Health Column: Environmental Toxic Cleanse for Your Household
SHIRLEY-ANN CHINONYE
A recent study revealed that trace amounts of highly toxic chemicals, including dangerous substances like phenols and flame retardants, are nearly universally present in the dust that builds up in our homes. Researchers concluded that these chemicals are produced by a wide range of building materials and household products.
These sobering researches highlight just how dangerous our homes really are. In the modern era, the atmosphere is filled with microscopic chemicals that could have a negative long-term impact on our health.
It’s important to keep as many unhealthy and toxic chemicals and products out of your home as possible. Use these helpful environmental medicine health tips to detox your home naturally and protect your family from the long-term effects of chemical exposure.
1. Assess Your Home’s Toxic Chemical Exposure
The first step in fortifying your home against toxic and other environmental threats is to take stock of potential problem points already threatening your household. In some cases, this may include aging paint that was applied before your family moved into your current home or improperly installed building materials like aging insulation that could potentially expose your family to physical and mental health threats.
Start the process of naturally detoxing your home by making a list of all the ways that your home may already be compromised by dangerous chemicals. That will make it easier to start identifying solutions for making your house into a safer place to live.
2. Find Natural Alternatives for Popular Cleaning Products
What do most glass cleaning products, bathroom tile cleansers, furniture shampoos have in common? They contain toxic chemicals that are dangerous for humans to consume. It’s one of the most telling aspects of a modern, convenience-driven age: We are more than willing to store large containers of poison in our homes if they have been labeled as cleaning products.
There’s a long list of all natural and organic cleaning solutions available today that serve as alternatives to toxic cleaning products. Strategic use of baking soda, Lemon juice and white vinegar, for example, can be used in lieu of popular cleansers. Taking the time to replace every toxic chemical with a natural counterpart is just one way to naturally detoxify your household.
3. Be Wary of Treated Synthetic Materials
Most families don’t think to consider the type of impact that modern conveniences have on their overall health. This is especially true when it comes to housewares made from synthetic materials, like trendy plastic cookware. In the same way that we are discouraged from microwaving certain plastic bowls (due to the risk of chemicals leaking into our food), families should perform a detailed evaluation of which synthetic materials in the home pose a toxicity risk.
A perfect example would be cooking ware sprayed non-stick coating or food storage products that are produced using teflon, which contains perfluorinated chemicals that are linked to cancer and other environmental toxicity issues.
4. Identify Replacements for Harmful Pet Care Items
Don’t leave out your loyal pet while replacing harmful cleaning products with natural, non-toxic alternatives. Many cleaning products for pets could harm not only your pet but your family members, especially if these items are consumed by accident. Families are better off not putting members of the household in danger by risking it in the first place. Thankfully, the availability of natural pet care products is at an all-time high.
You may need to keep searching online, but trust that if you can think of a pet care product, someone is selling an organic, non-toxic version of that product. This includes pet care needs ranging from tick and flea infestations to the long-term care for a pet’s coat of fur. A bit of trial and error may be necessary to track down the most effective replacements, but this a step toward a safer and healthier household.
5. Don’t Forget Your Fridge (My favorite part)
Many of the examples on this list have encouraged readers to follow a certain rule of thumb: if it’s not safe to eat, it’s probably not safe in your home in the first place. This attitude should also apply to the food in your fridge. The more plastic-wrapped and artificially prepared food items taking up space in your fridge, the more overall exposure the family has to potentially dangerous and toxic chemicals.
Shifting away from highly processed foods and toward organic produce is an essential way to recover the home from years of harboring toxic products. This shift has been proven to numerous health benefits for the whole family.
6. Limit Household Consumption Overall
It makes perfect sense when you think about it. Studies have shown that the more waste we produce at home, the more likely it is for family members to be exposed to their fair share of toxic chemicals. This exposure may be extremely minimal, but the danger lies in family members’ repeatedly consuming toxic chemicals and that toxicity building up over time leading to chronic diseases like autoimmune disorders and co.
That’s why it makes so much sense to look at your home from the perspective of environmental medicine. Learn how to identify possible alternatives to toxic chemicals in everyday home products for the benefit of better health and a sounder mind.
According to Maryea Flaherty, These tips will help detoxify our homes:
Use natural, green cleaning products.
If you treat your lawn, seek out safe alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. More and more companies are offering organic options.
Have a “No shoes in the house” policy. Shoes bring in the contaminants from outside and it’s best to keep them on the bottom of your shoes rather than trek them all over the floors.
Open your windows on a daily basis. Recycling the air is so important!
Get rid of artificial air fresheners. Essential oils diffused into the air are a great alternative that smell wonderful.
Eliminate as many plastics as you can.
Avoid non-stick pans. I love my stainless steel All-Clad pans and also my Lodge cast iron pans.
Get a water filter system for your drinking water.
Use a shower head water filter that will take out the chlorine and other harmful chemicals.
Use untreated fabrics as much as possible. Stain-resistant furniturehave volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. The same is true for flame-retardant clothing, such as children pajamas. Look for tight-fitting pajamas that are not flame-retardant for your children.
If you dry clean your clothes, let them air out outside for a few hours before bringing them into the house.
Change your filters for your furnace and air conditioner often, and if possible upgrade to an allergy reduction filter.
Stop using dryer sheets. Wool dyer balls are an excellent, natural alternative.
Be on the lookout for mold. Beware of areas in the home that may have too much moisture in the air and seek to control it. Use a dehumidifier for any area that you aren’t able to keep the relative humidity below 60%.
Add Himalayan Salt Lamps to as many rooms in your home as you can.
Use organic sheets and bedding, especially for babies and kids.
Use potted plants to help purify the air.
Use non-VOC paint.
Allow new products, such as stuffed furniture that may contain toxins, to off gas outside or in the garage for a few days before bringing into the house.
Use organic mattresses. If you can’t (they are very expensive), cover your regular mattresses with an organic mattress cover.
Clean your surfaces with antibacterial cloths, such as e-cloths and water.
Dust and vacuum often, as “dust bunnies” are found to be magnets for chemicals.
Seek out natural pest control methods rather than harsh, chemical-based pest control products.
Turn your phone to airplane mode when you sleep, especially if it’s in the same room with you.
Regularly vacuum your mattress and furniture.
Replace your pillows every five years.
Could one conversation really change your life? Call: 08104511452 09034425216 or email athealthcoachhepzibah@gmail.
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