Marie's Green Living Monthly Column

The spring season is here, and for many Americans, asthma and allergy symptoms are at their worst.

A 2011 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 40 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma.

Allergy and asthma symptoms can range from mild to severe and are usually triggered by exposure to allergens.  Triggers like air pollution and  high pollen levels are common, but most allergens are hiding out right in your own home.

The chemical industry is constantly expanding.  With the growth of strong and harmful household chemicals in the past decades, the potential for illness has also increased. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American home contains 63 regularly purchased hazardous chemical products.  The EPA defines hazardous chemicals as flammable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive.  By volume, these chemicals may total three to ten gallons per household.

The holiday season is upon us, which is the perfect time to think green.  Here are some great tips to keep you feeling healthy, joyous and environmentally-friendly through this wonderful time of the year:

Autumn weather marks the beginning of cool air, colorful foliage, and the cold and flu season.

According to the American Journal of Medicine, the common cold leads to 75 million to 100 million physician visits annually.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 5 to 20 percent of Americans are infected with the flu virus each year, about 200,000 are hospitalized due to complications from the flu, and more than 3,000 Americans die from flu-related causes each year.

October marks National Breast Cancer awareness month, the time of year when women can learn all about breast health.  It is a month filled with fundraising walks, outings, and luncheons, all aimed to benefit research to find a cure and empower women to fight the fight.

According to the American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2011, there are about 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women, and about 39,520 deaths from breast cancer in women.  

About 85% of women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.

Ah Summer.  There is nothing like it.  As I sit here on the beach overlooking the beautiful ocean waves, I realize how important it is to step out of my stressful, everyday routine and enjoy life, nature, and all the beautiful things that our world has to offer, because those moments are what "recharges" me.

We have been counting down the days since March - three months until summer, two months, one.  And now that summer's here, it is time to figure out just what to do with all those hours of sunshine and free time.  What should we do with our children this summer?