Reduce your Toxin Load

Toxins Part II

In our fast-paced modern world, it’s easy to overlook the impact of toxins on our health. However, after I experienced the transformative power of reducing exposure in my own life, I knew I had to share my journey. Bringing awareness to the topic is the first step in making people feel the need for change. The change management strategy is to learn a concept, take action, and then make it a habit by practicing consistent repetition. So here are the main things I’ve done to safeguard my health from toxins. See what you can do to reduce your toxin load.

My Story

I grew up suffering from allergies. Once in 6th grade, I woke up with my face so swollen that my sister said I was looking like Rocky Balboa. I grew up in the 80’s and the Rocky movie was popular back then. I remember having several crises during high school when I couldn’t keep my head down to do classwork because my nose would run. Occasionally my eyes and nose were running and swollen at the same time. For a long time, even the back of my jeans’ button would give me rashes. As I moved to adulthood, to a less toxic home environment, and started making better food choices, the allergy crisis started to be less frequent.

Choosing Organic Non-GMO Foods

Organic matters! I cannot say it enough. Glyphosate, the active ingredient of the famous pesticide Roundup, has been linked to cancer and autoimmune diseases. Residues of glyphosate in produce have been proven to cause gut tight-junction disruption and therefore leading to chronic inflammation. So, the risk is real. I’ve made a conscious effort to fill my plate with organic and non-GMO foods. This means I’m reducing my exposure to harmful pesticides and chemicals. It’s my way of prioritizing clean and nutritious meals. It may cost more upfront, but it will save me on medication and medical bills in the long run. For more information on the subject check the website No GMO Shopping Guide.

Filtering My Water

Water is needed for all physiological processes in our body. By the way, our bodies are 70% water! As we need to drink a gallon or more of it every day, I wanted to make sure I was drinking the cleanest water possible. So, I started using filtered water even for brewing coffee and cooking. I have a good carbon-activated filter in my fridge that I’m keeping in top shape. Besides having toxic chlorine and most likely heavy metals, tap water also contains residues of leftover drugs. Now, every sip I take is free from contaminants giving me peace of mind and better hydration. For more information on tap water contaminants and good filters check the EWG website.

Embracing Natural Products

I swapped out conventional liquid laundry detergent and softener for natural, eco-friendly solid alternatives to reduce both plastic and chemical usage. I’ve tried different brands of laundry detergent sheets and opted for ECOS Plant Powered – which is made without dyes, formaldehyde, and phthalates. The active ingredients are enzymes. My next step is going to be house cleaning products – I’m going to start using simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils to keep my home spotless and toxin-free. You can buy ECOS on Amazon or the Vitacost website.

Minding My Care

Our skin is our largest organ, and I didn’t want to burden it with harmful chemicals. So, I became a label detective, examining the ingredients in my personal care products. I’ve switched to natural and organic options, ensuring that what I apply to my skin is as wholesome as what I eat. I’ve always used bar soap so now I’m also using bar shampoo. Sunscreen is another good swap story. No more spray for me, they are the worst ones because of the oxybenzone content. I changed to mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as active ingredients. You can check the EWG website for clean-approved products.

Personal Care Successes

The most successful swap so far was my toothpaste and deodorant – I changed to Bite and I’m very pleased. No more plastic packaging or toxic ingredients. Bite toothpaste comes in solid tablets in a cute little glass container. Bite deodorant comes in a classy aluminum container but with no aluminum in the formula. Aluminum is the main ingredient in most deodorants and antiperspirants and has been linked to breast cancer due to the armpit’s proximity. Both Bites’ toothpaste and deodorant have clean ingredients, sustainable packaging, and refills.

Reducing Plastic Usage

Reducing my plastic footprint became a mission. I was never a disposable, single-use product big fan anyway. Now I’m going further and replacing tapware containers with glass and stainless-steel ones. I even threw away some plastic cutting boards. It’s my small contribution to a healthier planet and a healthier environment for all. Plastic containers release BPA (Bisphenol-a) when heated and both BPA and microplastics are proven endocrine disruptive. That’s why we shouldn’t heat anything in plastic or put them in the dishwasher.

Tips for Using Plastic

If you decide to use plastic, make sure the food is cool before you store it. Don’t keep anything in plastic longer than necessary. The more time your food spends in contact with it, the greater the risk of contamination. If you must buy a plastic food storage container, make sure to check the bottom and avoid any with the recycling codes 3, 6, or 7. They may contain phthalates, styrene, and bisphenols, unless they are labeled “biobased” or “greenware”, indicating that they’re made from corn and do not contain bisphenols.

Radiation

Electric magnetic fields (EMFs)—also referred to as “radiation”—are invisible areas of energy that are produced by electricity. We long know that excess radiation is harmful as x-ray technicians have been using lead barriers during those exams forever. The problem in this high-tech world is that now we are exposed to way too many sources of ionizing EMFs. Microwave ovens, computers, Wi-Fi networks, cell Phones, Bluetooth devices, power lines, shavers, hair dryers, electric blankets, radios, TV, and the list goes on and on. Although not potent non-ionizing EMFs are thought to be harmless to human health, ionizing EMFs which consist of mid-to-high-frequency radiation, can lead to cellular and or DNA damage with prolonged exposure. 

Reduce Your Toxin Load

I’d say cell phones are the worst when it comes to EMF just because we’re close to them all the time. I get it, they are great in most ways. However, as connectivity gets faster, better, and smoother, our reliance on our phones will grow. Meaning we’ll be exposing ourselves more and more to harmful EMF “radiation” than ever.

As I have been using my phone more often because of the nature of my new job, I’m being more cautious. For charging my cell at night, I’m keeping it more than a foot away from my head. The best of all is to turn it off and keep it on airplane mode if not in use – this way it won’t emit pulsed radiation due to it always trying to connect. I keep my phone away from my body, especially from my reproductive organs and breasts, as much as possible. As we should avoid having the phone close to our heads, I have also been using the speaker more.

There is much more about EMFs. Just keep in mind that is better to be shielded or away from electric devices. Don’t sleep in an electric bed or recliner and keep your rooter out of your bedroom. EMF toxicity is becoming more and more of a health concern. To know more about the symptoms of EMF intoxication and how to treat it check the EMF Academy website. For more information on how to make your home safer check out the EMF Guru website.

Closing Statements

This journey to reducing toxin exposure has brought incredible improvements to my health and well-being. While it might seem like a daunting task, each of these steps is a manageable change if done one at a time. I invite you to join me on this path toward a healthier, toxin-reduced lifestyle. It’s a journey that’s about self-care and taking care of our beautiful planet. Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time.

Remember: Good is what makes you feel well!

Anna.

Read more about this topic on Toxins.