When you stop to think, it is truly mind boggling that we as human beings EVER thought - hey you know what would be a great idea... let's jam pack our foods, packaging, containers, clothing, household goods, cleaners, beauty products and so on full of gnarly chemicals that if served to us in a shot glass you couldn't pay us to sling back, but we willingly and many times unknowingly encounter hundreds if not thousands of offenders EVERY day! Our precious bodies are not made to handle these heinous materials.
However, I realize that my goal is not to completely panic about all the thing we cannot control and instead decide on what things we can control and do something about those. It is my hopes that you join me in the education of our consumer products and start taking action to minimize your exposure. Education is key to determining what we CAN control. The more we as consumers demand better products, i.e organic, natural and harmless, the more big business has to start listening. In case you haven't gathered from my other writings, I am a believer that ignorance is only ever momentary bliss, then the repercussions can be devastating. I propose we take a moment to focus on the what and why's that impact our family's health and our home and then move on to the "what we can do now". Sound like a plan? (well I suppose if you keep reading then you agree :) )
Did you know: (insert expression of horror and shock below!)
- Over 69 million Americans live in areas that exceed smog standards (cough, cough!)
- Most drinking water contains over 700 chemicals, including excessive amount of lead. (are filling that glass of ice with someones else's pharmaceutical residue?!)
- Over 3,000 chemicals are added to our food supply (I hardly call those "foods"! Do you?)
- As many as 10,000 chemicals in the form of solvents, emulsifiers, and preservatives are used in food processing and storage. (Why should ANY chemical be allowed into OUR FOOD? Does that store bought cookie really sound that good anymore?)
- U.S chemical companies hold licenses to make 75,000 chemicals for commercial use; the federal government registers an average of 2,000 newly synthesized chemicals each year. (And our government has our well-being in mind???)
- 500 chemicals are used as active ingredients in pesticides (Buy organic produce when possible. Click Here for the "Dirty Dozen List")
- Chemicals companies are not required to tell the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) how their compounds are used or monitor where their products end up in the environment. (WHY NOT?)
- Women take in 2-5 pounds of chemicals each year just through their skin from creams, lotions, makeups and other products.
- Close to 800 chemicals are known to or suspected to be capable of interfering with hormone receptors, hormone synthesis or hormone conversion.
What are these chemicals doing to us? ..and this is the short list! I wasn't sure I had enough room to include ALL the detrimental effects...and we are discovering more and more every year!
- Many are human carcinogens (cancer causing; just about every type of cancer you can imagine!)
- Affecting our nervous system
- Endocrine disrupting (hormone disruption)
- Birth defects
- Obesity (damage to our "appetite switch" and how we store fat)
- Exacerbate hyperactive children
- Increase risk of diabetes
- Early onset of puberty in our children
- Alzheimer's
- Memory confusion and loss
- autoimmune diseases
Some great info about our cosmetics ladies...if this doesn't make you rethink your cosmetic bag, then I don't know what will!
(I have no affiliation with any of the products, websites or authors linked below, they are simply informative ones I came across in my research)
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/chemicals-linked-to-breast-cancer/cosmetics/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/estelle-hayes/chemicals-in-cosmetics_b_826191.html
Find safe, healthy, green & ethical products based on scientific ratings http://www.goodguide.com/
So what can we control?
So glad you asked! We can control our pocket books, our hand-to-mouth reaction and the amount of knowledge we arm ourselves with. Two things we can control absolutely, what we put in our mouth and what we spend our money on. What does that mean?
Buy products with ingredients you can pronounce AND know are safe and natural (I have spent many an hour in store aisles Googling the ingredient lists on everything from baby wipes to shampoo... and you know what...if I have to google it it probably isn't worth bringing into my environment)
- Use natural household solutions, like white vinegar solution instead of chemical spray.
- Steer clear of anything with "fragrance" listed in it (companies do not have to disclose what makes up those fragrances and it seems most are health HARMFUL)
- Buy organic produce whenever possible. Wash and peel all produce thoroughly before ingesting.
- Seek out organic, grass-fed meat and poultry
- Try organic cosmetic lines like Juice Beauty and check out fantastically supportive sites that take on the effort for you of digging to find green products like at Village Green Network
- Stay out of the processed and prepackaged food aisle! Nothing good comes from being overly processed, "enriched" and put on a shelf for years. You and your family deserve much better. Stick to the perimeter of the grocery store, shop local farmers markets and health food stores (a note about health food stores,;just because they have greener products doesn't mean that every item there them is suitable for your goals, they can still have excess sugars, some trans fats and chemicals in things like many mainstream "protein bars" and dyes and preservatives in things like vitamins)
- Use organic oils instead of chemical laden lotions. Try almond, olive or apricot oil after a shower or try on them your baby belly several times a day or on baby after her bath (great time to massage baby too!) Use fresh avocado on your face at night, use lemon as a face toner and pore reducer. (I will add home skin remedies on another post!)
- Use essential oils like tea tree as a disinfectant on cuts, dry scalp and acne
- Choose shampoos and conditioners without sulfates and parabens like Aubrey Organics
- Armed with these simple ingredients, visit this DIY site for household cleanser ideas
• Baking Soda• White Vinegar• Hydrogen peroxide• Borax• Essential oils, like tea tree oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, or lemongrass oil• Castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's)• Fresh herbs, citrus, or citrus peels• Olive or vegetable oil• Water - Unsure about products your currently own try this product analyzer below based on what is important to you. Neat concept! http://shopping.goodguide.com/about
- Consistently eat very wholesome organic foods with an emphasis on fresh vegetables and fruits for their high antioxidants and anti-cancer properties.
- Drink lots of purified water each day - FLUSH those toxins!
- Scrub your skin regularly (dry brushing or wet scrubs work) - it will help exfoliate and improve circulation so your body can release that toxic build up
- Drink from glass bottles not plastic ( I buy Kevita because their sprakling probiotic drink is delicious then I use the sturdy glass bottles to fill with water and fresh green juices that I do at home. My own mini-version of recycling :) )
- Take your produce out of the plastic bags as soon as you get home from the store instead of tossing them in the fridge or on the counter in the plastic.
- Store leftovers in glass containers and not plastic
- Instead of spraying perfume on your body and burning toxic candles in your home, try natural essential oils for a clean, fresh, relaxing or invigorating scent.
- Do not microwave foods in plastic or Styrofoam
