17 Ways to decrease your toxin exposures for greener living

This information is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Work with a qualified healthcare provider to decide which ones are important right now for your health and manageable, and which ones may be reserved for later. A consultation is recommended since your healthcare provider will also be able to adjust these suggestions specific for your needs and after a thorough assessment, as these suggestions are not a replacement for diagnosis or treatment.

1. Eat ORGANIC whenever possible. Look up the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list by the Environmental Working Group

 2. Keep fish consumption to no more than 8 ounces per week (Alaskan salmon, shrimp, tilapia, pollock, cod).

 3. Drink at least one half of your body weight in ounces of water per day (i.e. 75 ounces or 9 glasses if you weight 150 lbs.). Avoid alcoholic drinks, juice, and sugary pop.

 4. Add freshly ground flax, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower seeds, almonds, and walnuts to your foods daily (if tolerated)

 5. Add 1-2 tsp of organic apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s) to half a glass of water before a meal to stimulate digestive enzymes (if tolerated)

 6. Choose milk or meat produced without added growth hormones.

7. Drink cleaner water: a Berkey filter, reverse osmosis system, or carbon filter pitcher reduces your exposure to impurities such as chlorine and lead. (Note: the BRITA Elite filter is significantly better than their standard filters).

8. Better body care products: avoid triclosan, BHA, fragrance, and oxybenzone. Use the CosmeticsDatabase.com to check your products.

9. Place air purifying plants around the house, especially in rooms that have recently undergone renovations (Peace Lily, Spider Plant, Chrysanthemums, Boston Fern, Bamboo Palm – check for toxicity to pets with each).

10. Check home for dampness and mold which can cause a wide variety of vague health concerns.

11. Identify lead sources – have your tap water tested for lead from pipes and avoid any home remodeling if your house was built before 1978. Dust from sanding or blasting old paint is a common source.

12. Clean with vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide.

13. Use a damp mop to remove dust once a week.

14. Always take shoes off at the doors as they can track pollutants inside the living area.

15. An additional HEPA air purifier for use in the bedroom, kitchen, or anywhere you spend a lot of time in is also a great idea. I like the Winix  Plasma Wave 5500-2 True HEPA Air Purifier with AOC Washable Carbon Filter.

16.. Consider testing for Radon in your home. Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally released into the air from uranium found in soil and rock. It can accumulate in some homes and raises the risk of lung cancer, and is in fact the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.  Read more about it here.

17. Check dinnerware and water bottles for recalls due to heavy metal contamination concerns.