We don’t have to panic. We just have to pivot.

As we discussed in the last post, the right foods can provide a lot of detoxifying power.  Our bodies are equipped to work toxins out when we provide them with the right foods. And they eliminate not just the waste created by our cells, but environmental toxins that come in from the outside. Over the years, however, our environment has become inundated with small amounts of elements that, when introduced over and over, can become toxic to our bodies.  And as good as our bodies can be at taking out the trash, eventually, they can get overwhelmed.  

That is why we see higher rates of cancers and autoimmune diseases like Lupus and Hashimoto’s. It is also suspected that these toxins contribute to Type-2 Diabetes and infertility issues.  And while it’s important to acknowledge that there are certain things we just can’t control, there ARE things you can do: 

1. EAT – You already know from my last post that there are foods you can eat to help your body de-toxify. Our bodies have a natural way of eliminating toxins if we can give them the right nutrients to make those mechanisms function as they are intended to.
2. SWEAT – Sweating is a great way to release toxins, whether you do it by exercise or a sauna.
3. AVOID – There are some easy changes you can make to your life to avoid environmental toxins, from our food system and other sources, from entering your system to begin with.  This is what we are covering today – the power of avoidance. 

Here’s where you may find some toxins and alternatives that can help you avoid them:

1. Canned Foods
   • What’s in them:  Cans are often lined with BPA.
   • What it does: BPA has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor.  It imitates or impedes hormones in our system, like estrogen and insulin. 
   • Alternatives:  Pretty simple.  If you can, reduce the amount of canned foods you eat – consider frozen or fresh instead. Or, you can find companies that don’t line their cans with BPA.  See images below for examples!
2. Plastic Food Containers
   • What’s in them: Some have BPA (yes, more).  But it’s a hardening agent so it’s in harder plastic like some baby bottles, some personal water bottles and some food containers.  You don’t find it very often in consumer brand plastic water bottles like Fiji or Dannon, for example.
   • What it does:  See above.  Here is a source for more information from Poison Control and the National Institute of Health (NIH).
   • Alternatives:  These days, it is much easier to find products that are BPA-free.  READ LABELS!  Also, for food containers, you have 2 options –
     • Toss what you have and replace them with glass or metal to store your food.
     • Keep the plastic containers you have, but avoid heating them, adding hot food to them (wait until it cools before you transfer), or keeping them if scratched.
     • Plastic containers with the numbers 1,2,4 and 5 are safest to use.  Avoid plastic containers with the numbers 3,6 & 7
3. Make Up and Lotions
   • What’s in them – every make-up and lotion product is different.  But watch out for ingredients like formaldehydes, phthalates, and parabens.  For a more comprehensive list, check out this page on the Environmental Working Group’s site for a list of the worst offenders.
   • What they do:  Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.  Phthalates and parabens are endocrine disruptors.  Also, ingredients for makeup can often get contaminated with heavy metals like lead and mercury.
   • Alternatives:  One approach is this – if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.  For example, lotion made from organic coconut oil is safe. Another approach is to find companies that go beyond the FDA recommendations for safe ingredients and are transparent about their ingredients and where they source them.  EWG has a great consumer guide to help you find the safest products. They’ve also partnered with Beauty Counter, which is a great alternative for everything from makeup and moisturizers to soaps and sunblock.  They’re my go-to!
4. House Cleaning Products
   • What’s in them:  This is a rabbit hole, folks.  There are a lot of chemicals in cleaning products that are considered toxic with repeated exposure.  Here are some of the most notable: glycol ethers (ex. 2- BUTOXYETHANOL or Ethylene Glycol) and ethanolamine (ex. MEA, DEA, TEA).
   • What they do: Because of the long list of ingredients that could cause potential harm, there is a long list of potential effects.  Many of them can lead to skin irritation and upper respiratory problems, some are known carcinogens, and others act as endocrine disruptors.
   • Alternatives: First, make sure you clean in well-ventilated areas and use gloves.  Use brands trusted for their safer ingredients, like Seventh Generation or ECOS.  Once again, EWS.org has a great consumer guide.  The most economical and safe solution, however, is vinegar and baking soda.  Vinegar has naturally occurring acetic acid, which breaks down the cells of bacteria.  And the baking soda provides a safe and effective abrasive for scrubbing.  You can also add essential oils to leave behind a pleasant fragrance like lavender or lemongrass.  Here is a recipe resource for making your own!
5. Non-organic Produce
   • What’s ON them: Over 70% of our produce has traces of glyphosate, which is just one of many chemicals sprayed on non-organic produce to control weeds and pests and to stave off ripeness to extend shelf life.
   • What they do: Read my posts about Glyphosate and Conventional vs. Organic.
   • Alternatives:  Buy organic produce from the grocery store.  Meet local farmers at farmers markets, learn how they grow their food and buy from them if you like their answer.  Start a garden in your backyard or local community garden and grow your food without chemicals.

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