Living a Low-Toxic Lifestyle: How to Reduce Toxin Exposure at Home

First Things First - Let’s Avoid Fear-Mongering One of the things I don’t appreciate about certain content on social media is how triggering and fear-driven it can be, especially around topics like toxins and environmental exposure. While it’s true that toxins are a concern, it doesn’t mean we need to live in constant fear. The truth is, we have a lot more control over our exposure than we realise. Here’s the reassuring part: our bodies are designed to detoxify naturally. With the right tools, such as good nutrition, regular exercise, and proper rest, our bodies can handle a significant portion of this toxic load. By making mindful changes in areas we can control, like our homes, we give our body the support it needs to function optimally. Once we’ve done that, it’s important to let go of the rest and avoid becoming overly obsessed with trying to eliminate every single toxin.

The Toxins in Our Everyday Lives: A regrettable reality, but one we must acknowledge and accept is that in today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by toxins, both indoors and outdoors. From the air we breathe to the products we use, toxins come in many forms. Outdoors, we encounter pollutants from vehicles, industrial waste, and pesticides. Inside our homes, toxins lurk in cleaning products, cooking equipment, food packaging, personal care items, and even in our water supply.

HOWEVER, knowledge is power, and with that we have a lot of control over the situation.

Our Body's Natural Detox System Thankfully, our bodies are equipped to handle a certain amount of toxins. Organs like the liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin work daily to detoxify our system. However, with the overwhelming amount of toxins present in our modern environment, coupled with poor quality nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle, these detox pathways can become backed up. Over time, this toxic buildup limits the body’s ability to function optimally, leading to a variety of health issues such as fatigue, hormone imbalances, headaches, and more.

Control What You Can: Reducing Toxins in Your Home While we cannot control every source of toxins, we do have significant control over the toxins present in our own homes. By focusing on key areas within the home, we can greatly reduce our exposure to harmful chemicals, which is a great first step towards supporting our detox systems to do their jobs.

Below are some practical steps you can take to create a healthier, low-toxic environment in your home, one space at a time.

As I always say, Rome was not built in a day, and I know that money does not grow on trees. So take it in your stride by tackling one area of your home and life at a time.

The Kitchen: The kitchen is a prime source of toxins, from the products we use for cleaning to the cookware and food we consume. Making conscious choices here can have a big impact on your toxic load.

• Cleaning materials: Many conventional cleaning supplies contain harsh chemicals that can harm your respiratory system and endocrine system. Now there is no need to throw everything out (unless you have the budget for that of course), but as each of your regular products run out, first consider if you really need that product. When you think of it, we don't need individual products containing hundreds of chemicals to clean the oven, another for the stove top, another for the countertop, another for dishes, and yet another for the floors. Opt for natural alternatives like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils which generally can get most jobs done. If you really want to have a commercial product (for example dish soap), choose non-toxic, eco-friendly brands, especially ones that do not contain perfumes and fragrances, because these alone can be made up of any number of chemicals. The availability of "cleaner less toxic" products are becoming more readily available, and with time, the cost of these items will come down too. One particular product that comes to mind is Castile Soap. I have no affiliation to this brand, but I have found Dr Bronners to be very versatile yet also pleasurable. We enjoy the Baby Sugar Soap for showering and hand washing, because it is scent free. We also recently used their eucalyptus scent for mopping of the floors, and it does a great job and leaves a great smell too.

  
  

• Cookware: Non-stick cookware can release toxic chemicals like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) when heated, and these chemicals can leach to our food. These chemicals are dangerous, and are considered "forever chemicals" as once they enter our bodies, they are very difficult to detox. Switching to safer cooking materials like stainless steel or cast iron pans can reduce your exposure. There are many affordable stainless steel pots, pans and kitchen equipment out there, for those of us working on a tighter budget.

  
  

• Food storage: Plastic containers can leach chemicals like BPA, BPS and phthalates into your food, especially when heated. Many brands market their products as "BPA free", but usually substitute the BPA for other toxic chemicals like BPS. It is best to replace plastic storage containers with glass or stainless steel alternatives.

  
  

• Organic foods: Conventional farming uses synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers that can end up in your body. By choosing organic produce, meats, and dairy products, you can reduce exposure to these harmful chemicals. I do however want to emphasise that for those of you who do not have access to organic and/or cannot afford organic, it is more important that you do still continue to consume as whole foods diet, consisting of lots of veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes, irrespective of whether these foods are organic or not.

• Avoid ultra-processed foods: Ultra-processed foods not only contain artificial ingredients, preservatives, and additives, but during their production, they can come into contact with harmful chemicals like PFOA (also used in food packaging) and BPA (found in can linings and kitchen tools). These substances can disrupt your hormones and contribute to chronic conditions. Choose whole, minimally processed foods to avoid unnecessary exposure. The less processed foods are, the less risk there is of them being contaminated with additional toxins.

  
  

How all this helps: Using non-toxic cleaning products, safer cookware, and consuming organic, whole foods will reduce your exposure to chemicals that disrupt hormones, harm your lungs, and contribute to long-term health issues. It does take some time to adjust, because we are all used to soaps that smell like roses and lather mountains of bubbles. We really don't "need" these lotions and potions as much as one would think. We are also used to the convenience of non-stick pots and pans, but I assure you that when you heat a stainless steel pan properly, it will also be naturally non-stick.

Air Quality: Keeping the Air in Your Home Clean Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air due to dust, mold, chemical fumes, and other pollutants like air fresheners. Improving air quality in your home is crucial for overall health.

• Ventilation: Keep your home well-ventilated by regularly opening windows or using air purifiers with HEPA filters to remove indoor pollutants like dust, mold, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

  
  

• Houseplants: Certain houseplants, like snake plants, spider plants, and peace lilies, can naturally purify indoor air by absorbing harmful chemicals and releasing clean oxygen.

  
  

• Air fresheners: Many synthetic air fresheners release harmful chemicals into the air. Swap these for natural alternatives like essential oil diffusers or beeswax candles, or even better, have nothing. We really don't need our homes to smell like roses everyday of the week. If you really do like to have a home with nice smells, perhaps you can save that for special occasions only.

  
  

How this helps: Improved air quality can reduce respiratory issues, headaches, and exposure to chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene, which can accumulate in poorly ventilated spaces.

Water: Ensuring Safe Water for Drinking and Bathing Water is essential for detoxification, but our tap water often contains contaminants like chlorine, fluoride, pharmaceuticals, PFOA and heavy metals that can harm our health.

• Water filtration: Investing in a high-quality water filter for your drinking water, such as reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters, can help remove contaminants like chlorine, lead, and pesticides. I have been using the AquaTru Filter for drinking water for many years. The water tastes great, the filters last long and the company's service is great. There are however many great filter systems out there, jut be sure to ask them for their certificate of analysis to be sure that their system does what it says it does, as there are also loads of gimmicks out there.

  
  

• Shower filters: Chlorine in tap water can be absorbed through your skin and inhaled in steam during showers. A shower filter reduces chlorine exposure, benefiting both skin and respiratory health. This is a great investment for those who can afford it.

  
  

How this helps: Filtering your water reduces exposure to chemicals and heavy metals that can disrupt hormone function, impact skin health, and accumulate in the body, contributing to long-term health issues.

The Bathroom: Personal Care and Hygiene Products For me, this was a biggie because personal care products are exactly that; personal. I found it extremely difficult to let go of them and to find healthier alternatives that I still found enjoyable.

But, did you know that the average woman applies around 168 different chemicals to her body each day through personal care products like lotions, shampoos, makeup, and perfumes? Many of these chemicals come from ingredients such as fragrances, preservatives, and dyes, some of which may be linked to hormone disruption or other health concerns. This statistic comes from research by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and highlights the cumulative exposure many individuals face on a daily basis.

What about all the additional occasional chemicals like nail varnishes, nail gels, eye lash glues, hair straighteners, self tanners, botox, chemical peels and the like.

• Hair and skin products: Shampoos, conditioners, and lotions often contain parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances, all of which can disrupt hormones and cause skin irritation. Choose products labeled "paraben-free," "sulfate-free," and "fragrance-free," or opt for brands using natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and essential oils.

  
  

• Deodorants, and lotions: Conventional deodorants often contain aluminum and synthetic fragrances. Switching to natural deodorants and body lotions made from safe, natural ingredients will reduce your exposure to toxins that can be absorbed through the skin.

  
  

• Perfume: These can include phthalates, which help the scent last longer but may disrupt hormone function and are linked to reproductive issues. To put it clearly, when your hormones are disrupted, you expose yourself to an increased risk of disease, like hormone related cancers. Many perfumes contain ingredients that can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, or respiratory issues like asthma. Certain chemicals found in perfumes, like phthalates and parabens, are classified as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with hormone balance. When we wear these perfumes, they stick to our skin, absorb to our blood stream and are breathed in all day. we also expose our loved ones to these chemicals through their breath and touch. Over time, this may lead to hormonal imbalances and related health concerns. To put it bluntly, when your hormones are disrupted, you expose yourself to an increased risk of disease, like hormone related cancers. Whats more is that perfume manufacturers are not required to disclose the exact chemicals used, as they can be protected as "trade secrets." This lack of transparency means consumers may be unknowingly exposed to potentially harmful substances. When it comes to perfume, I reserve this for only very special occasions. I don't need the entire room to know that I have arrived every single day.

How this helps: By using personal care products free of harmful chemicals and by reducing the number of products you use, you reduce the risk of hormone disruption, skin irritation, and toxic buildup in your body, supporting overall wellness. You not only reduce the toxic load for yourself, but also those around you. As with the household cleaners, do we really. need so many different products?

I know it can be challenging, even uncomfortable and not to mention expensive, but making the switch to clean, non-toxic products can significantly reduce your toxic load.

I have become quite familiar with a lot of cleaner brands over the past 5 years, and know how to spot concerning ingredients on the labels. If you would like some support in this regard, feel free to reach out. I would love to take the stress and time consumption of it all out of the equation for you.