As I am a huge believer of building up the INTERAL immune system and gut health and liver health to prevent cancer, I do also think that things in our environment are not setting our internal system up to win.
We touch a billion (I counted) products a day between taking a shower, putting on make up, brushing our teeth, using cleaning products, washing dishes and doing laundry and all of the in-betweens. And MANY of the products we come in contact with contain cancer causing or cancer triggering chemicals.
So how can we minimize this exposure? What can we replace them with?
Here are five that stand out and then some options for healthier replacements.
SUNSCREEN
Gah, this is one of the worst. First I have to say that I think we slather WAY too much of this on. There is a time a place for it but I think as a society we are addicted to the stuff. A little sun is good for ya remember.
Just don’t burn please.
Now most commercial sunscreens contain oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, and homosalate all of which are problematic. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are common active ingredients and the issue here is the way they are manufactured they are easily absorbed through the skin.
Preferred brands are Badger Balm Sunscreens and Aubrey Organics.
FEMANINE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
This is one most people don’t consider. And many of the commercial tampons and pads contain harmful chemicals and considering the vagina is HIGHLY vascularized these chemicals are very easily and readily absorbed into the system.
They both have been bleached with chlorine and contain dioxins, plastics, synthetic fibers and synthetic fragrances, all of which do NOT need to be inside the body.
So it will behoove you and your vagina to buy non-toxic brands that are dedicated to organic practices and ingredients like Seventh Generation and Natracare.
CLEANING SUPPLIES
This category is kind of a can of worms, so ill just tell ya what to look out for and then what brands are the bomb.
Avoid products containing:
- 1,4-dioxane
- Chloroform
- Phthalates
- Toluene
They aren’t always listed in the ingredients so its really best to avoid commercial cleaning products in general.
Really water, vinegar and baking soda can get most jobs done.
But if you like buying them brands I like are H20 at Home, Seventh Generation and Ecover.
COOKWARE
Our food absorbs what its cooked in. now if that’s butter then awesome, but if its perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) then not awesome.
If something says “non-stick” or “Teflon” most likely you should run the other way.
Cook in cast iron, stainless steel or copper.
And of course my favorite subject:
FOOD
As many of you know, processed foods contain all sorts of not awesome for our bodies. The contain dyes, chemicals, foreign proteins, and artificial sweeteners, flavors and food conditioning agents all of which were constructed in a lab. And all of which put a huge HUGE burden on not only our digestive track, but our immune system, our nervous system, our cardiovascular system, our nervous system, our lymphatic system…you get my drift.
So please focus on WHOLE FOODS.
- Shop the periphery of the grocery store.
- Buy local and organic whenever possible.
- Raise it yourself if you can.
Know where your food comes from and your body will thank you. Promise.
Oh, and here are two websites to help ya with that.
Leave a Reply