your Olaf outfit. Alternatively, you can also use cardboard to create an Olaf mask out of cardboard.

So if you’re convinced that you’d like to dress up as Olaf for halloween, it’s well worth getting together all the supplies which you’ll need to create your eye-catching halloween outfit!