Avoiding Toxins

If I posed the question: Do you want to avoid toxins? I am sure the answer would be, yes! What I’ve come to learn, through research and my functional medicine doctor, is that toxins are in most of our daily products.

There are toxins in the products we put on our skin ie. soap, sunscreen, make-up, deodorant, lotion etc. Putting these toxin-ridden products on our bodies can actually cause more harm than putting them in our mouths. Yikes! Thankfully, these can be easily avoided.  

Toxins

Let’s start with toxins. Most of you know that toxins are bad, but you may not know exactly why. Here’s the easy definition breakdown. A toxin is a type of poison that leads to disease and/or death.

Common Toxins

The most common toxins found in our daily products are: phthalates, parabens, sulfates (aka sodium laurel sulfate) and propylene glycols.

These are all found in a variety of personal care products, with the most common being phthalates. Phthalates, sodium laurel sulfate and parabens have been shown to be absorbed through the skin. Propylene glycol also absorbs through the skin, but in smaller amounts.

Next Steps

Now that we know what toxins are, along with their names, it’s time to avoid them. For me, gradually was the easiest way to tackle the process. I just bought new products once the old ones were used up. I did throw out my lotion and toothpaste right away, but everything else was done with less urgency.

Whenever I was in need of a new product I shopped at Sprouts. I knew my chances of finding a cleaner product there would be much easier. If you aren’t near a specialty grocery store (Sprouts, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods), most other grocery stores carry at least one organic product line that should be toxin-free.

Keep in mind, not all specialty grocery stores, as well as items labeled organic, are free of toxins so, make sure you read the ingredients labels.

Takeaways

The two main takeaways are awareness and avoidance. As long as you know the dangers of toxins and show diligence with your future purchases, you’ll be one step closer to improving your wellness.

If you have any questions or feedback regarding products or tips to help your process easier, please to let me know in the comments section below.

 

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