Yea yea, I know its not something we all really like to talk about. We also don't realize just how much we are bombarded with toxic chemicals accumulating in our bodies. Most of the fun symptoms they cause are easily ignored or shrugged off as "normal". I have news for you, they aren't normal and can be avoided by reducing your daily chemical exposure. Which is one of the things I have personally been working on over the last several months.
You may be able to guess that chemicals are responsible for your headaches but did you know that they could also be hormone disruptors, the cause of your chronic fatigue, many long-term illnesses, asthma, mental disorders, weight gain and more?? Well, I hate to break it to you but they very well may be related and part of the missing piece for those of you that are like me and live a very healthy lifestyle in every other way; gym, hydration, diet, etc. A dirty secret about toxins is they like to store themselves in your adipose tissue. If you’ve had fat packed on for 30 years, it’s sure to have toxins hiding inside it.
If you're at all like me, a bit set in my ways and really not a fan of change... Its a hard concept to grasp, removing my old products to reduce my chemical exposure. Not to mention the fact that I had tried 453 different organic & safer products over the years and none of which worked as well as my originals.
But it was time to actually make those changes I dreaded and really find safe products that work! They had to be out there by now, I gave up on them a couple of years ago but now had no choice as #missionremission is my sole focus at the present time.
How I systematically reduced my daily exposure. *If you do things one at a time, it will be less overwhelming. Unlike me over here that loves throwing a billion things on her plate & having a mini breakdown! Lol! Don't do that! I have included links to the items that I have after some trial & error to help you save time and $$$.
1. Get a water filter (as more than 700 chemicals have been identified in drinking water). Filtering your tap water is better than drinking bottled water. I also have a whole home filtration system so its safer when I shower, brush my teeth, wash dishes etc.
2. Ditch non-stick cookware. Listen, I loved my calphalon hard-anodized pots & pans, they have lasted for many years...but were they really as good to me as I thought? NOPE!
The toxic fumes released from heated teflon-coated pans (at medium to high temperatures) can cause enough air pollution to kill a pet bird! When people breathe these same fumes they can develop flu-like symptoms called "Teflon Flu."
So I switched to ceramic, which takes a little getting used to & extra care when cleaning & storing, but it all worked out. Additional safer options are cast iron (be sure to check your iron levels 1st) and glass.
3. Plastics & BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical that acts as a synthetic estrogen. This means that BPA disrupts our own hormone levels and hormone balance.
Tips to help reduce your BPA exposure:
Stop buying plastic water bottles. I buy & reuse glass water bottles.
If you are using a plastic water bottle, you should avoid drinking from any that have been frozen and/or exposed to sunlight or high temperatures.
Store leftover foods in glass containers instead of plastic.
Remove all cellophane or plastic wrap before microwaving any food. The heat can cause the chemicals to contaminate your food.
Look for canned food labeled “BPA free” *I recommend not eating canned food at all really, sorry!
Avoid handling receipts that are printed on thermal paper. BPA is used as a color developer for the dye the printer uses. You can always ask for the cashier to put the receipt in the bag to avoid contact & many stores give you the option to email receipts.
Choose baby bottles made from glass or BPA-free plastic. Avoid vinyl teethers for your baby. Stay away from children’s toys marked with a “3” or “PVC.” Avoid plastic shower curtains.
Reducing exposure to chemicals like BPA is one big step you can take for your and your family toward improving your overall health.
4. Go green when you clean. Oh boy, this is a big one! With so many areas to focus on. Let's start with the most serious offenders.
Cleaners to Avoid:
Air fresheners *I LOVE a good smelly home, so I switched to diffusers & my favorite essential oil blends throughout my home, I even have a great travel diffuser in my car that I am OBSESSED with.
Fabric softeners and dryer sheets. The new product I like is a much safer choice.
Cleaning products with artificial fragrances, Corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners.
Bleach and ammonia.
Products that create suds (shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath, laundry detergent)
Antibacterial products.
For the last four, I have experimented with A LOT. I found a lot of safer cleaners leaving residues or just not getting as clean as I wanted. I discovered Dr. Bronner's and am completely obsessed with all of the uses I have been able to find for this super product! I use Dr Bronner's to clean my kitchen, bathrooms, floors, wash dishes, wash my hands, and laundry. I keep finding more & more fun uses. I just created my own dilution & mixes and put everything in their own labeled glass bottles and waalaa! They also have a yummy hand sanitizing spray that I have used for years...never knew that they had so many other products.
5. No shoes in the house (most household dirt, pesticides and lead come in on your shoes). Place floor mats vertically by your entryways to wipe your shoes. I have always been repulsed when folks wear their shoes inside of their home!
6. Keep the air clean & Reduce EMF Pollution Keep your windows and doors open as much as possible to ventilate. Use green plants as natural air detoxifiers. Remove odors with baking soda. Have your air ducts and vents cleaned with nontoxic cleaners. Get an air purifier, especially for the bedrooms. The unprecedented roll out of things like cell towers, smart meters, and high-powered Wi-Fi routers, has created an environment in which people everywhere are subjected to high radiation levels. Many are becoming ill and debilitated, in clear correlation to the increase in their exposure. My go to EMF protection.
7. Keep house dust to a minimum (more dust means more toxins). Mop all surfaces at least once a week. Use a vacuum cleaner (with a HEPA filter, preferably) for your carpets. HEPA-filter vacuums capture the widest range of particles and get rid of allergens.
8. Avoid excess moisture (as it encourages the growth of mold and mildew). Check areas for moisture accumulation or leaks (particularly basements). Regularly clean surfaces where mold usually grows - around showers and tubs and beneath sinks.
9. Avoid stain-guarded clothing, furniture and carpets (due to the presence of PFC’s). Wrinkle free and permanent press fabrics used for clothing and bedding commonly contain formaldehyde - use untreated fabrics where possible. Beware of toxins in carpeting, especially in products made from synthetic materials. Use natural fiber wool & cotton rugs. If possible, replace your wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors, all natural linoleum or ceramic tiles. Use nontoxic glues, adhesives, stains or sealers for installation.
10. Avoid harmful pet-care products and avoid toxic pest control (including traditional exterminators).
11. Replace toxic lawn and garden pesticides and herbicides with less harmful natural ones.
12. Replace your skin care and personal products with less toxic and chemical free options. Deodorant, toothpaste, cosmetics, hair products, nail polish and perfumes are often loaded with toxins. Learn how to identify them and avoid them. There's also a new app that I really like that helps quickly scan & identify potential personal care risks.
I'm still working on curating a lot of my personal care favorites and will be posting in a separate blog, but for now, I recommend:
There are obviously other areas to concern yourself with but this will give you a great start. I will continue to review & post products that I find that WORK so it makes your transition to less chemicals that much easier!
Until next time.... Happy detoxing!
Thank you for spending time with me today guys! Have a beautiful day.
Brianna Marie, Holistic Healing Fit Club
#missionremission #operationgutheal #toxicoverload #productreview #reverseautoimmunedisease #healnaturally #resourceguide #detox #natural #naturalhouseholdproducts #cleanskincare #ewg
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