Did you know the average person is exposed to over 500 chemicals and toxins from products they use in their daily routines?
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), many beauty, hygiene, and cleaning products have toxins that can cause a wide variety of side effects, from headaches and indigestion to more serious conditions including an increased risk of cancer.
Daily Toxin Exposure
The average person uses approximately 12 products on a daily basis. Women use more products than men on average and teens can use as many as 17 or more products daily containing hundreds of toxic chemicals.
It is scary to think that you and your family may be using harmful products on a daily basis. Research has shown numerous common products contain toxins and chemicals such as lead, aluminum, phthalates, mercury, arsenic, parabens, and so much more! These toxic chemicals have been proven to cause a wide range of ailments including allergies, hormonal and neurological issues, infertility, and cancer.
I have felt so guilty just thinking about how many toxins I am exposing my children to regularly and this has motivated me to ACTION!
Green Your Routine
When I first started my less toxic journey, it was overwhelming to think about greening our whole routine all at once, especially replacing favorite products I have used for years. It was less intimidating and more manageable, at least for me, to replace products slowly, focusing on one at a time. Finding a cleaner alternative can take some research, and perhaps some trial and error, in order to the right product for you and your family, but I assure you, there is one out there! And if all else fails, I probably have a simple natural recipe for you to try instead.
Here are a few simple steps to begin greening your routine:
- Less is MORE! It is not necessary to use so many health and beauty products! Pare down the products you are using. Keep it simple.
- Read labels. If you cannot pronounce it, it’s probably not good for you. Educate yourself.
- Avoid products with added fragrances. Chemicals used to make fragrances are absorbed through the skin into the blood. These toxic chemicals are categorized as allergens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins and carcinogens.
- Get crafty and make your own cleaning (and/or beauty) products. My favorite homemade cleaner recipe is a great one for beginners to try. In a 12 oz. spray bottle, add 8 oz. water, 3 oz. white vinegar and 1 oz. lemon juice. This simple antibacterial spray works fantastic for wiping down counters in the kitchen or scrubbing soap scum in the bathtub.
- Use an APP. EWG has a great app where you can scan product barcodes and give you feedback on the ingredients and their toxicity levels. There are many other similar apps out there too!
Detoxifying your lifestyle can have many positive effects including making you feel better, improving your overall health, and reducing your risk of side effects from toxic chemicals. And since many toxins have many aging effects, cutting them out in your daily routine will also help you look better too!