Reducing your toxic load
- Aug 20, 2015
- 3 min read
Alright, so this may not be directly linked to childbirth, but it is definitely an important topic to consider during the childbearing years. Each day you are exposed to hundreds of dangerous chemicals in your environment that may have damaging effects on your body (cue scary music). Children in utero are especially vulnerable when exposed to these chemicals. Many of these harmful chemicals have the ability to disrupt your endocrine system and thus, mess with your hormones. This can cause a whole host of problems within your body, including increased rates of infertility and greater risks of birth defects for your baby. So, what can you do about this? While it is impossible to eliminate all chemical exposure, it is relatively easy to limit your toxic load, especially within your own home. The first step is to become familiar with some of the more common chemicals/endocrine disruptors that you will find all around you. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published a great article that lays out what they refer to as the twelve worst hormone disrupters. Here is what made the list...
BPA
Dioxin
Atrazine
Phthalates
Perchlorate
Fire Retardants
Lead
Arsenic
Mercury
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs)
Organophosphate Pesticides
Glycol Ethers
Take a moment and head over to this article published by the EWG that looks at these chemicals in much greater detail. Again, the first step in detoxifying your life is to become familiar with what to avoid and why.
Now that you are a little more familiar with what to avoid, let's take a look at what avoidable toxins are already in your home. Fortunately, the EWG has made this very easy by providing consumer guides to items such as food, cosmetics, household cleaners, etc. I have found these guides to be very helpful in evaluating the safety of the products within my own home. As you become more familiar with what to avoid, you will be able to start evaluating products for yourself simply by looking at labels and doing a little product research of your own.
Next step: do an evaluation of what you have in your home now. I have included two worksheets for you to download that will help you to evaluate the safety of your household products and your personal care products. Using the EWG guides mentioned above, record the rating and any important notes for each item that you list. Then, take a look at some alternative products that you may want to try and write those down, as well. This is really easy, I promise! Next time you are at the store, you will already have a list of items that you would like to avoid, as well as ones that you would like to give a try. As you begin this process, you may be suprised to see how a single company can have such varied ratings. For example, you may have a favorite dish soap by Company A that has a high rating of safety, while the dishwasher detergent by the same Company A is rated very poorly. You may also start to find that just because something is branded "natural" does not mean that it is safe! While you may not be able to find all of the products that you want to try locally, many household products and personal care products can be purchased easily through online retailers.
Want to make it even easier (and cheaper)?
Start experimenting with making your own household and personal care products! You will be amazed by how much money you can save by making your own products and how fun and empowering the process can be. From countertop sprays to toilet cleaners to moisturizers and shampoos, it is pretty incredible what you can make with so few ingredients and such little cost. Some of the household items that I always have stocked in my home are castille soap, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, essential oils, reusable glass spray bottles, and cloth rags. It is amazing how much I can do with just those few items! This post will quickly become very very long if I start to list all of my favorite recipes for household products and personal care products, so let's save that for another day. If you are curious about starting to make some of your own products and want some more info, feel free to send me a message. Pinterest has a TON of recipes and ideas, and there are many books that you can find that provide DIY ideas. And remember, one step at a time! Every little change makes a difference, so try not to get discouraged and enjoy the process!
For further reading on environmental toxins and pregnancy, check out the following articles...
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