How to Avoid Toxins in 3 Steps
Chemical exposure in our modern world is off the charts. There are over 80,000 chemicals registered for commercial use today, many of which haven't been studied for safety by any government agency. In your very home, there are on average 62 toxic chemicals, which is more than a chemistry lab holds at one time.
The number of banned chemicals in the cosmetic industry in the European Union alone is over 1,400 chemicals. In the United States, our EPA and FDA are not as efficient and have only banned 30 chemicals in the cosmetic industry and only 9 chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) since 1976. This means it is up to personal choice and education to protect ourselves from chemical overload.
I’ve created this 3 step resource for you to start avoiding toxins, one product at a time.
Begin cleaning up your:
personal care products
home products
and then your environment
to support your body’s natural detox system.
When we alleviate the toxic load on the body, the system as a whole can work much better to promote clearer skin, better digestion, balanced hormones, longevity, and increased immunity. Learn more about how detoxification works and how it helps acne and gut health on this blog post.
Personal Care Products:
It only takes 30 seconds for your skin to absorb 64% of the chemicals from skincare products. The cosmetic industry is the most common exposure to chemicals like phthalates, parabens, synthetic colors, formaldehyde, sulfates, triclosan, and toluene. Many of these chemicals are estrogenic, meaning they mimic estrogen in the body. The first place to look for products that do not contain these toxins is the Environmental Workers Group website. At this point, you will want to search for their top-rated products. You can also use their skin-deep app to look up your products and find out if they contain any toxic ingredients. Switching to unscented and organic products is the easiest way to avoid these chemicals.
Solutions:
Skincare- Primally Pure, BeautyCounter, raw honey, and essential oils
Shampoo/Conditioner- Bright Earth, DIY
Toothpaste- Jason, Auromere, diet (i.e. cut out sugar ;))
*Fluoride is a controversial ingredient in toothpaste. Dr. Griffith Cole, a biological dentist, acknowledges that topical fluoride helps strengthen your teeth; however, ingestion of fluoride is at higher rates than ever before and is toxic when ingested. It is also important to consider the fluoride exposure you may be getting from your drinking water (the Berkey filter can be a solution for this).
Deodorant- Primally Pure, Schmidts, Primal Pit Paste, Native
Lotions/Lip Balms- Flying Cow Tallow, DIY, shea butter, Mrs. Meyer’s
Perfume- Essential Oils
Sunscreen- Badger’s Sunscreen, BeautyCounter * Strictly Avoid SPF above 50, Oxybenzone, Spray sunscreens, Retinyl palmitate, Added insect repellent
Soaps- Primally Pure, BeautyCounter
Make-up- BeautyCounter
Feminine hygiene products- Diva Cup, Lola organic tampons, THINX underwear
Male hygiene products- Beard Oils, Weleda, Primally Pure
Home:
Household cleaners, air fresheners, detergents, water, and even fabrics contain more chemicals than you can imagine. Some of the most common and lethal toxins are polybrominated diphenyl ethers (aka fire retardants and formaldehyde). Televisions, computers, insulation and foam products, children's toys and baby pillows, furniture, and window drapes can off-gas these chemicals into the air. Another frequent home toxin is Organophosphate pesticides (PDF) which are pesticides found on conventionally grown food and in local water sources. Use the environmental worker’s group consumer guides to help you transition away from these toxins.
Solutions:
Cleaning Products- DIY, Essential Oils, Vinegar and Baking soda, Unscented natural cleaning products
Candles- Essential oil Diffuser, incense, unscented beeswax, goat milk, or soy candles *look for essential oil scented
Perfumes- Essential oils
Dryer Sheets- Wool dryer ball with essential oils
Detergent- Unscented or essential oil scented natural organic detergent
Cookware- Cast iron skillet, stainless steel (400 series and magnetics, should say 18/0 on the bottom to avoid Nickel exposure), ceramic, glass (*avoid aluminum, Teflon, and all non-stick coatings)
Plastics- Replace with glass bakeware, Tupperware, bowls, Beeswax wraps- Khala Cloths, or Silicone reusable bags and bakeware
Water- Filter Chlorine, Fluoride, and estrogenic chemicals (Download this water guide for information on water filtration products)
Food- Organic local produce, grass-fed, and pastured meat (corn fed cows store estrogenic pesticides like atrazine in their fat). Check out these blogs for further information on non-toxic food options ( Healthy Fats , Feel Good Food, Download my Food list for easy shopping)
Light- Blue light blocking glasses *Avoid blue light from cell phones, television, LED and fluorescent lights & computer screens
EMF- Turn wifi off at night, consider switching to ethernet cable & wifi blocking paint *Wifi interferes with the body’s ability to relax and diminishes the body’s detox ability
Environmental:
Air pollution may seem inconspicuous depending on where you live, but chemicals from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas have been associated with respiratory issues. However, more common air pollutants can also include nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and benzene found in furniture containing glues (e.g. particleboard, plywood, carpets, or pressed wood). Water contaminants like lead and mercury are also a concern, not to mention the previously mentioned chlorine and fluoride chemicals.
Solutions-
Air- Austin Air Purifier
Mold - Citrisafe products
Fabrics- Organic cotton, linen, or wool
Mattresses- GOTS and GOLS certified
Water- Filter Chlorine, fluoride, and estrogenic chemicals (Download this water guide for information on water filtration products)
Food- Organic local produce, grass-fed and pastured meat (corn fed cows store estrogenic pesticides like atrazine in their fat)
Light- Blue light blocking glasses *Avoid blue light from cell phones, television, LED and fluorescent lights & computer screens
EMF- Turn wifi off at night, consider switching to ethernet cable & wifi blocking paint *Wifi interferes with the body’s ability to relax and diminishes the body’s detox ability