Buying guide: Top air purifiers, eco appliances and non-toxic kitchen gadgets
Appliance performance depends heavily on the time of year:
Summer: High PM2.5 levels mean you need strong HEPA filtration and activated carbon layers to handle dust and indoor pollution.
Monsoon: Warm, wet air helps bacteria and mould thrive. UV filters and dehumidifying features become essential.
Spring: Allergens peak. Air purifiers with allergen sensors and multi-layer filters offer better relief.
Devices that adapt to these shifts, rather than running at full speed all year, are more effective and energy-efficient.
Eco appliances aren't just about power savings. The right ones use recyclable materials, are built to last, and keep emissions low. For instance, a 5-star BEE-rated air purifier can reduce power use by 30–40% compared to an older model.
Look out for recurring costs: filters that need frequent replacing, high energy consumption during peak months, and service availability. An 'affordable' purifier can get expensive quickly if replacement parts are hard to find.
Coway Air Mega 250: High CADR (350 m³/h) makes it ideal for summer dust loads. Quiet, reliable, and built for Indian homes.
Philips AC1715/60: Adds a real-time allergen sensor and app control. Balanced option for all seasons.
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4: Great smart features at a competitive price. Ideal for mid-sized rooms.
Nirvana Being MESP: Uses washable filters and comes with zero replacement cost. Also has antibacterial filtration, which helps in the monsoon.
Many users report up to 60% drop in indoor AQI after using one of these. Bonus: auto modes help cut down on power use without manual input.
The kitchen is where chemical exposure can quietly build up. Non-toxic gear avoids materials like BPA, PFOA, and lead. These substances are linked to hormone imbalance and long-term health issues.
Cookware: Go for ceramic, cast iron, or stainless steel instead of Teflon or anodized aluminium.
Utensils: Bamboo and silicone are safer than cheap plastic.
Storage: Switch to glass or steel. They last longer and don't leach chemicals.
These materials are tougher, safer, and better for the environment. They also resist wear better—so fewer replacements over time.
Healthier homes start with smarter choices. Choose appliances that meet seasonal demands, use non-toxic materials, and keep energy use in check.
Before buying, ask: Will it last? What does maintenance cost? Will it actually protect my family?
When the answers line up, you'll know it's money well spent for your health and the planet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
24 minutes ago
- India Today
India Listened to Its Children—Because One State Chose to Act
In a quiet corner in Rajahmundry, a mother cried. Not that her child had uttered something fresh, but the fact that he had uttered anything at all. Her son had kept quiet for 912 days. She was left wandering through a labyrinth of despair, suggestions, and unfulfilled prayers. Doctors instructed patience. Teachers attributed shyness. But nothing could explain the silence. That all shifted the day she walked into a small therapy office at Pinnacle Blooms Network. There, she was shown a different way of tracking progress — not anecdotal, but quantifiable. It was called AbilityScore, a 0-1000 scale that gave a clear picture of days later, her son gazed at her and whispered, "Amma." It was not magic. It was measured, mapped, and monitored change. That single word did not just pinpoint a milestone along her child's journey. It was the launching pad for a movement that would finally receive the blessings of an Indian state government.A National Signal from Andhra PradeshThe Government of Andhra Pradesh officially endorsed Pinnacle Blooms Network on 13th June 2025. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav did not just acknowledge a successful therapy program; he legitimized a scalable, outcome-focused, science-informed developmental therapy framework with these sentiments:"Pinnacle Blooms Network is not just providing therapy — it is delivering a future."This support wasn't symbolic. It was systemic, being India's first official recognition of a developmental therapy system devised by therapists, supported by evidence, and fueled by mothers. The state's investment wasn't merely about celebrating milestones — it was about embracing a model that had already served more than 19 million sessions, with greater than 97% of children demonstrating quantifiable government recognized a system ripe for national implementation:Therapy in 16+ languages33% subsidies for low-income families through SEVAFree therapy for heroes' childrenMost importantly, it saw not a success story for a private enterprise, but a public health solution — based on science, made in India, and ready to Science Behind the RecognitionTwo flagship innovations are the core of Pinnacle's measurable success:1. AbilityScoreA pioneering 0–1000 universal child development measure assessing 344 skills in 9 areas of speech, cognition, sensory processing, and emotion. AbilityScore is not a diagnostic. It is a directional tool that indicates developmental zones in green (flourishing), yellow (support needed), or red (immediate intervention). Used by therapists and readable to parents, it transforms developmental delays into usable data.2. TherapeuticAIThis is most probably the world's first AI system dedicated exclusively to child development and autism treatment. It supports therapists in everyday planning, alleviates burnout, forecasts behavioral trends, and tailors interventions based on insights gleaned from millions of sessions. With adherence guaranteed for international data standards such as HIPAA and GDPR, TherapeuticAI converts conventional guesswork into precision-based these two systems make developmental gains visible, comprehensible, and replicable. The model's outcomes are persuasive:85% readiness at school in 6–12 months86% skill generalization in the home+11% communication gain in native-language therapyTherapist burnout decreased by 6.6 pointsThese results are supported by 12 independent studies, all integrated in Pinnacle's 2025 Whitebook — a government-ready, science-validated framework that eliminates guesswork.A Model Developed by Mothers, Not Merely ResearchersMore than 70% of its employees are women, most of them caregivers turned professionals. Its creator, Dr. Sreeja Reddy Saripalli, is a mother and a therapist who took her personal and clinical understanding to creating systems such as AbilityScore and are offered in over 16 Indian and global languages, and poor families receive subsidized or fee-free services without ever being treated differently. The model is unique in providing:TherapySphere: Anxiety-reducing, sensory-enhanced spaces that enhance engagementEveryday Therapy: A parent-led, home-based approach that ensures learning is carried forward from clinics to homeAndhra Pradesh's Global InvitationWhen Andhra Pradesh sanctioned Pinnacle, it wasn't merely endorsing a program. It issued a policy challenge to the other states and countries to embrace an evidence-based, inclusive, and quantifiable model of early childhood care. The state's road map is:Integrating AbilityScore in public health screeningsTraining ASHA and Anganwadi workers in Everyday TherapyEstablishing TherapySphere rooms in tribal and rural health clinicsThis wasn't charity. This was a roadmap for systemic Patented Contribution to the WorldThe systems and approaches employed by Pinnacle are world-protected in 160+ nations. Every IP asset addresses a vital piece of the world child development puzzle:AbilityScore: Systematic monitoring of 344 development skillsTherapeuticAI: Data-driven AI assistance for therapistsSEVA: Dignity-first subsidy model for therapyEveryday Therapy: Home and rural extension kitsTherapySphere: Sensory-based clinical architectureCollectively, these instruments make India a world leader in measurable, cost-effective, and scalable child Whitebook That Proved It AllThe Pinnacle Whitebook is not merely a series of studies. It is a policy-level manual for executing scalable child development systems. Based on 19 million sessions and feedback from 144+ experts in developmental science, AI, public health, and education, it is now referenced by WHO-SEARO, Stanford, UNICEF programs, and innovations include:150+ point AbilityScore increase in Red Zone children4.68/5 dignity rating from SEVA families85% school readiness in one yearAndhra Pradesh quoted this Whitebook in its recommendation, confirming that the government didn't act based on faith. It acted on That Verify the VisionFrom Warangal to Khammam, voices from the ground support what the evidence indicates:"We were poor, but SEVA never made us feel less. They didn't mention money — only milestones."— Rekha, caregiver, Eluru"AbilityScore took my daughter's journey from fear to understanding. She uttered 'Amma' again. It was like I got her back."— Fatima, SEVA beneficiary, KhammamEven therapists observe the difference:"I used to tire out by noon. With TherapeuticAI, I spend less time in speculation and more time building connections."— Nayana, Senior OT, BengaluruThese are not testimonials. They are testimonies of a system that quantifies, encompasses, and makes a Path ForwardFrom one therapy room to more than 70 cities, from one mother to a movement supported by government, Pinnacle Blooms Network has demonstrated that developmental care does not have to be a secret. It can be charted. It can be quantified. And it can be made Pradesh was the first to see it. But the model is available to every state, every nation, and every institution that is willing to put real, measurable results Aadhaar revolutionized identity and UPI revolutionized payments, Pinnacle has the potential to revolutionize child development. Not with promises. With The material, content, and/or information contained within this Impact Feature are published strictly for advertorial purposes. T.V. Today Network Limited hereby disclaims any and all responsibility, representation, or endorsement with respect to the accuracy, reliability, or quality of the products and/or services featured or promoted herein. Viewers or consumers are strongly advised to conduct their own due diligence and make independent enquiries before relying on or making any decisions based on the information or claims presented in the impact feature. Any reliance placed on such content is strictly at the individual's own discretion and risk.- Ends advertisement
Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Health warnings for samosa, jalebi? Here is what the govt's circular says, and why
The Union Health Secretary, Puniya Salila Srivastava, recently wrote to all ministries and government departments, urging them to display information on sugar and fat content in everyday foods in their offices and other public institutions. It also proposed doing so in schools and offices at large. However, some media reports claimed that 'warning labels' will be issued for snacks such as samosas and jalebis, raising questions of why Indian snacks were selectively chosen. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also said, 'Some media have reported that apparently samosas/jalebis cannot be consumed from now on, based on instructions from the Health Ministry. We are not interfering in every matter. We shall not implement this.' Here is what to know. First, what did the letter say? The letter said, 'We are proposing display of Sugar and Oil Boards as an initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioural nudges…' These boards are to serve as visual reminders to prompt people to eat healthier, in line with the government's recent focus on combating the rising incidence of obesity in India. They will not be the same as warning labels, like the ones seen on tobacco packaging and mandated by law. The letter included some sample templates, having not just Indian snacks but also burgers, cakes, chocolates, and soft drinks. Designed by the apex food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), one such board said that a person should consume only around 27 to 30 grams of fat in a day. It depicted snacks such as samosa, kachori, and vadapav, along with their fat content. For reference, one samosa (100 g) yields 362 kilocalories (kcal) with 28 g of fat, while a burger has 590 kcal with 20.5 g of fat. Similarly, the sugar boards said that adults should not consume more than 25 g of sugar per day and children not more than 20 g. They showed the sugar content in soft drinks, chocolates, gulab jamun, and flavoured juices. One gulab jamun (62 g) releases 203 kcal and 32 g of sugar. Some of the boards contained simple graphics on the spoonfuls of sugar that one can consume — five teaspoons — along with the actual quantity in various food items. It also had the option of providing details about the foods available in the canteen on the day. The boards further contain nuggets of information such as 'jaggery, honey, date syrup, maple syrup, brown sugar, caramel, molasses are equally bad,' or 'sugar can be disguised as sucralose, mannitol, erythitol, xylitol, sorbitol'. Why is this being done? With obesity on the rise — along with associated increases in lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, and some cancers — the government has been undertaking several activities to improve food habits. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to adopt an active, healthy lifestyle and reduce oil consumption by 10%. In the past, studies have cited the consumption of calorie-dense foods high in sugar, salt, and fat as a major cause of rising obesity in India. The entry of multinational food and beverage companies is also a factor. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently directed its affiliated schools to establish sugar boards to monitor and reduce sugar intake in children. The board noted a significant increase in type 2 diabetes among children over the past decade. It added that sugar constitutes 13% of the daily calorie intake of children between the ages of 4 and 10 years and 15% for those between the ages of 11 and 18 years, much higher than the recommended 5%. The Union Health Secretary's letter, quoting The Lancet medical journal's Global Burden of Disease study, says that the number of obese and overweight adults in India is projected to increase from around 18 crores in 2021 to 44.9 crores by 2050. This will make India the country with the second-highest global burden. Another representative study from India estimated that 25.4 crore people, or 28.6% of the population, live with generalised obesity. Importantly, almost 39.5% of the population (around 35.1 crore people) live with abdominal obesity. The accumulation of fats in the abdominal region makes people more prone to the ill effects of obesity even at a lower Body Mass Index (BMI). This is because the abdominal fat is stored not under the skin but around organs such as the liver and intestines, impacting their functioning. Visceral fat is linked to a higher risk of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Fats are not inherently bad — in fact, some categories of fats are needed for the body to function properly. The Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National Nutrition Guideline suggests that people should try to get as much of their daily requirement of fats from seeds, nuts, pulses, and beans as possible. It suggests that one should not consume more than 4 to 10 teaspoons of oil a day, and the number should be on the lower side for those having sedentary lifestyles. People should consume a mix of two or three different oils, ideally ones that are high in MUFAs (Monounsaturated Fatty Acids) and PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids), such as sunflower, safflower or soybean oil. Using the same oil repeatedly, a common practice in shops selling fried snacks and fast food chains, can be harmful. This is because when heated at high temperatures for frying, the good fatty acids in the oil break down to form harmful compounds that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Ultra-processed foods are high in fats, sugars, and salts, and the term generally includes industrially produced foods that contain ingredients not available in home kitchens. Their regular consumption is linked to high levels of obesity. Additionally, it reduces the share of healthy foods in people's diets, which have essential micronutrients, fibres, and vitamins. Ultra-processed foods can also be highly addictive and contribute to high calorific intake. Trans fats — or trans fatty acids — are produced during the hydrogenation of vegetable oils, which is done to improve the food's shelf life and flavour, and can be found in fast foods, potato chips, and cookies. At times, trans fats are considered worse than the bad cholesterol or LDL because they are known to both increase bad cholesterol and decrease the good cholesterol. Trans fats are known to increase the risk of diabetes, breast cancer, colon cancer, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), and nervous system disorders. The ICMR's National Institute of Nutrition guidelines state that everyone should restrict their sugar consumption to less than 5% of their total energy requirements, which equals about 25 g or five teaspoons, as the government has now suggested. Any loose sugar, honey, or other sweeteners are considered added sugars — in addition to what is already present in vegetables and fruits. 'If possible, added sugar may be completely eliminated from one's diet as it adds no nutritive value other than calories. Calories are healthy only when accompanied by vitamins, minerals, and fibres,' the guideline says. Natural sugars present in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are not harmful, but these items should also be consumed in moderation as per one's energy requirements. The World Health Organisation has also recommended against the use of artificial sweeteners — which provide the sweet taste with fewer or no calories — for weight loss. While there could be some weight loss and reduction in the BMI in the short term, as artificial sweeteners bring down the calories consumed, in the long run, they have been linked to weight gain, the WHO said. The sweeteners have also been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in the long run. To be sure, diabetics can continue to use it in small quantities for their tea or coffee, according to experts.
NDTV
24 minutes ago
- NDTV
From Poor Digestion To Sleep Issues, Nutritionist Shares Potential Side-Effects Of Drinking Too Much Tea
Tea is a beloved beverage in India. Whether it's a get-together or a casual meetup with friends, tea has carved out a special place in the hearts of many. Besides savouring the drink on every occasion, some people even associate the beverage with a cure for problems like headaches and many others. But drinking too many cups a day can do more harm than good. In an Instagram video, nutritionist Rashi Chowdhary shares that tea can be the sole reason behind several health issues, and goes on to explain the right amount for an individual per day. "Struggling with acidity, bloating, or that tired-but-wired feeling? Your morning chai might be part of the problem," she writes in the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rashi Chowdhary (@rashichowdhary) The video begins with a standup comedy stance highlighting how tea has taken a major portion in many Indian families. Contrary to this, the nutritionist mentions, "Look, all you tea lovers, right, I totally get it. My parents love tea too. But if you are sipping cup after cup, here's what your body is not telling you and wants you to listen." According to Rashi, these are some of the problems associated with drinking tea - Steals your nutrients - As per the nutritionist, tea is filled with tannins, and it "robs your body of iron". She tells, "A lot of you are already iron-deficient." Messes with digestion and sleep - Rashi Chowdhary shares, "The caffeine high that you get (after having a cup of tea), that's also was keeping you bloated, acidic and sometimes you can't sleep at night because of that." Dessert in disguise - She mentions, "Tea is made up of a bit of sugar and milk. So it's basically dessert in disguise. So, you're not sipping on tea, you're drinking dessert." Avoid if you have kidney stones - As per the nutritionist, tea is also high in oxalates, so she insists, "If you keep going, your kidneys might just protest with a stone. That too, those painful ones." She further elaborates on the chemical composition of tea and how excessive consumption can lead to numerous health problems in the body. She writes, "Caffeine in chai quickly boosts stomach acid (HCL), spikes cortisol, and if your gut lining is already inflamed, it can leave you feeling jittery, nauseous, or bloated." Rashi continues, "Add milk to the mix, and it gets worse. Milk is 80% casein, a protein that's tough to digest. When broken down, it creates acidic byproducts that can trigger reflux. Plus, dairy spikes IGF-1 (a hormone similar to insulin), which can mess with your hormonal balance, especially if you're already dealing with PCOS, acne, or sluggish digestion." As per the nutritionist, "If you're bloated, gassy, or constantly exhausted, your gut is inflamed and chai is not helping." In the concluding note, the nutritionist strongly advises, "So keep it to one cup a day, that's fine. And your body is definitely going to thank you later. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
