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Health Mind & Body Non Fiction

Home Detox, Daniella Chase

Something which we aren’t often taught at school is that our homes are full of more toxins than the outside world! So many products which we use everyday are having an impact on our health, and this does not need to be the case as there are many safer alternatives out there.

In this practical and easy to understand guide toxicologist, Daniella Chace, teaches us how to identify toxins, gives us steps on how to remove them, and suggests many alternatives.

The book is split by room and for each room the author gives us a ‘Toxic Ten’ (the 10 most toxic things which are commonly found in the identified room), and gives us a step by step cleaning guide to remove toxins from that particular room. The book is concise, accessible and gives clear actions for everyone, no matter what your prior knowledge is of this subject.

I completely underestimated what I was going to get out of this book. If I am completely honest the two things which initially drew me to this book was one was that I share the same name with the author, and the other being that it is going to be published on my birthday! My initial expectations were that it would be a Marie Kondo style book- focusing on decluttering. However, it is so much more than that. Home Detox is the science lesson I never had at school and was a real eye- opener. How some of these things are allowed to be sold is really questionable!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found it so empowering and informative. Some habits will definitely be harder to shift that others (thinking of my candle addiction), but other things I was really keen to try straight away. This book has certainly made me more mindful of the products I use (and will make me think twice about future purchases).

With thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Home Detox is out now.

Categories
Health Mind & Body Non Fiction

Are You Really OK? Stacey Dooley

How often do you say ‘Yes’ or ‘I’m’ fine when you are asked if you are OK?  Are you really OK though? No, no we are not and statistics surrounding mental health problems vouch for that.

Every week, 1 in 10 young people in the UK experience symptoms of a common mental health problem and 1 in 5 have considered taking their own life at some point.

And whilst mental health amongst young people was a concern prior to the pandemic research has found that ‘globally there were estimated to be an extra 76 million cases of anxiety in 2020 than would have been expected if the pandemic hadn’t happened, and 53 million more cases of major depressive disorder’, showing just how vital the topic of mental health is now more than ever.   

In ‘Are You Really OK’ Stacey Dooley, best known for her extraordinary documentaries, opens the conversation around mental health, exploring different conditions such as depression, eating disorders, addiction, OCD, and psychosis. In addition to facts and statistics, each topic is demonstrated through the real experiences and stories of some of the incredible people Stacey met on the wards when filming her documentary in 2020 and 2021.

In addition, to individual conditions Stacey also explores the topic of mental health amongst different social groups such as the LGBT community and the impact of racism and poverty on mental health. This was truly eye-opening and helps us to gain an understanding of mental health through the eyes of different communities within society, as well as a reminder that we can all have an identical experience, but it can impact us all very differently.

The book gives a well-rounded picture of mental health within our society. At no point does Stacey claim to have lived experience or be an expert, which is what makes this book really stand out from others. Instead, she takes us on a journey with her to learn and gain insights on what is happening in the wider world. I feel like this approach makes the book a perfect read for anyone who wants to know more, no matter their knowledge or personal experience.

Overall, a very insightful overview of the topic of mental health. We should all take the time to read this book in hope for a better tomorrow for our young people.