You exercise regularly, watch what you eat, see your doctor annually...but how is your daily home environment affecting your health? Well if you haven't considered it before, your home can be harboring air pollutants and toxins. However, those indoor plants you've been considering can really help your overall health!
These three indoor plants can help improve your health by decreasing stress, boosting your mood, ease you into a deep sleep and even have you breathing easier. Even better, they are easy to manage and will bring any room to life. Some can even have dual-use and can be used in the kitchen.
1. Rosemary
It's an herb consistently used throughout history to stimulate and improve concentration and memory. Northumbria conducted a study and found that plasma 1,8-cineole, a compound in rosemary, correlates with cognitive performance following exposure to rosemary essential oil aroma. If you just don't have a green thumb though, opt for a diffuser with rosemary oil in rooms where you flex your brain muscles.
Plant rosemary in a pot and place it in a spot with bright sunlight. Water it regularly or when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. During winter months, it grows less and will need to be watered less frequently. Avoid over-watering and trim your rosemary plant after it flowers.
2. Snake Plant
One of the easiest and most popular indoor plants, the snake plant, helps improve air quality in your home. It actually gets most of its job done at night, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen as you sleep. They eliminate gases known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, so consider having this plant in your bedroom.
The snake plant is also a great option for those new to tending to plants. They are quite hardy and don't need much attention. Plant this tall green beauty in a medium pot, place in indirect sunlight and don't overwater it. It is recommended to let the plant dry out a bit between waterings (winter = 1x/month) and wipe leaves with damp cloth to remove dust.
3. Aloe Vera
Another easy and beneficial option is this sun-loving succulent. Place it on a windowsill and water it every 2-3 weeks. It not only clears the air of chemicals associated with tobacco products and insulation, it also is has gel within its leaves that helps soothe scrapes and sunburns.