5 Steps To Detox Your Life + Home

As a health coach, I consider the food I put into my body to be one of the most important parts of living a healthy life and taking care of my body. However, it’s just as important to consider other ways of removing toxins and chemicals from your life and environment. Most of my health coaching clients are already aware of the importance of eating organic food but they may not be thinking about the chemicals that are in their household cleaners or personal care products. Yet, once they become parents they start to ask me questions about what they can do to reduce the chemical and toxic exposure in their home and for their children.

I understand why. I was interested in reducing toxins and chemicals in my life and on my body for years before I became a mom. Yet, once I had a little one crawling around on the floor this interest and preference turned into a high priority for my family and my home. This endeavor can be a bit overwhelming when you think of all of the products you use in and around your home and your body each day, but there are a few simple techniques you can use to detox your life and and your home so you can relax and know that your family is well taken care of. 

 

5 Simple Tips to Detox Your Life

Here are 5 tips to try to incorporate into your life and home. Don’t worry if you can’t do them all at once. Do what’s most achievable for you and your family so that you can realistically stick to the changes.

1. Start with the food you eat

Begin your life and home detox by looking at the food you eat and what you put into your body- including beverages, medications and supplements. Focus on eating whole, organic food that does not come in a box with a label (with a focus on vegetables, greens, fruits and healthy fats and oils like coconut oil and avocados). At a minimum, purchase all produce organic that are on the dirty dozen list by the Environmental Working Group. 

2. Switch to natural personal care products

After looking at the food you eat, I recommend you look at the products that you and your family put on your body. Think about deodorants, perfumes, shampoos, body soap, lotions, and makeup. Most of these types of products have healthier and more natural alternatives that you can switch to. Make a list of all of the products you and your family use each day and search online or at your local health food store for alternatives. Set a goal to switch out a few products each month with a goal of using only natural products within a few months. Check out the EWG’s Skin Deep Database to research chemicals and toxins that could be in your personal care products. 

3. Use natural, green clean products 

Make a list of all of the cleaning products you use in your home (including laundry products) and research more natural options. Much of our homes can be cleaned from the simple use of vinegar and baking soda. Work to swap out your products for more natural alternatives.

4. Filter your water and air

I recommend air purifiers and water filters in your home. You can buy purified water and have it delivered to your home, use a filtered water pitcher, or add a water filter to your faucet. A shower filter is helpful to remove chlorine and other chemicals from  If you have a large home, add an air purifier in each large room and possibly in each bedroom. 

In addition, stop using artificial air fresheners or scented candles. Switch to diffusing high quality organic essential oils instead. Remember to change the filter on your air conditioner and furnace often. 

5. Reduce plastic use

Work toward replacing plastic cups, bowls, plates, and food storage containers with glass or ceramic. 

6. Avoid non-stick pans

Switch out any non-stick cookware that you have and switch to cast iron, glass, or ceramic pots and bakeware. 

7. Become a label reader (of everything)

Read all the labels- be that for food you are eating or products you are using in your home or on your body. When consuming anything with a label make sure you know what everything is on the ingredient list and try to buy things that have the least amount of ingredients and additives. 

Keep an eye out for these chemicals in your beauty and household products and avoid them:

• BHA and BHT
• Coal tar dyes
• DEA-related ingredients
• Dibutyl phthalate
• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives 
• Parabens
• Parfum (fragrance)
• PEG compounds
• Petrolatum
• Siloxanes
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Triclosan
• Phthalates (Dibutyl phthalate)
• Perchloroethylene or “PERC”
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, or “QUATS” (avoid cleaners that are “antibacterial”)
• Ammonia
• Chlorine
• Sodium Hydroxide
• 2-Butoxyethanol
• Synthetic colors (FD&C, D&C)
• Toluene
• Propylene glycol

Why This Matters

These endeavors can be a bit overwhelming, so it’s important to remind ourselves why this is so important. At the end of the day- everything you put on, in, and around your body will often get inside your body and they can make you sick. There are thousands of chemicals in your daily household and personal products which are often absorbed into your body. Many of the synthetic chemicals in household products are known as skin irritants and/or endocrine disruptors. After daily exposure, and in some cases, these chemicals can have long term and negative health impacts.

Plus, the industry for personal care and cleaning products is under-regulated, meaning that you can’t rely on a third-party to be checking these products to make sure they are safe and healthy for you.

 

 

Continue exploring

• Endocrine disruptors are one of the most harmful types of toxins and more common that you’d think. Find out what they are and how to avoid them.
• Babies and kids are particularly sensitive to harsh chemicals because of their delicate skin. See our range of Tot-tested personal care products that are free from all the nasties.