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Articles

A collection of short articles I’ve written about home health.

Why "Organic" Bedding Labels Don't Mean Much (And What to Look for Instead)
video Dr. Meg Christensen video Dr. Meg Christensen

Why "Organic" Bedding Labels Don't Mean Much (And What to Look for Instead)

You might assume "organic" bedding is automatically the healthier choice. But, it's not, at least not without the right certification behind it. Fabric processing is surprisingly chemical-intensive, and "organic" only tells you about the starting fiber, not what happens to it afterward. Here's how to actually read a bedding label.

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Blackout Curtains That Don’t Off-Gas
video Dr. Meg Christensen video Dr. Meg Christensen

Blackout Curtains That Don’t Off-Gas

Most blackout curtains achieve their light-blocking through PVC or foam backing — materials that off-gas VOCs, especially when heated by sunlight in a window. Given that you're sleeping in the bedroom with them for eight hours a night, the material choice matters. Here's what the healthier options are actually made of.

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Are Candles and Incense Toxic? (And How to Make Them Less Harmful)
video Dr. Meg Christensen video Dr. Meg Christensen

Are Candles and Incense Toxic? (And How to Make Them Less Harmful)

Most candles release endocrine-disrupting chemicals when burned, and standard incense produces more particulate matter than a cigarette. That doesn't mean you have to throw them all out. There's a spectrum here, and several practical ways to reduce exposure while still enjoying scent and ambience at home.

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Why Do Some Sheets Make You Sweaty?
video Dr. Meg Christensen video Dr. Meg Christensen

Why Do Some Sheets Make You Sweaty?

Whether you wake up drenched or sleep fine comes down to fiber structure, not thread count. Linen, wool, cotton, and polyester all behave differently at night — and the mechanisms are more interesting than you'd expect, especially when you see what they look like under a microscope.

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What’s in Foam?
video Dr. Meg Christensen video Dr. Meg Christensen

What’s in Foam?

Polyurethane foam starts as petroleum and gets processed with a long list of chemical additives, some of which migrate out over time. Here's what's actually in it and what that means for your health.

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