8 products you need to switch out asap

Kick these items to the curb and replace

them with easy, non-toxic alternatives

for a healthier home environment

___________________

“let them go and eat dirt”

We’re all well aware of the dangers of carcinogens in the home, I have written and will continue to write about this present danger that surrounds us every day. Carcinogens exist in the many daily products we (especially woman) use regularly, and while they might not be deadly in a small amount, using them daily and over a long period of time these small amounts compound and what was once a “safe” level is now something more sinister.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that women use on average 12 products a day, which have an average of 168 different ingredients (while the male uses 6 products with 85 ingredients). Given that many of these ingredients often have more numbers than letters, this triggers alarm bells for me.

However, there are some standard, daily beauty products that can easily be swapped out for a more organic, non-toxic version. Rather than ransack my apartment switching out every product at once, I suggest a gentler approach and replace the items as they become empty / expired – this is also a much less wasteful approach.

I have personally cut down on the number of creams, gels and topical lotions applied to my skin, and you should ask yourself the same question. Why DO we need so many products? I have found my skin flourish with a simple combination of cleansing oils and coconut oil moisturizer.

Here are some other product swaps you can make today:

No. 1

TOOTHPASTE

Used (sometimes) twice a day, this would be my #1 product to swap out immediately given it is an oral application. A popular ingredient in toothpaste that makes it toxic is triclosan (also present in deodorant) which has been shown to prevent gingivitis yes, but has also been linked to antibiotic resistance and endocrine disruption – which can potentially cause breast, ovarian, prostate and testicular cancer.

Another trigger ingredient is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which is what makes the toothpaste foam. One thing I do notice with non-toxic toothpaste is the lack of the foam, but after a while you get used to it and now I actually prefer it. SLS can cause skin irritations and canker sores – so best to be avoided.

Just take a look at the back of your toothpaste and see the scary warnings if you need any further convincing, you should not be seeing warnings like that on something you are placing in your mouth.

There are alternatives to conventional toothpaste on the market and these are now finding their ways into common grocery stores. One of my favorite and most commonly found brands is Tom’s of Maine, however this brand still contains glycerin. The best natural brand I have found is Earthpaste.

However, if you wanted to take it even more “au natural” you can simply brush with sea salt, which is a natural antibacterial agent. You could also use a drop of Bronner’s liquid soap, or baking soda (which can be harsh on enamel so be careful).

No. 2

DEODARANT

This is also very high on my “must swap” priority list. Another product applied religiously (at least by me!) daily and helps keep us smelling like roses. There is a long list of toxins found in traditional deodorant – especially antiperspirants – that are linked to breast cancer, birth defects and Alzheimer’s.

The ingredient to watch out for is aluminum. Aluminum is the active ingredient in antiperspirants and aluminum salts – in the form of aluminum chloride, aluminum zirconium, aluminum chlorohydrate and aluminum hydroxybromide – prevent us from sweating when the aluminum ions are drawn into the cells that line the sweat ducts, causing the cells to swell and squeezing the ducts closed so sweat cannot get out.

WHAT THE ACTUAL!?

I spent a LOT of time trialing and searching for a deodorant that worked for me – I tend to run at a high temp and need something that can really cut it if you know what I mean. I have tried most of the natural brands out there but was amazed when I tried something that doesn’t even SOUND like a deodorant – it’s the Thai Crystal – this shit is amazing, since starting to use it I sweat less, sweat clean (no smell) and it lasts all day.

This stuff is truly brilliant, it’s super affordable and the crystal lasts forever and has zero scent. I have had mine a year and it’s still not even nearly finished. It’s easy to apply, just wet it and roll on and you're done!

No. 3

SUNSCREEN

Wear sunscreen. We’ve all heard that Baz Lurhman song but it is truth. Much like the effects of smoking on the body, we know that too much of the sun accelerates aging and causes skin cancers, especially in countries like Australia.

Traditionally, sunscreens contain harmful chemicals such as 4-methy-benzyldencamphor (4-MBC), Oxybenzone and Homosalate (HMS) to name a few; which put our bodies at risk. The UV neutralizing agents can become carcinogenic and therefore increase the risk of developing cancer as well as affecting out hormone levels by disrupting the endocrine system.

NO THANKS

Natural sunscreens have many benefits, such as:

1. They contain beneficial minerals zinc and titanium that act as a UV barrier blocking rays.

2. They protect skin while soothing and nourishing at the same time, whereas traditional creams block pores with their chemicals.

3. Contain less allergenic ingredients and therefore cause less irritation

4. They do not require re-application as they actually sit on top of the skin rather than being absorbed.

I personally am continually testing out new natural sunscreens and living in NYC I find I don’t need one nearly as much as back in Oz, but I am still trying to find the right one for my skin type. If you want some guidance, check out The Top 5 Best Natural Sunscreens.

No. 4

NON-STICK COOKWARE

While non-stick cookware may save you time in the cleanup process, it most definitely does more harm than good. When it heats to a high temperature, the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which is what makes Teflon non-sticky, gives off toxic gasses.

"non-stick cookware has been implicated...in the death of exotic birds"

These gasses have been linked to reproductive issues in women, cancers and other health issues. If you have birds indoors you should definitely think about removing your non-stick pans immediately, as the non-stick cookware has been implicated not only in the death of exotic birds like house parrots, but also other birds like chicks! NO. DEAL. Read about it here.

I personally donated all my non-stick pans and use stainless steel for all my cooking, and while it takes a little getting used to; I have found by cooking at a lower temperature, being vigilant and adding water when food starts to stick mean I have never had any issues.

No. 5

DISH WASHING LIQUID

While it may not seem obvious at first, what we wash out dishes in daily after cooking and eating needs to be something we carefully consider. Many dish soaps contain previously mentioned SLS, triclosan and fragrance. Not only do we wash our dishes with it, we expose our skin to it every time we do so.

You can find and compare products here to see how yours rates.

No. 6

AIR FRESHENERS

Not only are they in aerosol cans – which are detrimental to the environment – air fresheners contain a potent mix of chemicals such as phthalates, which are known to cause hormonal abnormalities, reproductive issues and birth defects. On top of that scary list, they also contain ambiguous ingredients such as “fragrance”, “propellant” and “preservatives”, which could mean pretty much anything.

Alternative to keep your house smelling fresh is an essential oil diffuser or a bowl of a fragrant, flowering plant like jasmine or lavender.

No. 7

"ANTI-BACTERIAL" HAND SOAPS

I think most people now understand the dangers of these ‘germ-killing’ soaps, but let me recap. These products contain our favorite chemical of today, triclosan. Not only that, but studies have shown that these “anti-bacterial” soaps are no better at removing bacteria from your hands than conventional soaps.

So stop freaking out, a little bit of dirt is good for us, it helps us build a strong immune system, as I like to say to parents let them go and eat dirt.

No. 8

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS

Ah the famous ‘all-propose’ cleaner. When I first hired a bi-weekly cleaner she insisted on chemical laden products as the ones I used between visits ‘we’re not strong enough, you need chemicals’. But don’t let popular and outdated opinion food you. Many conventional cleaners contain ammonium hydroxzide, ethanolamine, propylene glycol methyl and dipropylene glycol butyl ether – wow, that’s a mouthful.

These toxic chemicals have been linked to allergies, irritations, respiratory symptoms, cancer, DNA damage and developmental, endocrine and reproductive issues.

WOWZERS.

Usually when it comes to cleaning products, the quicker and more instantly effective they are, the more toxic they are. The crazy part? General household products like bicarb soda, baking powder and vinegar work just as well, if not better. I personally like to use a microfiber glove that ONLY NEEDS WATER. YOU GUYS, WATER!

It may all seem like a lot to take in, especially with all those crazy chemical names, but just know – if you wouldn’t eat it, why would you put it on your skin or spray it into the air to be inhaled?

One of the best resources to check whether what you already own or what to buy is the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website.

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