Simple Tips to Create a Healthy Home Sanctuary

Amy Ziff is a busy mom, blogger and healthy living coach... and she also has a predisposition to toxicity.

What does that mean, exactly? Is she just more "sensitive"?

It's not that simple. Amy carries the MTHFR gene mutation, which makes people more susceptible to the impact of toxins.

It's not as uncommon as you'd think, either. About 50 percent of the population has this gene mutation. The problem, however, is many people manifest other types of ailments, such as asthma or allergies, not ever attributing it to this gene. They think they're just "stuck" with their condition forever.

That doesn't have to be the case anymore.

Just knowing you have the MTHFR gene mutation gives you the power to be able to DO things to help you process toxins better, including creating a "clean" environment or healthy home sanctuary in which to live.

So, how can you "health up" your home and ultimately take your health into your own hands -- whether you have the gene or not?

First, you have to recognize that many of the toxins to which you're exposed every day are truly silent; you can't see, hear or smell them. But, that doesn't mean they aren't extremely dangerous.

Ingredients in your everyday household or beauty products can spur what Amy calls your "body burden." Each individual has unique factors that can cause this burden, but once you find out what is causing yours, you can get your body "back to business" in doing everything it needs for optimal cellular function.

There are actions -- many of them very simple -- you can take to help eliminate the toxins affecting you.

For instance, keep pollutants out of your house. The easiest way to do this is to become one of those homes where everyone is required to ditch their shoes at the door. By removing your shoes as soon as you enter your home, you'll prevent bringing in outside toxins like pesticides and other pollutants you unknowingly picked up throughout your day.

Second, keep your air clean. Indoor air is becoming a great concern, especially when you consider that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors these days. The air inside most homes is 2-5 percent more polluted than the outdoor air.

An easy (and cheap) solution? Open your windows every day; even in the cold winter months. If you want to take this a step further, you can invest in an air filter or a really good air purifier. And, if you already have a system set up in your home, make sure you're changing your filters at least twice a year.

Plants are also a great option for keeping your air clean and fresh; particularly the peace lily. Keep one in every room of your home, especially the kitchen.

Finally, make sure you're filtering your water at some level, whether with portable filters on your shower head and kitchen sink taps, or a complete system that covers your entire home.

Amy joins Andrea and Lisa to share more about her specific issues with toxicity, as well as simple and inexpensive ways you can start to create your own healthy home sanctuary.