Part of the journey to better health includes eliminating toxic chemicals in your home and personal care routine to the extent possible. This is a process that will take some time and adjusting. Just making one step at a time will help create less exposure to things that can rob you of your health.
Here are some tips:
– Eliminate scented laundry detergents. Natural products are best, but at a minimum, use the fragrance-free variety. The fragrances contain many synthetic chemicals that can be dangerous.
– Eliminate Fabric Softeners. I know that everyone likes a nice, soft, fluffy towel, but those dryer sheets are loaded with nasty chemicals. Simply skip them or use some wool dryer balls to cut down on static if that is an issue. You can also decrease drying time to prevent static.
– Ditch the chemical cleaning products containing bleach, ammonia, synthetic fragrances, etc. You can clean the entire house with no chemicals at all using a brand of cleaning products called Norwex (www.Norwex.biz). These products are amazing. Another product that I love is Young Living’s Thieves Cleaning concentrate. You dilute this is a spray bottle and can clean almost anything like wood/laminate/tile floors, bathrooms, etc. It smells delicious and does not contain any synthetic fragrance. You can also make your own cleaners with vinegar, baking soda and essential oils. The possibilities are endless here!
– Be Careful with Lawn Chemicals. Just recently the weed/grass killer “Roundup” was linked t the development of Leukemia. Try to avoid these nasty chemicals at all costs. Pesticides, Fertilizers and weed killers are loaded with all kinds of terrible chemicals. There are more natural alternatives that can be used.
– Get rid of beauty care products containing Parabens. These are chemicals that mess with hormones. They are commonly found in body washes, lotions, shampoos, etc. I really like the “Everyone” brand of soaps, body washes, lotions, shampoos, etc. and this brand is easily found at Walmart, Target and on Amazon.
– Stick to cleaner make-up. Two brands I really like are Beauty Counter (www.beautycounter.com) and mineral fusion. Mineral Fusion can be found at many health food stores or on Amazon.
– Throw out the Anti-perspirant. This will be a transition. At first, you may think this isn’t going to work, but after a few weeks of detoxing from the anti-perspirant, your body will adjust. Switch to a natural deodorant. One of my favorite brands is Schmidt’s, which can be found at Target and Walmart.
– Stop using Plastic for food and water consumption. This is especially true if you use a microwave. Do not microwave things on, in or covered in plastic. The plastic breaks down and you end up consuming it. The same is true for water bottles. Use Glass or Stainless Steel water bottles. Gradually swap out your old plastic ware for glass (or something like bamboo) for food storage.
I know this is a long list and can be overwhelming when you first look at it. Just focus on progress. Make changes as you can and over time you will have transitioned all these areas. It will be worth it!
Blessings!
Dr. Jeni
