Did you know that a recent study examining infant cord blood found it to contain more than 300 different chemicals? These are chemicals that are not naturally occurring in the body. Instead, they were chemicals and toxins taken in from the mothers’ environment or consumed through food.
Many of the chemicals that we come in contact with every day, through touch, breathing or eating are toxic, known to contribute to diseases from asthma to cancer. While we can’t eliminate entirely the toxins in our modern lives, we can make sure that are homes, the place in which we spend the most time, are as toxic free as possible.
Start with Chemical Cleaners
Most cleaning products contain a large cocktail of chemicals. Further more, manufacturers are not required by law to list all of the ingredients in their products. To play it safe, stick only with certified green and clean products or make your own out of safe ingredients, such as baking soda, salt and vinegar. Natural products can clean just as well as synthetically created cleaners, and you will have a healthier home.
Watch out for cleaners that may mask themselves as natural, simply because they are so traditionally used. Bleach is an example of such a cleaner. Its fumes can contribute to respiratory issues, such as asthma.
Next, Look to Your Food
Artificial ingredients are now in most foods that we eat. Despite the fact that many of these additives have been linked to disease, we still consume them in record quantities. There are 15 million pounds of synthetic food dyes alone used each year in US food. Scary.
Read labels to reduce or eliminate your consumption of artificial dyes, artificial preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, and artificial sweeteners. Buy organic whenever you can, or at least avoid buying produce that falls into the “dirty dozen” category.
Consider What Comes Into Your Home
You need a new rug, nail polish, shower curtain or piece of furniture, so you bring one home. What you may not realize, is that you are probably also bringing home chemicals that will be released into the air. If you can’t find or can’t afford home goods made out of natural products, make sure to air out any new packaged purchases before placing them in your home to eliminate some of the VOCs that may be present in the item. That vinyl smell, for example, are toxins being released into the air.
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