How often do you hear of new diets coming out, new “super foods”, or new rules to what you should and shouldn’t eat? Almost daily, amiright? I am a huge advocate of eating healthy, and we have made a shift in our family’s diet to more “whole” foods and less of the processed stuff. So, why do we focus solely on the foods we are putting in our body? Why do many people ignore the toxins that might be going into their body from common household items?
Do yourself a favor and go download the app called Think Dirty.
It’s free, and it will completely change the way you look at the products in your home. You might re-think your purchase when companies come out with their seasonal scents that you buy up to have your home smelling like sea breeze or lemon verbena. The app allows you to check household products and will rate how toxic and carcinogenic they are. The first thing I checked out was my beloved Mrs. Meyers basil scented hand soap from the kitchen. A big red “9” flashed across my phone. That’s a nine out of ten on how “dirty” this product is! Then my detergent. 10. Then my all-purpose cleaner. 9.
The Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 said that all existing chemicals are considered to be safe and were grandfathered in. Its main objective is to regulate the introduction of new or already-existing chemicals. But what does that really mean? Approximately 65,000 – 100,000 chemicals are currently on the market today. They have not had any safety testing and we know very little information about their effects. Toxic labeling is required only if 50% or more of the animals tested with a chemical die. Also, trade secret laws protect manufacturers and allow them to keep their ingredient list undisclosed.
Without getting too scientific, most things in your home that are delicious smelling and have lasting power (such as candles, room fresheners, lotions, etc.) have something in them called phthalates. Phthalates are a low-cost endocrine disrupting chemical. Lab studies have shown phthalates to interfere with hormone production and mimic estrogen in human studies.
With all that said, do I think you should stop wearing your favorite perfume? Or stop using your favorite lotion? Or get rid of your favorite candle? Of course not! A mom’s gotta live! But maybe evaluate the products you do use and find a balance that fits your lifestyle. Small changes can make a big impact!
What changes can you make around your home to start ridding it of toxins?
Try switching out the detergent you use and throwing those dryer sheets out for wool dryer balls. You can add essential oils to the dryer balls to get your clothes smelling fresh without all of those extra toxins. You wear clothes that cover 90% of your body 100% of the time so this is a great place to start. Also, take a look at what cleaning products you’re using. When you’ve got little ones running around and eating food off the kitchen counter (or floor!), I know I feel safer knowing exactly what is in my cleaning products.
My journey of cleaning up the toxins around our home and the foods we put in our bodies began after facing some struggles and some losses while trying to have baby number two. After getting no answers, we were forced to start looking at other factors that could be affecting our health. Stay tuned for more of those discoveries, some of the DIY stuff I love to do around our home with my daughter, and some of the products that I stand behind and love to use!
