The time has come to start ridding our lives of unnecessary, strong toxic chemicals, which pollute the environment and add unnecessary wear on our immune and digestive systems. We get sick, we get allergies, and sometimes we don’t know exactly why or how. While its probably not directly the chemicals we allow in our environment, they likely play some part in it. Just like stress doesn’t actually cause our sickness directly, but mental emotional stress weakens our immune system defenses opening the gates to pathogens that take root and make us sick. There are always multiple causal factors to sickness which makes tracing it to any ingredient or product challenging but somehow we innately know they aren’t good for us. Sniff any industrial grade cleaners and you just know not to put any of that stuff on your skin.
There are several chemicals that have been studied and known to alter the hormones in your body, which disrupt the proper balanced functioning of our chemistry with some being linked to cancers, lowered immunity and reproductive disorders. Below is a list of the top to avoid. The studies will continue but nobody likes the thought of inhaling or ingesting chemicals, even drug users know that they are killing themselves with these chemical compounds but do it for the high. If you want to rid your life of toxic chemicals and protect our environment that means keeping strong, toxic chemicals out of our bodies and homes as much as possible.
I made this decision a few years ago and it was a pretty easy transition to mostly organics and toxic fee products. That change along with my meditation practice and study has kept me from being out sick even 1 day in the past three years. Prior I got sick at least 1-2 times per year and for a week at a time.
Luckily there is a thriving market for non-toxic products that are effective, natural and easily found in grocers like Trader Joe’s, Wholefoods, online or even your local grocer sometimes. Careful though, just like with food we ask you read the ingredients as the labels of organic and natural can mask some of the nasty stuff. Like Unite’s eating philosophy we strive for most of the time or about 90% compliance. Here are some products to consider swapping out and some suggested brands to check out.
Home Products:
We don’t often think about our home cleaning products like laundry/dish detergents or surface cleaners, but lets take a minute. Just think how many times our hands touch our sinks, clothes, dishes, windows, etc. and you know everytime some trace amount is transferred.
For DIY’ers there are some key natural, effective cleansing agents you can make yourself, specifically diluting grapefruit seed extract or Borax for just about anything! Feel confident and try swapping for non-toxic products in these categories:
- Laundry Detergent / Dryer Sheets
- Dishwashing Detergent / Soap
- Produce Pesticide Wash
- Mulit-Surface Cleaner/ Window Cleaner
- Toilet / Bathtub Cleaner
- Air freshner
Trusted Unite Approved Brands:
Personal Care Products:
If you need to do extensive testing on animals than chances are you shouldn’t put it on or in your body directly or indirectly. Our skin absorbs 60% of any topical product we use. There seem to be a lot of non-toxic products for babys but why would you put something on your skin that you wouldn’t put on your baby. Have high standards and though many are not more money we should be willing to pay more for natural, safe and healthy. Even colors and scents should be natural which shouldn’t be hard with all the great herbs and oils to use but you need to buy from responsibly companies that care about you and your world.
Feel natural and try swapping for non-toxic products in these categories:
- Body / Face Soap
- Shampoo/ Conditioner
- Moisturizer
- Diapers/ Baby Wipes
- Makeup / Lipstick
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Sunscreeen
Trusted Unite Approved Brands:
- Parabens (Found in most personal care products, baby lotions and cosmetics. These are endocrine system disrupters, hormonal balance disrupters may lead to infertility and other hormone problems)
- Phthalates (Found in plastic containers, and products containing synthetic “fragrance”)
- VOC’s (Found in perfumes, shampoo, household cleaners, furniture polishes, air freshener, nail polish remover, hair relaxers, aftershave lotions)
- Chlorine (Found in tap water, household cleaners)
- Toluene (Found in cosmetics and nail polish)
- Insecticides and Pesticides (if not organic ingredients)
