My Low-Tox Living Update
Full transparency: This post is somewhat of an accountability post. I figured sharing my progress with you about low-tox living would be a great way to keep me accountable, encourage you on this journey, and give myself a little encouragement as well. Writing this post has been a great way to reflect on my journey and document how far I’ve come.
For years, I’ve made small changes, including drinking from a glass water bottle, eliminating fragranced products in my home, and switching to natural deodorant. However, over the last year, I’ve been much more committed and thoughtful about my choices and commitment to low-tox living.
It took me some time to grasp just how many toxins are hanging out around our homes on a daily basis. According to an article I found on ABC News, the average woman is exposed to about 168 chemicals a day. What’s even more startling is that most of the chemicals found in our homes haven’t been studied thoroughly for human use.
Limited exposure to these chemicals and compounds probably wouldn’t harm us. Our bodies can also do a pretty good job at adapting to protect us. But, unfortunately, most of us are exposed to so many chemicals on an ongoing basis.
The constant exposure can become overwhelming to our bodies. This is especially true for those who may be dealing with a sluggish liver or poor gut health. That’s why it’s a good idea to get rid of as many chemicals and toxins as we can.
One of the most concerning issues is xenoestrogens, or compounds that mimic estrogen in the body. Xenoestrogens can contribute to hormonal imbalances, including estrogen dominance. Excess estrogen may be one of the main contributors to fibroid growth. So I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to reduce symptoms and stop the growth of fibroids, including limiting my contact with these toxins and trying low-tox living.
In reality, it’s not feasible for us to eliminate all the toxic chemicals we encounter daily. They are everywhere: food, furniture, cleaning products, personal care, and beauty products.
The good news is that we can significantly reduce our exposure to these toxins by educating ourselves about the products we choose and making safer choices. The other bit of good news is that unless you’re dealing with a dire health condition, you probably have time to switch things out over time.
I still have a long way to go to improve my low-tox living lifestyle, but here are some of the changes I’ve made over the last year.
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I’ve been able to replace all of my household cleaning products with safer alternatives.
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Switched to glass food storage containers.
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Found a safer laundry detergent that’s also environmentally friendly.
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I purchased a Berkey water system to filter my water.
There have been some challenges in finding safer alternatives for my household and personal care products. I wish that there was more transparency with brands claiming to be better or safer. Unfortunately, regulations in the US are pretty lax when it comes to what’s considered safe.
Since there’s not, here are a few challenges I’ve had and how to overcome them:
3 Challenges to Low-Tox Living and How to Overcome Them
Challenge 1: How do I know where to start?
Solution: Start with the item that’s about to run out. It doesn’t matter what category. So whether it’s your household cleaner, toothpaste, or favorite eyeliner, just start. Don’t overthink it. You can even search for the item or its ingredients on the EWG website.
Challenge 2: Greenwashing and misleading labels.
Solution: There are tons of companies out there who sell products that look safe at first glance. “Green-looking” packaging with eco buzzwords sells. This is another instance when having the EWG app comes in handy. It’s also not a bad idea to make your cleaning products if you’re up for it. Most are pretty simple and inexpensive to make.
Challenge 3: Not everyone in my household is on board.
Solution: This may be one of the most significant hurdles for making any lifestyle change. I used to get super annoyed when my husband would bring something home that didn’t fit into the lifestyle that I’m trying to create. It took me a while to understand that this is MY choice. Not his choice. Although he generally supports my changes, that doesn’t mean that he’s knowledgeable about why I make certain decisions. Therefore, I have to educate him about why it’s important to me.
Reducing your exposure to toxins can be overwhelming at first, but you got this! Take your time, do your research and remember that this is fairly experimental. You’ll find some gems, but you’ll also find some products that aren’t great. Remember to enjoy the journey and learn some new things along the way.
*This post is not intended to replace medical advice and is for educational purposes only. View full disclosure here.
*This post may contain affiliate links that allow me to earn a commission on purchases made from this post.
