Plants don’t just add a splash of green to your home, they also offer some wonderful health benefits

Plants purify the air in your home

One of the first lessons we are taught in science is that plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Knowing how important oxygen is to the systems in your brain, everything points towards having plants in your home is excellent for the air and for your breathing.

Different species are adept at purifying different types of toxins.

Here’s a look at a few:

Peace lily or spathiphyllum, is very effective at removing airborne volatile organic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. It’s also easy to care for as it doesn’t require much light or water to stay healthy. Just keep in mind that it can be toxic to humans and pets.

English ivy, or hedera helix, was shown in NASA’s Clean Air Study to remove toluene, xylene, formaldehyde and benzene from the air; it has also demonstrated the ability to reduce mould in your home. These plants like a constant temperature and lots of direct sunlight.

Bamboo palm, or chamaedorea seifrixil, can effectively filter benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, trichloroethylene and toluene, and unlike many other air-filtering plants, this one isn’t toxic to your pets.  

Spider plant, or chlorophytum comosum, is a hardy plant that is hard to kill, so it is perfect for those of us who simply were not born with a green thumb. It can fight against xylene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene, and it’s also safe for pets. Best of all, it’s easy to grow.

Plants can help you fight colds

If purifying the air wasn’t enough of a benefit for you, it’s also worth noting that plants can help fight colds thanks to their ability to reduce dust and humidify the air. Some studies have shown that adding plants to hospitals and offices reduces colds, headaches, sore throats and fatigue, whilst plants like eucalyptus can even clear congestion.

Plants can improve your sleep

When you place certain indoor plants in your bedroom, it can improve your sleep. Plants like lavender, jasmine, gardenia and aloe vera provide a soothing effect for your mind and body that can help lower your stress and anxiety as well as your heart rate and blood pressure.

Plants can boost your productivity

Studies with workers and students have shown that working and studying with plants around you can improve your memory, concentration and productivity, with a University of Michigan study showing that being in the presenceof plants can boost memory retention by as much as 20 per cent. Meanwhile, Texas A&M researchers note that keeping plants in the workplace and home can boost concentration and memory retention and make work more accurate.

Having a houseplant could have a significant positive impact on your health. The International Space Station has plants on it to help enhance air quality, a move that came about after extensive research by NASA into indoor air quality. NASA recommends that you place at least one plant in your home for every 100 square feet of space to get the benefits.

The wonder of nature