Toxin Protection
Updated: Apr 22, 2020
Our modern world constantly exposes us to toxins at a high rate. Pesticides are being sprayed on our foods, chemicals sprayed into the atmosphere, and the use of toxic health and beauty products has increased. The tips that you find in this article can be used to protect yourself and your family.
Avoid Contaminated Foods
Eat organic when possible. Use tools such as the ‘dirty dozen’ list when grocery shopping for fruits and vegetables. Find the list here. Properly wash non-organic fruits and vegetables to reduce pesticides.(1) Lemon juice is great for washing fruits. White vinegar is great for washing vegetables.
I learned the hard way that fruits absorb vinegar wash. So save yourself (and your fruit) from vinegar flavoring. I included vegetable and fruit wash recipes below.
Vegetable Wash
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar 1 1/2 cups filtered water 3 TBSP lemon juice
1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl to soak or spray on vegetables and let sit for 2 minutes.
2. Rinse well and enjoy!
Fruit Wash
2 cups filtered water 1/2 cup lemon juice
1. Place fruit in a bowl and spray with the lemon solution, coating the fruit well.
2. Let sit for 1 minute.
3. Cover fruit with filtered water and soak for 15 minutes.
4. Rinse well and dry completely if storing fruit.
Purify the Air
Add plants to your home that naturally clean the air.(2) Succulents, ferns, and bamboo are great options. Salt lamps release negative ions that cleanse the air and reduce negative energy. Diffusing essential oils like ylang ylang, lemon, orange, and tea tree decrease pathogens and neutralize odors.
Use Non-Toxic Cleaners
There are plenty of alternatives available that leave zero room for excuses to continue using chemical latent cleaners. Most cleaners contain an array of toxic chemicals that damage our respiratory system.(3) Make your own cleaners using simple soap, and essential oils like clove, lemon, orange, lavender, and tea tree. Use non-toxic all-purpose cleaners, dishwasher packets, dish soap and laundry detergents. Check the safety of your cleaning products here to be sure!
Stop Drinking Tap Water and Bottled Water
With the excessive amount of environmental toxins absorbing into the environment, this is dangerous!(4) There are far too many people still drinking tap water. Use a reverse osmosis water filter that removes heavy metals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. Opt to use your own glass or stainless steel container while on the go.
Avoid Toxic Beauty Products
Many of these products contain dangerous chemicals that disrupt our hormones and damage our brain.(5) Use non-toxic makeup, lotion, deodorant, soap, dental care, bug spray and sunscreen. Instead of perfume, use essential oils - ylang ylang, lavender, patchouli, bergamot, and citrus oils are great options.
References:
1. Beena Kumari. "Effects of Household Processing on Reduction of Pesticide Residues in Vegetables." Agricultural and Biological Science3, no. 4 (July 2008): 46-51. http://re.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/jabs_0708_91.pdf.
2. Wolverton, B.C., Ph.D., Anne Johnson, M.S., and Keith Bounds, M.S. "Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement." National Aeronautics and Space Administration, September 15, 1989. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19930073077.pdf.
3. Dodson, Robin E., Marcia Nishioka, Laurel J. Standley, Julia Green Brody, and Ruthann A. Rudel. "Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products." Environmental Health Perspectives120, no. 7 (July 2012): 935-43. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/pdf/10.1289/ehp.1104052.
4. Weisel, C. P., and W. K. Jo. "Ingestion, Inhalation, and Dermal Exposures to Chloroform and Trichloroethene from Tap Water." Environmental Health Perspectives104, no. 1 (January 1996): 48-51. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1469238/pdf/envhper00332-0048.pdf.
5. Barrett, Julia R. "Chemical Exposures: The Ugly Side of Beauty Products." Environmental Health Perspectives113, no. 1 (January 2005): A24-27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1253722/.