Day 22 Reduce Toxins in Your Kitchen and Bathroom
The first place to start it reducing toxins in your life is in your kitchen. As we've already discussed earlier, much of what we call food is NOT food. When was the last time you read the ingredients on a label? I hope that this is becoming a more regular habit for you. Many of the ingredients in highly processed foods are not recognizable and most of the additives, such as colorings, flavors, artificial sweeteners and preservatives are toxic to our bodies. Even foods such as bread, which you might assume are not that processed, can have a long list of additives.
And what about how we prepare our food? Non-stick pans (coated with PTFE) should be avoided as they give off poisonous fumes when heated. Be cautious when preparing food on the barbeque. Charbroiling, ie. blackening, meat produces toxic byproducts known to increase cancer. Avoid cooking in plastic containers and be cautious even when storing food in plastic.
"Heating and microwaving, repeated washing with harsh detergents in dishwashers, scratching or cracking, and prolonged contact with fatty foods and oils will damage plastic enough to allow dangerous chemicals to leach out." pg. 151 The Healthy Home.
Instead of plastic, use glass or ceramic for storing and preparing food.
Your bathroom is one of the worst places for "hidden" poisons. You may not realize how many products found there are potentially toxic to your body. Personal care products, including shampoo, hair care products, skin care, moisturizers, and makeup contain a battery of chemicals. Did you know that most of what you place on your body is readily absorbed in your skin and goes straight into your bloodstream? There are some who say, "If you can't eat it, you shouldn't be putting it on you". The government puts standards on how much toxicity is "allowed" in an individual product. However, they set this level based on your use of only that product. Truth is, we all place several different products on our skin every day, multiplying that toxic level several times over what it should be.
Here's an extensive list of ingredients that you should try to avoid completely because of their high level of toxicity: Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl), Mercury (thimerosal), Lead acetate, Diethanolamine (DEA), synthetic color pigments, Propylene Glycol (PG), Coal tar, Toluene, Phenylenediamine (PPD), Petrolatum and Formaldehyde releasing compounds (Quarternium 15, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-diol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, DMDM Hydantoin).
Other products to avoid completely include synthetic air fresheners, antiperspirants containing aluminum, and anti-bacterial cleansers.
Be cautious of how many over the counter drugs you stock in your bathroom. As a society, we want to medicate every little ache, sniffle or cough that comes along. All these drugs come with potential side effects and place a heavy burden on your liver and digestive system. Use them sparingly.
My preferred line of skin care products is Celavive made by USANA. It is self-preserving and doesn't contain all the preservatives and other chemicals that most other lines do. If you want more information on this product line, talk to your USANA associate.
For more information on this subject, check out The Healthy Home by Dr. Myron Wentz and Dave Wentz.
Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic. ~Rosalind Russell
Check In:
- Always read the ingredient list when shopping for food items that are 'processed'. Try to choose items with fewer ingredients.
- Get rid of any 'Teflon' or other non-stick pans.
- Avoid overcooking food or cooking at high temperature.
- Use glass or ceramic instead of plastic.
- Take a look at the products in your bathroom and see if they contain any of the ingredients listed above.
- When shopping for new skin care products, choose ones that are not detrimental to your overall health.
- Get rid of synthetic air fresheners, antiperspirants containing aluminum, and anti-bacterial cleansers.
- Be cautious when using over the counter medication.
- Talk to your USANA associate about Celavive.