The doctor spoke about the pros and cons of live and artificial Christmas trees

A live or artificial Christmas tree is not only a choice of aesthetics and convenience, but also a question of the impact on health. On December 13, Vera Serezhina, expert physician of the medical company LabQuest, spoke about the pros and cons of each option.

According to her, the main advantage of natural spruce is the release of essential oils rich in phytoncides, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. They disinfect the air, strengthen the immune system and nervous system, have a beneficial effect on pulmonary respiration. However, this benefit does not last long - after one or two days, the content of phytoncides sharply decreases. At the same time, the risk of fungus on the tree increases, which is dangerous for asthmatics and people with weakened immunity, the expert said.

In addition, coniferous trees can cause allergic reactions due to resins, the smell of needles or treatment with chemicals. To keep the tree's appearance longer, sellers often use insecticides, which can get into the air of the apartment, which is unfavorable for the health of people and animals, the doctor noted.

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"Modern artificial Christmas trees are made of various materials, including plastic, metal and fabric. Most of them do not cause allergies, do not contain fungus and do not drop needles. However, the quality of these products varies. Cheap Christmas trees made from low-quality plastic can emit harmful substances such as formaldehyde and phenol, especially when heated by garlands or batteries. In rare cases, they contain toxic elements like arsenic and lead," Serezhina said.

As the expert explained, to avoid such risks, it is important to choose quality products. According to her, you can check the artificial Christmas tree by smell - quality material has no extraneous odors. More expensive Christmas trees, as a rule, are made of environmentally friendly and safe materials, resistant to fire and durable.

"A live Christmas tree is worth considering if you are confident in its safety and are ready to dispose of the tree after a few days of use. An artificial Christmas tree becomes the preferred choice for families with children and animals, especially if it is made of quality materials: it is durable, safe and does not cause allergies. At the same time, it is important not to save money on the purchase to avoid toxic emissions," - emphasized Serezhina.

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Earlier, December 2, it was reported that the association of major manufacturers Rusprodsoyuz calculated the cost of products for the New Year's table. In total, Russians will need at least Br8.1 thousand. This money will be spent on the necessary ingredients for traditional salads - herring under a fur coat and Olivier, as well as for sandwiches with red caviar and butter, chicken meat, cuts of cheese and raw smoked sausage, tangerines, champagne and chocolates.