BEWARE! If you love lighting candles at home then your health can be at risk

In a video shared on Instagram, Dr Steven Gundry is in a conversation with Peter Spiegel who speaks on why burning candles at home can be harmful

Aaryaman Upasani October 29, 2023

Most of us love the smell of beautiful scented candles in our homes which also help us relax but what if I told you that these beautiful candles are actually harming your health every time you light them up? Well, in a video shared on social media platform, Instagram, Dr Steven Gundry is in a conversation with Peter Spiegel, who talks on why burning candles at home is not such a good idea.

In the video, Peter Spiegel is seen saying that a lot of people enjoy burning scented candles in their homes but he thinks that lighting such candles is one of the most dangerous things that anyone can do to make the indoor air quality unhealthy.

In the video he is seen explaining why these candles are bad for one’s health. “First of all, these candles are made from paraffin. Paraffin is a petroleum product. You’re burning basically petroleum knowingly, willingly in your own home environment. These candles release into their air alkanes and alkenes, which are also found in car exhaust,” he said.

He also explains how scented candles tend to make things worse. Spiegel says, “Then scented candles, to make matters worse, they’re scented generally with artificial fragrances. And what’s in every single artificial fragrance? An ingredient called phthalates. Phthalates, another petroleum product that is a known serious hormone disruptor.”

This video in the background of scented candles and paraffin candles being one of the most common candles in the market today. Paraffin candles are made from refined petroleum products and although they cheap and affordable, burning them releases potentially harmful chemicals like Benzene and Toluene in the air. Breathing these chemicals for a long time can cause serious respiratory problems and in addition to the fumes, these candles also leave soot on surfaces which further impact indoor air quality.

If you still do want to light candles in your homes, here is a list of candles which you can light which are less toxic and are better for the indoor air quality.