Indoor houseplants do wonders for the visual aesthetics of your home and dacor. But did you know the health benefits as well?  Houseplants improve the quality of air by removing toxins and providing added humidity, which helps you breathe easier and keeps you healthy.

Plants remove toxins from air up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every 24 hours, according to NASA research. VOCs  include substances like formaldehyde (present in rugs, vinyl, cigarette  smoke and grocery bags), benzene and trichloroethylene (both found in  man-made fibers, inks, solvents and paint).

As part of the photosynthetic and respiratory processes, plants release moisture vapor, which increases humidity of the air around them. Plants release roughly 97 percent of the water they take in. Place several plants together, and you can increase the humidity of a room, which helps keeps respiratory distresses at bay. Studies have found that using plants in interior spaces decreases the incidence of dry skin, colds, sore throats and dry coughs.

When you breathe, your body takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. This opposite pattern of gas use makes plants and people natural partners. Adding plants to interior spaces can increase oxygen levels.