Womens_Health_Australia_December_2016

IVY

Clean your bathroom

without getting

dirty. A study by the

American College of

Allergy, Asthma and

Immunology found

ivy can remove

almost 80 per cent

of airborne mould.

All it needs to grow

is a sunny spot and

dry-ish soil. Warning:

if you have kids or

pets, keep it out of

reach; it’s toxic if

consumed. It’s also

a noxious weed, so

keep it potted.

CHRYSANTHEMUM

NASA has hailed

this plant as the

air-purifying champ,

removing not only

formaldehyde,

trichloroethylene

and benzene but

xylene (found in

paints) and ammonia

(found in cleaning

products), too. Pick

a bloom to eat – the

edible petals contain

phytonutrients,

flavonoids and

ti id t

SPIDER PLANT

The spider plant

cleans up after

itself, absorbing

the chemical

formaldehyde, found

in the adhesive

resin of flat-pack

timber furniture,

and, weirdly, tissues.

How? “Plants are

built to interact with

the air around them,

and they absorb

pollutants through

their leaves and

roots,” explains Kelly

Redeker, lecturer

in biogeochemistry

at the University

of York.

BAMBOO PALM

When it comes to

keeping sickness at

bay, humidity plays

a big part – if it’s

too low you’re more

at risk of catching

a cold. According

to an Agricultural

University of Norway

study, plants (palms

in particular) are

nature’s humidifiers.

Bamboo palms

are also able to

remove benzene and

t i hl oethylene

eair.

PROJECT 1:

Get healthy plants

Fact: we need to tackle indoor pollution – the kind created by cleaning
products and toxin-leaching furniture and paint – research from the Royal

College of Physicians has found. And a NASA study discoverd house

plants can filter 89 per cent of toxins from your air in just 24 hours.

Magic. Here are the best plants to clean up your home...

THE

OUTDOOR

ROOM

antioxidants. trichloro

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