Reducing Toxins In The Kitchen
- Cleaning Products - In a previous blog post, I shared how I rid my home of commercial cleaning products and what I replaced them with, so I will keep this brief. Most store-bought cleaning products contain chlorine bleach, ammonia, formaldehyde and phthalates (which are a whole slew of different chemicals) that can raise havoc to our endocrine, respiratory and reproductive systems through inhalation and skin contact. Making the switch to natural cleaning products, including non-plastic sponges, is not only beneficial to our health, but is great for the environment as well.
- Cooking Utensils - Plastic that contains BPA and phthalates, cheap metals containing lead or cadium, and utensils with synthetic coatings can all leach into our food and cause toxic fumes when exposed to heat or acidic foods. I'm not even convinced food-grade silicone is 100% safe. In my opinion, it's best to stick with what's been around for generations: wood, stainless steel and glass utensils.
- Cutting Boards - Ditch plastic cutting boards! They can release microplastics into our food with every chop we make. As well, cheaper wood cutting boards are often treated with toxic finishes such as, formaldehyde-based adhesives or mineral oil, which have been linked to digestive issues, hormonal upheaval and more. Swapping out these types of cutting boards for a quality glass, stainless steel or hardwood one with a pure natural oil finish, may cost a bit more, but will last for years to come and most importantly, eliminate our exposure to unhealthy toxins.
- Cookware - Non-stick pots and pans are filled with harmful chemicals that can seep into our food and cause serious health issues such as cancer, liver damage and thyroid dysfunction. Again, stick with what's been around for ages, quality cast iron, stainless steel and Corningware style ceramic cookware that is resistant to thermal shock. Our recipes will taste better too!
- Food Storage Containers - Rather than buying those cheap plastic containers that come in a pack at the market, keep walking and invest in ones made of glass (like pyrex) or stainless steel that won't stain, absorb odors or contaminate leftovers with toxins.
- Water Filters - Even if we don't actually drink or cook with the water from our kitchen faucet, we probably rinse our dishes, hands and perhaps fresh produce with it. Adding a good water filtration system can eliminate over 270 harmful contaminants from our water, including mercury, lead, chlorine, pharmaceuticals, mirco plastics and other such toxins.
- Food - Eating clean is one of the most effective ways to rid the body of toxins and improve our health. When we choose simple and organic foods, we reduce our exposure to pestisides, chemicals and dyes. Filling our fridge with fresh, organic fruits and veggies and cooking our meals from scratch at home, rather than grabbing fast-food or prepackaged meals at the market, is a total game-changer when it comes to our health and well-being (provided we prepare them with toxic-free cookware and utensils 😉). When our body is loaded with chemicals instead of nutrients, is it any wonder we feel sluggish, foggy-brained and uninspired? As the saying goes, "We are what we eat."
Reducing Toxins In The Bathroom
- Personal Care Products - Many commercial lotions, hair products, makeup, bodywashes and soaps contain toxic chemicals such as, synthetic fragrances, parabens, heavy metals, phthalates and formaldehyde that can build up in the body and cause a long list of health issues, including cancer and organ damage. Ditch these chemical laden products for healthy ones with simple, pronounceable, all-natural ingredients, like organic shea butter, castor oil (read more about its benefits here), non-toxic, mineral-based makeup, shampoo bars and castile soap. Also, opt for aluminium-free deodorants and non-fluoride toothpastes! And please throw away the suncreen!
- Air Fresheners - Did you know that standard air fresheners release toxic gases and nearly half of them contain known carcinogenic pollutants? Toss them out and consider diffusing pure essential oils instead, or make a DIY air freshener spray by mixing water with a few drops of pure essential oils. It work great!
- The Shower - Showering in hot water filled with contaminants can lead to damaged hair, dry, irritated skin, immune issues and cancers, when absorbed throught the skin or inhaled. Installing a quality shower filter removes up to 90% of these impurities.
PVC shower curtains are manufactured with chlorine that gives off VOCs (volatile organic compounds) during a hot, steamy shower. Consider switching to one made of natural materials like organic cotton, hemp or linen that provide enhanced breathability and are machine washable.
Then we step out of the shower and onto the bathmat. Standard bathmats often come with an anti-slide backing made of noxious PVC plastic or polyurethane foam. Bathmats also contain chemicals, such as chlorine, formaldehyde and dioxins that can adversely impact our health. Some are made of synthetic materials that are petroleum-based byproducts. Choosing a thick organic cotton bathmat, with no backing, is one more easy way we can help detox our bathroom. - Towels - One area we often overlook is our towels. The label says 100% cotton, so they must be good, right? Well, unless towels are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton, there's a good chance they contain residues from pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, microplastics (if they are blended with synthetic materials), toxic dyes, or other harsh chemicals used in cotton farming that can cause skin irritation and other health problems.
There is also OekoTex certified towels, that are less expensive than GOTS certified. OekoTex Standard 100 certification focuses on the safety of the end product, testing for harmful substances such as allergens, pesticides, heavy metals, flame retardants and formaldehyde, but does not guarantee any specific material content or production practices like GOTS does. In other words, an OekoTex certificate can be given to a product made of synthetic and non-organic materials. GOTS certification has more stringent requirements focusing on how materials are grown, harvested, and made into products. They test facilities and goods from the cultivation stage to the final product, to ensure they are safe for consumers and produced in an environmentally responsible way.
Reducing Toxins In The Bedroom
- Bedding - Buying a quality linen sheet set is a great way to shift the energy of our sleeping area. Linen is considered a high-vibe fabric and can help us fall asleep quicker and sleep deeper. Standard sheets are often made with partial synthetic materials like polyester, which can cause us to sweat, and suck microplastics into our bodies via our skin. The same goes for comforters, blankets, mattress pads and pillows. Stick with all natural fibers. Anything with polyester filling or batting can be problematic to our health. Check out GOTS certified organic cotton-filled pillow inserts as a replacement option.
- Mattresses - Just like bedding, mattresses contain numerous harmful chemicals like flame retardants, polyurethane foam, formaldehyde and adhesives that can shed toxic dust into the air we breathe. Consider natural materials like organic cotton and wool instead. They provide superior breathability and temperature control for a more restful night's sleep.
Reducing Toxins In The Closet
- Clothing - It can take awhile to accomplish this, but slowly replacing all our clothes made of synthetic fabrics, with linen, cotton and wool is right up there with eating clean foods, as far as our health is concerned. Synthetic materials like polyester, nylon and acrylic are essentially plastics. When washed, these petroleum-based substances shed into microplastics. Since our skin is our largest organ, these microplastics can get sucked right into our bodies and ravage our biological systems. Make sure to replace under garments too!
- Shoes - Now this is a hard one because it's nearly impossible to find good-quality, non-toxic shoes anymore. Such a dang shame! Most shoes today are made of synthetic materials, rubbers and plastics. I call them throw-away shoes because there's nothing about them that we would ever consider taking to the cobbler to repair. But the even bigger issue is the chemicals applied to shoes when they are manufactured. For instance, biocides, fungicides, anti-bacterial agents, water repellents, clorinated paraffins, formaldehyde and, although banned in many countries, some shoes may still contain azodyes depending on where they are made. Suffice to say, I recommend wearing shoes as little as possible! When our feet get chilly, just slip on a comfy pair of organic cotton or wool socks instead of cotton/poly socks or faux fur slippers, because whatever we absorb through our feet goes directly into our system.
- Laundry Detergent - Although this is a laundry room product, our clothes do end up there, so I decided to include it here. Most commercial laundry detergents pose an extreme risk to our health, both from skin contact with the bedding, towels and clothes washed in them, and from the fumes they emit into the air. Sometimes on my morning walks, I will pass a home exuding an intense laundry detergent odor and it's so nauseating, I immediately increase my pace to escape it. Finding a toxic-free laundry detergent was my biggest challenge when I was detoxing my home. The cleanest store-bought brand I could find was ECOS. I use it with a few sprinkles of powdered Borax and together they get the job done. Soap nuts are another great, eco-friendly alternative, which you can read more about here.
Until manufacturers start putting integrity, purity and quality, over unethical practices and profits, and stop using cheap, toxic byproducts to produce their goods, alleviating our exposure to them will remain an essential way of life. Although it's a big undertaking and can feel a bit overwhelming at times, staying vigilant and doing our best to reduce toxins in our home is so worth it, for it does wonders for our overall health, energy and well-being. I hold the dream that one day the madness will end, and all these preventative measures will no longer be necessary.