Estimated reading time: 2 1/2 minutes
Did you know that your home or office may be the most toxic place you encounter each day?
I am so passionate about educating others on living a healthier and cleaner lifestyle. What I see all too often is clients that want to make changes to their health by doing detoxes and learning how to eat better and train harder—yet they forget to consider changing their lifestyle habits and the surrounding environment.
What we need to remember is that any product that comes in contact with our skin or that we inhale can be so easily absorbed into our bloodstream. The worst part with chemicals (unlike food) is that they don’t go straight to the liver where they are made less toxic. Instead, they run through your entire system first.
Since the 1950s over 72,000 synthetic chemicals have entered our food supply and homes and the vast majority of them have never been tested for human safety. The average person comes in contact with over 6,000 of these chemicals on a regular basis and babies are now born with hundreds of them already in their system.
Some of the most common chemicals like formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, toluene and xylene have been found to cause cancer and are often found in indoor air. Other problems like Fibromyalgia, Depression, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Arthritis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and hormone imbalances are also linked to chemical exposure. We’re not just what we eat, we’re what we absorb and we absorb a great deal through our skin and our lungs.
Solutions to Creating a Toxin Free Environment Include:
- Switching to natural, biodegradable and perfume-free/ naturally fragranced detergents and household cleaning agents
- Using a damp microfiber cloth to clean your house or a sponge with some bicarb soda or apple cider vinegar on it
- Avoidance of synthetic fragrant sprays in the home, car or office—instead of using 100% essential oils which can be diluted and worn as a perfume replacement
- Investing in an aluminium-free natural deodorant—I have tried so many of these and found that Black Chicken is the best for all-day wear
- Switching to natural skincare and makeup brands—chemicals found in makeup and skincare products have been said to contain hormone-disrupting chemicals which have been correlated with multiple types of cancer, including increasing rates of male Breast Cancer and reproductive disorders such as Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and infertility. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a very common ingredient and this is carcinogenic
- Using fluoride-free and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate free toothpaste—I like Red Seal or Grants
- Buying a high-quality water filter to avoid chlorine
- Cooking using stainless steel, glass or enamel pots—avoid Teflon
- Minimising the amount of plastic wrap/plastic bags used to wrap food—use greaseproof paper where you can
- Using stainless steel or glass water bottles, not plastic
- Avoidance of heating foods in plastic takeaway containers, which leaches bisphenol-A into foods. Microwaves are best to be avoided or minimised
- Storing food in mason jars or glass containers
- Limiting/ eliminating aluminium foil when cooking- instead use aluminium-free baking powder
By detoxing your environment, both your mental and physical health are likely to improve.
