Clean Up Hidden Toxins in Your Home
What exactly is hiding in your cleaning products? Many people don't realize that the products that keep their homes clean and smelling fresh contain toxic chemicals that may be harmful to your health.
To makes things worse, it doesn't stop there.
Personal care products such as cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, deodorants and perfumes contain many of these toxins as well. And even our food (pesticides) and plastics (vinyl shower curtains, plastic food containers, canned goods and water bottles) have these unsafe chemicals.
Long-term exposure to these chemicals has been linked to serious health problems like reproductive disorders, breast cancer, birth effects and allergies.
Common “hidden” environmental toxins in your home:
BPA – Plastics
Water bottles, canned goods, saran wrap, food containers, thermal receipts
Phthalates
Cosmetics, nail polish, children’s toys, air fresheners, vinyl shower curtains, household cleaners
Dioxin
Non-organic food (mainly meat, dairy, fish and shellfish)
The problem with many of these toxins is that they are hormone disruptors, meaning they have the ability to alter our normal hormone pathways and even mimic some of our hormones such as estrogen. These toxins are often classified as “xenoestrogens,” meaning “foreign estrogens”.
The liver, our main organ of detoxification, is responsible for removing any harmful compounds from the body and keeping all systems balanced and working efficiently. These xenoestrogens - or what I like to call “hormone copy cats” - will put additional stress on the liver and create very damaging by-products. Research shows these toxins contribute to the many hormonal imbalances that women face everyday, such as PMS, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, low thyroid, infertility, irregular cycles and early menopause.
Sounds scary, doesn't it?
The good news is there are steps you can take to create a healthier home by minimizing your exposure to many of these environmental chemicals.
How to clean up your home:
- Read labels and stay informed: check out The Environmental Working Group for more information about protecting yourself.
- Try to buy organic as often as possible!
- Stay away from plastics – use glass or stainless steel to store food.
- Filter your water.
- Know what you are putting on your body – reduce your exposure to parabens and phthalates from your cosmetics and personal care products.
- Include foods in your diet that promote a healthy liver detoxification such as broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, artichoke, beets, apples, ginger and cabbage.
- Try natural supplements: every woman in my clinical practice is on EstroSense. EstroSense is a comprehensive liver detoxifier that gently supports the elimination of harmful environmental toxins and helps to bring back hormone synergy.
I know for some this can be overwhelming, but it just takes awareness and small changes in order to prevent the harmful effects from these environmental toxins, not just for us but also for our children and further generations.
Happy spring cleaning!