I hate to be the one to break it to you, but we are surrounded by toxins. They are EVERYWHERE in our environment and in our home.
According to Molly Miller, journalist for the University of Southern California Magazine, “...we’re all at risk from increasing chemical exposure. The water we run from our taps, the lotion we smear on our skin, the shampoo we rub in our hair, even the dust in our houses is full of synthetic chemicals.” And ain’t it the truth.
Why should we be concerned about environmental toxins?
Environmental toxins like phthalates, PCBs, pesticides, fluoride, and arsenic have the potential to cause serious damage. They have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, autoimmune disease and other problems.
And they are everywhere.
But we can minimize our exposure - actually and surprisingly - really easily.
Start with Your Home
The best and easiest place to begin is in your home.
Here I just want to give you a brief overview, although there are some amazing and detailed guidelines out there like this one from Branch Basics. And I share with all my clients the EWG resource.
Cleaning Products
Major hormone disrupters are PFCs, parabens, phthalates, and flame retardants. These are the most insidious and very toxic with prolonged exposure.
Phthalates are used to make plastics, cleaners and fragrances. Yes - fragrances are synthetic chemical hormone disruptors. Fragrance can actually be a mix of thousands of chemicals. Yuck.
When choosing your cleaning products, avoid anything with the words ‘natural fragrance.’ Choose instead ‘fragrance-free’ alternatives and add your own essential oils.
Also, avoid any products with the ingredients BBP, DBP, or DEP, which are actually just acronyms for phthalates. Nowadays you can even find products with labels that include ‘paraben-free’ or ‘phthalate-free’ (or both!) just to make it easy for you.
Personal Care Items
Triclosan and triclocarbon are also nasty chemicals that are used to prevent bacteria and fungal growth and yet are often found in toothpaste.
Get rid of products containing these items because they disrupt the body’s ability to create natural hormones, causing problems with the brain, development, and reproduction.
If you see them on the list of ingredients, leave it on the shelf.
Cooking
If you have any non-stick pans, it's likely they were made with Teflon. Teflon was made until 2015 with a chemical called perfluorooctonoic acid, or PFOA. This is now a known endocrine disrupter, suspected carcinogen, and reproductive toxin.
While Teflon has phased out this chemical, older pots would still contain it. Furthermore, no one is entirely sure of the impacts of the new non-stick alternatives.
Substitute your Teflon pans with ceramic, stainless steel, or cast iron alternatives.
Now I know this feels like a lot, but from a functional health coach’s perspective, just start with one thing at a time. When one product runs out, substitute it with a healthier alternative.
I am here to be your partner in setting and achieving your health goals with diet and lifestyle changes that are manageable and sustainable.
Schedule your free discovery call here to get more help in reclaiming your best self.
Now is the time to start taking care of you.
In good health,
Holli
This communication may contain general nutrition and lifestyle advice. I am not a licensed physician. My advice is not intended, and you should not use it to attempt to diagnose, prevent or treat diseases, ailments, pain or other medical conditions. Please consult your personal licensed physician to seek advice about diagnosing, preventing or treating specific ailments.