How to Reduce Your Exposure to Toxins – A Body Ecology “Go Green” Guide

Did you know that there are over 150 toxic chemicals lurking in your home?[1] Each day, we are all exposed to toxic chemicals in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. You’d think our homes would be safe, but they’re not...unless you make different choices. The good news is you don’t have to move to a hideaway in the mountains to reduce your exposure to toxins! To learn more about the importance of detoxification, read: Finally, Detoxification Secrets for Looking and Feeling Your Best Revealed! In fact, there are more and more products coming out today that allow you to live a modern life without so many toxins. At Body Ecology, our goal is to empower you to look and feel your best for the long term! Our Body Ecology Go Green Guide will take you room-by-room through your house so that you can replace toxic items with those that are safer or toxin-free. Body Ecology Go Green Guide to Reduce Toxic Exposure Here is your room-by-room guide to making better choices for your health: Kitchen

• Pots and Pans - Replace Teflon or non-stick pans with stainless steel pots and pans or Le Creuset cookware.
• Food Storage – Stainless steel, glass or ceramic are your best bet for food storage. You can get stainless bowls with plastic tops or glass Pyrex Bowls with glass tops as an air-tight food storage option. Ball Jars are another good option.
• On-The-Go Food Storage – If you must use plastic, be aware of some important considerations:
• Avoid Plastic #3 (PVC) because it has toxic DHEA. Plastic #3 is used in some containers and plastic wrap.
• Avoid Plastic #7 (hard and clear) – Plastic #7 is polycarbonate, which leaches BPA.
• Safer Plastic - The plastics thought to be safest for food are 1,2, 4 and 5.
• No Nuking - Never microwave in plastic, even if it says microwave safe.

Living Room and Family Room – Besides the kitchen, your family spends a lot of time in the main rooms of your house.

• Furniture – Most of the furniture on the market today (even baby furniture!) is covered with toxins. Fabrics are made to be stain resistant, inflammable and in some cases, wrinkle free. Woods or wood particulate can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs), like formaldehyde, that vaporize and enter the atmosphere. Most new furniture is actually off-gassing toxins and polluting the air in your home. You and your family likely spend hours sitting on this furniture and you deserve to enjoy the safety of these rooms safely! Two options you have to reduce toxic exposure are:
  • Green Furniture - made from sustainably harvested wood and all-natural, toxin-free fabrics, choosing “green furniture” is the way to go.
  • Antiques or Vintage furniture – Recycling has become so popular these days, how about recycling furniture too? Save the landfills (and maybe some money too) and your health by purchasing “pre-owned” furniture.
• Bathroom – Your bathroom is riddled with toxins in your beauty and personal care products. Your skin is one of your major organs of detoxification, so avoid clogging it up with harmful so-called beauty products. There are so many great choices to reduce your toxic exposure on the market today:
  • Soap – read: The Dangers of Typical Body Soaps and The Body Ecology Recommendations Instead
  • Cosmetics – Choose pure products, like Larenim 100% pure mineral makeup. Larenim is free of dyes, parabens, talc, oils and chemicals.
  • Moisturizer – how about using organic unrefined oils instead of lotion and moisturizer? Most moisturizers on the market are made of poor quality or toxic oils like mineral oil that harm your liver. You can make your own beautiful moisturizer by taking organic unrefined sesame oil and adding about 10 drops of therapeutic grade lavender essential oil. Shake it up and you have an all-natural moisturizer that nourishes your skin AND your liver!
• Overall Householdrn
  • Cleaning Products – Have you ever felt light-headed after cleaning your home? Household cleaners are harmful to your health. Instead, use products by Ecover or Seventh Generation. Both brands have excellent options for dishes, laundry and cleaners for the whole house. If you like to do it yourself, consider some old fashioned techniques that still work wonders today: White Wine Gets Out Stains and 10 Other Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning Tips.
  • Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) - Electromagnetic fields are areas of energy that surround electronic devices. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that the electric fields are created by differences in voltage and magnetic fields are created when the electric current flows.[2] Symptoms from electromagnetic field exposure can create adverse health effects, according to WHO. Since our human bodies have their own electric and biochemical responses (e.g., nervous system, digestion, brain function, heart function), exposure to EMFs can interact with the human body. Certain individuals may be more sensitive to EMFs, particularly those who already experience low immunity. For more, read: There's Something in the Air (and What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You).
    • Stetzerizer Microsurge Meter - Allows you to identify if you have harmful electromagnetic energy.
    • Stetzerizer Filter - based upon 100 year-old science and power engineering principles, this filter helps to block harmful electromagnetic energy in your home or office. A typical 1,000 – 1,800 square foot home requires approximately 20 filters, but you can be more exact with the Stetzerizer Microsurge Meter (above). If you want to protect yourself and your family from the hazards of EMFs, these filters are a must!
• Air Filters – The air inside your home is actually more toxic than the air outdoors. Mold, pet dander, VOCs, radon, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, sulpher, asbestos and other chemicals are common in the average home. Air filters can help clean up your air and reduce your exposure to toxins, so you and your family feel better!
• Tofind out what to do, including an air filter recommendation, read: There's Something in the Air (and What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You).
• Plants – Green plants literally clean up the air in your home! Some plants are known to reduce formaldehyde and other toxins. According to a NASA study on clean air, the following large-leafed plants can reduce VOCs in indoor air and help neutralize “sick building syndrome”: Azalea Aloe Vera, Bamboo Palm, Boston ferns, Corn Plant, Chinese evergreen, Chrysanthemum, Date Palm, Dieffenbachia, Golden Pothos, Mini-Schefflera, Peace lily, Peperomia, Mother-in-law's tongue, Philodendron (Heart-leaf, Lacy tree, or Elephant ear), Poinsettia, Snake Plant, and Spider Plant.[3]
• Research has also shown that plants improve people’s ability to recover from illness.[4]
• Paint – Choosing low-VOC (volatile organic compound) or no VOC paint is a sure way to have you breathing easy in your home!
• Carpets – Rugs and carpets can be a source of toxins as well. Choose toxin-free carpets for a healthier home.

Outdoors: Do you have a lawn service like ChemLawn? Well, ChemLawn is now called TruGreen, to hide the fact that they fill your lawn with exactly what you want to avoid: chemicals! We all love green grass, but there are better ways to do it that won’t seep into your wells or harm children playing in the yard. Look for organic lawn care services. In the Midwest, a company called Child’s Play Organic Lawns provides a service you can feel good about. You can even join the National Coalition for Pesticide Free lawns and learn all kinds of tips for having a greener (and healthier) outdoor lifesytle! Greener Living Step-By-Step rnWhat does it mean to “go green?” Simply that you begin making better choices for your own health...and interestingly, those choices are also better for the planet! But just like with any large undertaking, go step-by-step at your own pace. Start with one room or even one section of a room and after awhile, your whole house will be greener. Don’t be surprised if you find you are feeling better too! Sources: [1] Facts and Statistics on Toxins. http://www.enviroalternatives.com/nontoxichome.html rn2 What Are Electromagnetic Fields? World Health Organization. rnhttp://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/ rn3 Taggart, Jennifer. Carcinogenic Cribs and Changing Tables? May 2008. rnhttp://healthychild.org/blog/comments/carcinogenic_cribs_and_changing_tables/ rn4 Plants Clean Air and Water for Indoor Environments. NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI), 2007. http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2007/ps_3.html