Tiny Changes to Keep Toxins Out of Your Home
By Sara Butler
Some of the things in your own home may be exposing your family to toxins – and you may have no idea! The chemicals present in cleaners, food, and other household products can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled into your body, where they are metabolized by your kidneys and liver. Eventually, it can lead to unsavory symptoms. Here are some simple steps to help limit you and your family’s exposure to unnecessary chemicals.
What Can Happen
Researchers are constantly finding more evidence that low-level exposure to chemicals over time can increase the chance of:
- Asthma
- Birth defects
- Chronic diseases such as cancer
- Developmental delays
There aren’t many things you can do to get rid of your exposure to toxins outside of your home, but you do have the power to rid your home of unnecessary chemicals in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.
What’s In Your Food?
If you’re going to try to limit your exposure to toxins, it may be a good idea to look at the ingredients in the food you buy. If there are ingredients in it that you can’t pronounce and you don’t know what they are, then you might want to put it back on the shelf. It never hurts to do some investigation into the chemicals that are in the foods you eat so you can decide for yourself what you put on the table in your home.
What’s In Your Beauty Products?
You also need to take a look at beauty and health products. These products are often absorbed directly into the skin, so exposure to them in the long term can be a problem. You should limit your exposure to these chemicals, often found in these products:
- Propylene glycol
- Sodium laurel sulfate
- Parabens
What’s In Your Household Cleaners?
When it comes to household cleaners it can be a bit trickier because the government does not require manufacturers to include a complete list of ingredients on their products. An area where you can make the most impact is by not using items with fragrance, such as:
- Air fresheners
- Laundry products
- Scented candles
You should seek out all-natural cleaning products that actually list all of their ingredients, and you can always make your own cleaning products if you don’t trust what’s on the market. White vinegar and baking soda can be your best cleaning friends.
If you want to try to create a healthier lifestyle for you and your family while living in a world where toxins are around every corner, then you have to take matters into your own hands. Do your research to keep you and your family safe and healthy for years to come.