Dealing with chronic pain, headaches, migraines, PMS, mood disorders, hormonal imbalances or weight gain is frustrating.
Chances are you’ve been to doctor after doctor and have not found a solution.
It’s possible that you’re biggest enemy is in your cabinet.
You’ve heard that ingredients in your personal care products, food and cleaners are toxic and can mess with your hormones but you aren’t sure what chemicals are the most damaging.
You love the products that you use and hate to think they would be making you sick.
Are All Chemicals Toxic?
Not all chemicals are toxic.
You are made of organic chemicals.
Synthetic chemicals are not all toxic.
However, some synthetic chemicals harm your body by disrupting your internal organic chemistry you rely on to keep your hormones balanced.
The disruption of your internal chemical balance can lead to a host of symptoms.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to avoid all toxic chemicals due to pollution of the your air, water, food and environment.
Why Do Toxic Effects from Chemicals Show Up Later In Life
If you think of your body like a barrel that takes time to fill up, chemicals take time to build up in your system.
This is why you may not begin to have symptoms of hormone imbalances till you reach your 20’s or later.
The amount of chemical exposure over time combined with your body’s ability to detoxify chemicals is directly related to how sensitive you will become over time.
So if you consume processed foods, eat out often, use perfumes, lotions, dryer sheets, perfumed soaps, and drink alcohol you will have a higher load of chemicals in your system.
Low doses of harmful ingredients are allowed to be in our food and hygiene products, which build up over time.
This low dose chemical intake may build up slowly in your system but depending on your overall health status you might be becoming more chemically sensitive, causing gastric irritation and setting you up for autoimmune conditions.
Build up of chemical toxins can interfere with normal organic signalling in your body which can lead to PMS, migraines, chronic pain, mood disorders and even cancer in some cases.
While you don’t have a lot of control over air quality, you do have the power to decide what chemicals you bring into your home, what you eat and what you put onto your skin.
Detoxify Your Lifestyle
To lower your body’s toxic load it’s best to adopt a lifestyle that allows your body to detoxify effectively daily.
By consuming non-toxic foods and using non-toxic skin care, cleaning products and other hygiene products you can reduce the toxic load in the body freeing your liver to detox more effectively.
Yes clean products are more expensive but it’s a small price to pay to maintain your health.
Switching to clean products can relieve your hormone imbalance symptoms and may even save your life.
The two easiest ways to limit your exposure to toxic chemicals is by swapping out cleaning products and hygiene products.
The focus of this blog is on skin health and hygiene products because these are the biggest areas of chemical exposure that many overlook.
Continue reading for a guide to shopping for non-toxic products and simple swaps you can make today to help limit your exposure.
Check the Labels
Just about every product at the grocery store has toxins, whether it be from synthetic compounds, preservatives, or fragrances.
Just because something is labeled as “natural”, it doesn’t mean it’s pure or organic.
Read the fine print of your favorite products and look up everything on that list that you can’t pronounce.
It’s important to always check labels and aim for products with as few ingredients as possible and preferably ingredients that you can pronounce.
Here’s some of the harmful ingredients to look out for in your skin care and hygiene products:
Parabens
Parabens mimic estrogen in the body and disrupt hormonal balance. Parabens have been linked to breast cancer and fertility issues.
Phthalates
Phthalates are used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastics in cosmetics. Phthalates help products stick to our skin.
Phthalates mess with your hormonal balance and can cause birth defects, which is why congress has banned several types of phthalates from children’s products.
Synthetic Fragrances
If you see “fragrance” or “natural fragrance” in the ingredients, that’s code for tons of chemicals used to make that “fragrance” and fragrances are linked to allergies, hormone imbalances (PMS, migraines, mood disorders, period issues) and lead to infertility.
BHA & BHT
These are chemicals that extend shelf life of products, yet they have the ability to cause liver damage.
Watch Out For Oils
When it comes to skin health, oil-based products are usually beneficial to your skin.
However, it’s important to look for only unrefined and cold-pressed oils.
Believe it or not, oil can be processed in very unclean ways – including deodorized and bleached!
Vitamin E is one of the most popular skincare products, but a surprisingly high percentage of products sold out there use synthetic vitamin E.
Most vitamins, even those sold in health food stores, are made with synthetic vitamin powders.
In most cases, they work well. Small tablets can deliver a high potency dose of lab-made vitamins at an affordable price.
Vitamin E is the exception though; studies show the natural form – from sunflowers – is far more superior than the synthetic version.
Oddly enough, an organic product can still contain synthetic vitamin E! So, make sure to read those labels.
While you’re looking at the labels – you might as well look for some positive things too! Try buying glass containers instead of plastic, and look for products that are not tested on animals.
Healthy Product Swaps
To start living a healthier lifestyle there are three main hygiene-product changes you can make to detoxify your daily routine.
They are:
- Toothpaste – Use a tooth powder to replace your regular toothpaste!
- Cleansers – Try a cleansing oil you don’t need to wash off! It’s better for your skin’s microbiome
- Deodorant – Most antiperspirants are made of 20% or more aluminum; go natural!
DIY Deodorant Recipe
Deodorant is probably the hardest product to swap because, let’s face it, no one wants to stink!
You may have to try a couple different brands to find one that works for you.
It makes a big difference though, because your lymph and sweat glands that are concentrated in the armpits act as a major detox pathway for the body.
If you keep clogging the path with aluminum from antiperspirants it can lead to an accumulation of toxins waiting to be sweated out.
Using a natural deodorant will help keep your pits from becoming stinky while keeping the area moisturized.
Having trouble finding a natural deodorant with scent you like? Take control of the scent level by making your own natural deodorant with these ingredients:
- 4 T coconut oil
- 6 T arrowroot powder
- 12 drops of your favorite essential oils (give or take as needed)
Make the Switch – Ditch the Toxins!
The less toxic your body is, the healthier you’ll be an feel.
Imagine minimizing or eliminating chronic pain, headaches, migraines, PMS, mood disorders, hormonal imbalances and weight gain just by swapping out toxic ingredients for clean ones!
What are you waiting for? Be your own best doctor and clean out all your enemies lurking in your cabinets.
Keeping toxins low in your environment and body will go a long way to keep you healthy and improve your longevity at the same time!
There are a lot of non-toxic skin care products out there. Check out www.credobeauty.com for a website full of non-toxic hygiene products.
If you are interested in trying one of my favorite natural brands, The Herbs and Bees, get 15% off with the special promo code Healthfix15.
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