The Real Reason You Feel So Sick and How to Fix It
Are you often in the doctor’s office with a new pain, allergy problem, reproductive issue or you just feel plain sick? Does the doctor say you are okay and just send you off? There may be a reason you are feeling so sick and have so many health problems.
Chemical toxins.
They are everywhere. They are in our shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, soap, and even in our water. If you do not know much about toxins and where they are lurking, you are not alone! Many people are uneducated and continue to use horrible, toxic chemicals in their homes every single day. They are harming their families and they don’t even know it. That is why I am on a mission to share the truth behind what is really in commercial products.
What Are Toxins?
By my definition, a toxin is a chemical that causes harm to our bodies slowly over time without us really knowing what is happening.
We are so used to using commercial products that we don’t even think about. We don’t even realize there are very toxic chemicals in these “necessary” products.
A few common toxins in cosmetics and soaps that you should look out for are:
- Parabens – Endocrine disrupter and male reproductive issues
- Dibutyl Phthalates – Endocrine disrupter and reproductive issues
- BHA and BHT – Endocrine disruptor and may cause cancer
- Triclosan – Endocrine disruptor and antibiotic resistance in bacteria
- Fragrances – Cancer, allergies, asthma flare ups, nausea, and headaches
- Coal Tar – Cancer and heavy metals that can cause brain damage
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate – Cancer
Not only do these few chemicals cause disease and mess up our normal bodily functions, they also just make us feel plain sick.
I never realized that chemicals made me feel so sick until I got rid of them.
When I am around someone wearing perfume or someone who is cleaning with harsh chemicals, I get almost instantly sick from the fumes. We’re talking instant headache and nausea. That’s not cool….
There are so many different kinds of chemical toxins that are in our everyday products. I wish I had all day to write out every single toxin we should look out for… but I have a husband to take care of! I will be going over more in future posts.
Where are They Lurking and How can you Avoid Them?
The easy answer? Everywhere.
Chemical toxins are found in almost every commercial product including soap, makeup, lotion, cleaning supplies, and they are even in our carpets and couches.
So how can you avoid harmful toxins?
Start by learning about the most common toxins and avoid them like the plague! I am totally not over reacting…. Listen to what your body is telling you to avoid. Do you feel sick around certain chemicals? Cut out those things first!
An easy way you can spot a toxin is if it has a long, crazy name that you can’t pronounce.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone… what?
If you pick up a bottle and you know what everything is, good! Buy it! If you come across some names that sound like they have been made in a lab (by a mad scientist), skip it and research it later to make sure it is okay for your family to use.
There is an amazing group called The Environmental Working Group and they made an amazing database to help us know exactly what toxins are in our products and how harmful they really are.
That’s AMAZING!
I use EWG all the time and use their app to scan bar codes and get an instant rating on the toxicity of the product. Products are rated from 1-10 one being the best and ten being the most toxic. Go here to check out their database.
So Why are Toxins There in the First Place?
This is a tough question to answer. I am not sure why companies think harmful chemicals should be put in products. It may be that the chemicals are cheaper for the company than healthy alternatives (like essential oils and bentonite clay) or they simply don’t know that there are great, healthier alternatives out there.
Don’t get overwhelmed with all of this information! It takes a lot of time and research to get to a fully toxic free, chemical free home. Don’t give up! Keep researching, find healthy alternatives and don’t get offended when someone calls you a hippy… it happens.
I highly recommend making your own homemade products! It’s fun, saves money, and is super healthy for you and your family. It also gives you a reason to spend an hour on Pintrest (you’re welcome).
There will be more posts in the future about how to avoid toxins, but for now what first step are you going to take to remove harmful toxins from your home? Leave a comment below!
Resources:
“‘Dirty Dozen’ Cosmetic Chemicals to Avoid.” David Suzuki Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2016.
