We all live in the Grand Valley for various reasons, but one good reason to live in Grand Junction is because living here might be better for your health than you think.

While we may experience the occasional 'brown cloud', the fact is we are living in a relatively air-pollution free environment, unlike Colorado's largest cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.

Obviously, breathing clean air is better for your lungs and your health than constantly taking in the smog-filled air of a metropolis like Denver. But, there is another benefit we probably did not know. The cleaner air may be keeping many of us from gaining weight.

According to the Daily Mail, researchers from Duke University, in an experiment with pregnant lab rats, found that rats exposed to higher levels of pollution were heavier and showed increased inflammation, compared to those exposed to cleaner air.

The leader of the study suggested it is clear evidence that long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing obesity.

It's not really known if the results of this study would be true with humans, but if that is the case, it may be cause for a new war on air pollution in this country.

Meanwhile, those of us in the Grand Valley can continue to enjoy the benefits of breathing in that clean, fresh Western Colorado air, and perhaps a smaller waistline than our counterparts in the bigger cities.

 

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