Tips to Address Environmental Exposure to Toxins Naturally

Environmental exposure to toxins is of common concern for many. However, there are some helpful ways to prioritize and minimize exposure. Naturally, our body is able to adapt and detoxify these exposures, but there are easy areas where we can limit exposure to support this. A recommendation would be to begin to consider replacing all-purpose cleaning supplies and laundry detergent with safer, non-toxic products. 

Many household cleaning products contain synthetic ingredients (preservatives) and fragrances designed for de-sanitizing and thorough cleaning but leave you exposed to harmful chemicals that can disrupt our body’s natural detoxifying pathways. Synthetic fragrances, although they smell nice, have been linked to be a cause of asthma, allergies and skin irritations. Secondly, many cleaning products today contain preservatives, known to cause skin irritations and can be neurotoxic. 

Some ingredients to avoid include:

• Phenoxyethanol

• Potassium sorbate

• Sodium benzoate

It is best to consider replacing products with these ingredients with ones that are more natural such as essential oils, plant and mineral based materials and free of bleach and preservatives. 

Like all-purpose cleaning supplies, laundry detergent also contains ingredients and synthetic  fragrances disruptive to our health. According to the CDC, exposure to harmful chemicals has health effects on our skin, the largest organ of our body. As we wear and sleep in clothes and sheets that have been exposed to volatile organic compounds 24/7, reducing chemical exposure within our laundry detergent is necessary. 

A wonderful brand to consider replacing laundry detergent with is Branch Basics. Free of harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances, this brand is great example of non-toxic cleaning products that are effective and safe to use. You can additionally make your own using essential oils. Click here to see how.

References: 

Branch Basics Blog. (2018). Dangerous Detergent: Is My Laundry Detergent Toxic?Retrieved from https://branchbasics.com/blog/laundry-chemicals/

Branch Basics Blog (2019). Home Cleanse Guide: How to Detox Your Home. Retrieved from https://branchbasics.com/blog/branch-basics-how-to-detox-your-home/

Center For Disease Control. Health Effects of Chemical Exposure. Retrieved from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/emes/public/docshealth%20effects%20of%20chemical%20exposure%20fs.pdf 

Nutritional Therapy. (2019). Environmental Factors Student Guide. PDF