Is My House Making Me Tired?

“Frank, what the hell is going on with your skin?” I asked incredulously, walking into our dorm room and staring down a swath of angry red welts across his shirtless midsection. He was at his desk, rubbing his body and looking nervous..

“I don’t know man…I just finished drying a load of laundry, threw on a clean t-shirt and started studying…A few minutes later my whole body was itchy and puffy…I’m kind of freaking out right now.”

Judging by the smell of the laundered clothes in our tiny dorm, I had a suspicion about the culprit..

“…Did you wash those clothes with a new kind of detergent?”

“Yea, my mom just sent me a jug.”

“Let me see it…”

It was a leading household brand, 

‘Fresh spring scent’… I could smell the noxious aroma without even opening the bottle.

Being raised by a Mom with hypersensitivity to detergents, fabric softeners and synthetic fragrances had me on high alert to products like these.

“Dude, this stuff is poison,” I said, pointing to the offending jug. “Shower up, get that off your skin, and re-wash your clothes with this instead.” I said, handing him my hypoallergenic, fragrance-free option.

“Wait…What does that have to do with these welts?”

“Everything, dude. That detergent and its ‘spring fresh’ scent is nothing but chemicals your body is having a reaction to.”

“Okayyy, but it's supposed to be cleaning my clothes, right?”

“Yes, but the question is, what else is in there besides detergent?”

Health & Wellness Tip

Breathe easier: 5 simple ways to clean your indoor air

Your home might look clean - but how’s the air?
Indoor air can be 2 to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. From candles to cleaning sprays, dust mites to pet dander - our homes are full of invisible stuff that affects our lungs, sleep, and even metabolism.

But don’t panic - you don’t need to live in a bubble. Just try a few of these low-lift upgrades:

🧼 DIY Cleaner Recipe: “Don’t drink it, but it’s non-toxic”

Most commercial cleaners are loaded with synthetic fragrances and chemicals that mess with your hormones and your lungs. Let’s swap that junk for something simple, safe, and still squeaky clean.

What we breathe before birth… still matters at age 12

There’s a new study out of Europe that’s got me thinking - hard - about what really shapes our kids’ long-term health.

Researchers looked at 37,000+ mother-child pairs across 10 cohorts and found something striking: when pregnant people were exposed to high levels of PM2.5 (fine particulate air pollution), their children were 23% more likely to be overweight or obese by ages 9-12.

Let me say that again. Pollution during pregnancy - not after - had the biggest impact. The exposure during childhood didn’t show the same effect. That tells us something important:

👉 The gestational window might be one of the most vulnerable periods for long-term metabolic health.

It’s not just about what we eat. Or how much we move. It’s about what we’re breathing in - before we’re even born.

🧬 What’s going on here?

Scientists believe prenatal pollution may:

• Disrupt fetal hormone regulation
  

• Affect placental development
  

• Trigger oxidative stress or inflammation
  

These are the same processes linked to low birth weight, insulin resistance, and yes - obesity.

But here’s the part that fuels me - this is something we can care about together. This isn’t about panic. It’s about protection.

🏡 What can we do?

If you or someone you love is expecting, small steps matter:

• Use a HEPA filter at home
  

• Avoid long walks near high-traffic areas
  

• Keep houseplants that clean indoor air
  

• Advocate for cleaner air policies in your community
  

And if your child is already here (mine are!), it’s still worth paying attention. Clean indoor air, movement, and a gut-friendly diet can all help buffer the impact of early exposure.