When it comes to our health our environment plays a crucial role which is why embracing non toxic living is important. There’s a saying that your genetics load the gun but your environment pulls the trigger.

Honestly, until a little over a year ago I don’t know if I fully bought into how much environment can impact health. Until mine took a turn for the worst. I went from being the picture of health – 25 years old, focused on hormone balance, moved my body every single day, prioritized real whole foods, didn’t really drink, did everything “right” yet I kept getting sicker and sicker. Why? Because I moved into an apartment with toxic mold. I was at a loss for answers for so long until the pieces started coming together. I had daily migraines, chronic muscle stiffness & aches, extreme fatigue & brain fog, numbness in my hands and feet, vertigo, my hormones went crazy, I got SIBO and so much more.

My environment was slowly destroying my health and that’s when it clicked that I had to change my environment or I would only continue to decline. Aside from moving, which was a must because of the mold, there was many things I did to reduce my toxic load or “toxic bucket”.

What is the toxic bucket?

We all have a level where our bodies are able to tolerate toxins. Some people are more sensitive and their “toxic bucket” can overflow easier than others. When that bucket overflows that is when the health issues start to come. Some things that impact it:

  • Endocrine disruptors in common household and skincare products.
  • Synthetic fragrances.
  • Environmental toxins (bus & car exhaust, pollution, air quality, mold, dust, dander)
  • Toxic chemicals & VOCs in paint, furniture, carpets, etc.
  • Pesticides from foods. Shopping organic does matter. If you can’t go full organic, follow the dirty dozen.
  • Chemicals in processed foods.
  • BPAs and micro-plastics
  • Heavy metal exposure
  • Alcohol
  • Unfiltered water
  • Medications
  • Chronic stress

While it’s not possible to completely remove these toxins, we can significantly reduce them by embracing non toxic living.

Non toxic living

How to reduce your toxic load:

Swap out cleaning supplies
  • The best place to start here is the cleaning supplies you use in your house. Get rid of those chemical heavy products and switch to products that are better for you.
    • Household: Branch basics (concentrate for everything from laundry detergent to all purpose cleaner), Dropps (dishwasher pods), Compostic Co (reusable bags), Thrive Market has incredible non toxic household products
Swap out your skincare
  • Studies show that women apply 168 chemicals every single day to their faces and bodies. These products are packed with endocrine disrupters, carcinogens and neurotoxins. You don’t need to do a complete overhaul but as you run out of your current products, swap out for non-toxic. You’d be buying something anyway so it’s a perfect time to make the switch.
    • Skincare Favs: Cocokind (any of their toners, eye cream, texture smoothing cream), Clearstem (gentle clean cleanser, tinted spf), Dime Beauty (perfume, serums), Primally Pure (non toxic deodorant).
      Make Up Favs: Ilia (foundation, tinted moisturizer, brow gel, mascara) Kosas (cloud set setting powder, concealer, brow tint).
Get rid of synthetic fragrances
  • The word fragrance on a label signifies a mix of potentially hundreds of ingredients and we know that phthalates, one class of chemicals typically found in fragrance, can disrupt hormones. Fortunately, fragrance isn’t necessary for a product to function well or be effective. Choose fragrance-free creams, cleaning products, and laundry detergents. Also switch out your candles, say goodbye to those bath & body work candles. There are studies showing that artificial fragrance candles are the new secondhand smoke *yikes* Instead look for non-toxic natural ones made with wax from soy, beeswax or other 100% vegetable wax and a 100% paper, cotton, hemp or wood wick with fragrance that is 100% from essential oils.
    • Candles: Coops Candle Co & Candle Therapy (on Etsy), Fontana Candle Co
Remove toxins from your environment
  • Even though they’re linked to hormone disruption, flame retardant chemicals are used in many common household products and collect in your household dust. Try using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. You’ll also reduce your exposure to other chemicals that can accumulate in your home, like lead (in older buildings), phthalates, and fluorinated chemicals. Also investing in an air purifier is one of the best things you can do for your overall health and hormones.
Get rid of plastics
  • Those plastic food storage containers, get rid of them and replace them with glass containers. Also try to bring your own glass water bottles/ coffee tumblers to the coffee shop to prevent from drinking out of plastic cups. Replace plastic baggies with reusable lunch bags, and plastic cling wrap with beeswax-coated cloth. You can’t eliminate all plastic, but you can take easy steps to reduce your plastic use.
Avoid cans
  • Most canned foods are likely lined with BPA to keep them from corroding. (Even cans labeled “BPA-free” may use a similar chemical that hasn’t been proved any safer) Choosing fresh, frozen, or dried foods (like beans) that aren’t packaged in cans—is a smart preventive measure. Aseptic “brick” cartons or glass packaging are both better than cans. Whole Foods actually sells beans in cartons and is what I try and get.
Pay attention to what you’re eating
  • There are certain pesticides that have been linked to hormone disruption which is why it’s important to eat organic foods as much as possible. If budget doesn’t allow you to go all organic follow the dirty dozen and clean fifteen. When you can, avoid food packaging. And consider how you prepare food, as well. EDCs can hide in nonstick pots and pans, so cook in stainless steel or cast iron instead.
Revamp your bedroom
  • You are spending at least 8 hours a day in your bedroom and most of that time is spent in your bed which is why it’s so important to look into non-toxic mattresses, bedding and pillows.  You are literally laying with your face on your bed, breathing in for hours.
    • Mattress: Birch Living (this is the one we have), Avocado, Happsy
    • Bedding: Ettitude, Cozy Earth
    • Rugs: West elm, Parachute, Hook & Loom

Going non-toxic can seem super overwhelming and honestly the “non toxic culture” can be kind of toxic. It does not need to be all or nothing and the goal of this post is to educate you so you take your health into your own hands. Take it one step at a time and do what you can to start non toxic living!

Non toxic living

10 things you can do to get started embracing non toxic living:

  1. Stop drinking (plastic) bottled water
  2. Get a quality water filter
  3. Ditch Teflon/nonstick cookware
  4. Get an air purifier
  5. Cook at home more
  6. Eat more plants
  7. Ditch fragranced products
  8. Swap out toxic cleaning products
  9. Swap out personal care products
  10. Swap out laundry detergent/dryer sheets

I hope this post was helpful! Good luck on your non toxic living journey!