10 Ways To Reduce Your Toxic Load for a Healthier Life
When someone thinks of a “toxin” they may think of the pollution or smoke, but don’t necessarily think of the innocent items in their everyday life, like their laundry detergent. Environmental toxins - also known as a hormone disrupting chemicals - are substances in our environment that can be harmful to humans. We know these hormone disrupting chemicals are in our bodies because studies have detected it in blood, urine and breast milk. We may think a lot about our food choices, but not really think about everything else we do every day, breathe in and wear on our bodies.
In today’s world, we are constantly hit with a lot of these hormone disrupting chemicals all of the time. From the bed you sleep in, to what you apply to your body, brush your teeth with, use in the shower, wear as clothes, your makeup, what you put on your hair, all the way to what you drink and eat out of, what you wash your clothes with and what you use to scent your home. It’s a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, over and over and over. They accumulate over time through consistent exposure of tiny amounts. And no one really talks about it. I don’t necessarily know why people don’t talk about it, but I feel like it’s because large companies who use these chemicals don’t want us to talk about it, and money speaks in large ways sometimes.
So, naturally I am over here talking about it.
Why?
Because everyone I know wants to live a healthy live. No one wants to knowingly apply harmful chemicals to themselves and be around it in their home daily. Most just don’t realize it. I don’t even realize it in a lot of things I do and use. I still get blindsided from time to time when I discover “fragrance” on a label of a product I had believed to be transparent. It can be overwhelming and also depressing to even think about! And sometimes just not wanting to know feels easier than knowing and trying to find another solution.
But, I also know that when we all know better, we do better. And it can be empowering to know when and where to make a healthier choice in our daily life. I find it very empowering!
I want to highlight 10 ways we can reduce the toxic load on our body in our daily life and in our home to live a healthier.
Opt for natural, non-toxic cleaning products: Many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that are harmful to our health. They also can pollute indoor air and leave residue on surfaces of our home. When looking at cleaning products, avoid the term “fragrance” on a label because it can hide hundreds of chemicals, many of which are harmful and disrupting our hormones. Opt for a natural cleaning product and choose unscented if the scented variety isn’t clearly laid out on the label. If it’s a natural scent, the ingredient will usually be a pure essential oil. I linked some great non-toxic cleaning options in my Amazon Storefront here.
Opt for natural and non-toxic personal care products and cosmetics. Personal care products are anything you apply to your skin. Basically, if you are wearing it on your body, check to make sure it’s not harmful to your health. This is your shampoo, body products, skin care, makeup, sunscreen, bug spray, deodorant and hair products. Most brands on the store shelf have harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances that hide hundreds of chemicals. For sunscreen, choose a mineral sunscreen. For deodorant, avoid parabens and choose aluminum-free. Avoid “fragrance” on the labels because it can hide hundreds of harmful chemicals. The EWG Healthy Living app is also a great resource to scan a product to see its safety rating.
Opt for natural laundry products. Natural laundry products typically use plant-based ingredients and essential oils rather than synthetic chemicals. They are also less likely to use harsh additives like artificial fragrances, dyes, sulfates, and phthalates. Instead of dryer sheets, which can also house a lot of chemicals, use a wool dryer ball when you dry your clothes. You can even put an essential oil on the dryer ball, but I just toss in the dryer all by itself! I linked some great non-toxic cleaning options in my Amazon Storefront here.
Opt for natural dish soap and hand soap. Conventional dish soaps contain harsh chemicals like sulfates and artificial fragrances. And despite being made from natural ingredients, natural dish soaps work just as well as the harsh stuff! And there are a lot more options out there than ever before. But, there is also a lot of greenwashing, so try to avoid “fragrance” on the label because this can hide hundreds of chemicals.
Reduce your plastic use. Plastic products contain BPA and phthalates - which can leach into food and beverages. Choose glass, stainless steel, or silicone alternatives whenever possible (such as for water bottles, food storage, plates and cups).
Avoid synthetic fragrances and air-fresheners in your home. Synthetic fragrances in candles and air fresheners are filled with hidden, undisclosed chemicals, many of which are harmful and hormone-disrupting. You can scent your home with a diffuser and a natural essential oil, or you can make a homemade stovetop simmer using fruit and spices.
Choose organic bedding and mattresses. By opting for organic mattresses and bedding, you are reducing your exposure to flame retardants, formaldehyde and other chemicals commonly found in bedding. This can be an investment, but we also sleep 1/3 of our life, so it’s one well spent!
Filter your water. Water filters remove contaminants in the water like chlorine and lead. Use filtered water for your drinking water. You can also install a home water filter in your sink - this is a goal of mine to do!!!
Improve your air quality in your home. Open your windows often. And use air-purifying plants such as peace lilies, snack plants and aloe vera plants. These air-purifying plants are a natural way to improve the air quality by removing toxins and pollutants.
Take your shoes off at the front door. Simply just getting into the habit of taking your shoes off when you come into the front door will improve the home air quality and helps reduce the toxins in your home. Shoes carry on them dirt, allergens, pesticides and outdoor pollutants. Taking your shoes off reduces the likelihood these chemicals will be brought into your home.
That is just a start, but those changes come with it big changes in the long run. And remember, it doesn’t h happen overnight and it’s not always realistic or possible to be perfect in all of these areas. But, more often than not, the goal is to try to make a better choice when we are confronted with buying a new dish soap or lotion. By incorporating some of these strategies into your daily life, you can minimize your exposures to toxins.
You can follow me over on Instagram at Urban.Apron and I talk a lot about swaps we can make. I love connecting and helping each other.