Issue 1: Introduction to Toxic-Free Living

A Little Background

A fren told me recently that trying to find information on toxic-free living was like drinking from a fire hose. There is a lot of information out there and it can be hard to navigate. I started learning about eliminating toxins about six years ago, but my obsession with healthy living started much earlier than that. My first red pill was learning that the food pyramid and everything I'd been taught about nutrition in grade school and college was a farce. After that, I started becoming much more aware about what I put into my body. About 5 years after going Paleo and completely overhauling my nutrition, I was introduced to a company that promoted toxic-free living through beauty and household products. I used some of their products, but they honestly weren't that good. The pill, however, had been swallowed. Much like with my nutrition, I couldn't go back to the way things were before. So I sought out alternative products that were also clean. I made my own. I tried some interesting recipes that didn't work. The shampoo bar I made with beeswax had some pretty terrible results! But the household scrub solution I make works better than anything I've ever purchased. It also keeps my family safe and healthy.

Unfortunately,  a lot of products on the market are loaded with toxic chemicals that can have devastating results over time. Even seemingly 'safe' products have some nasty things in them. For example, Dawn dish soap, which is a staple in many homes and used to clean oil off of poor birds trapped in oil spills, has nasties in it. Take Methylisothiazolinone for example, a preservative known to cause skin irritation. It is banned in cosmetics in Canada, and restricted for use in cosmetics in Europe and Japan. It's not something I'd like to have on my skin, even if it's for washing dishes. Allergy concerns such as these are a red flag for me.

Endocrine disruptors are among my main concerns with unsafe products. Endocrine disruptors can be natural or man made. They are known to interfere with the body's hormones (endocrine) system. Endocrine disruptors cause problems with the reproductive and immune systems, as well as the brain. They aren't found in only cosmetics and food, but also in plastics, cookware, toys, flame retardants, food packaging, and pesticides. Environmentally this is a concern because some endocrine disruptors take a long time to breakdown, which can make them more hazardous over time. While we can be exposed to endocrine disruptors through food, cosmetics, water, and air, it makes sense to reduce our exposure as much as possible.

In our bodies, our endocrine system reacts to very small changes in our hormone levels. These small, natural fluctuations, can bring about significant biological and developmental changes. Therefore, it is thought that even low doses of exposure to endocrine disruptors can cause health problems. More research needs to be done, but this is something that concerns me.

Common Endocrine Disruptors and Their Uses:

Bisphenol A (BPA) — used to make plastics, including toys, plastic dishware, disposable water bottles, and food packaging.

Dioxins — these come from producing herbicides and from bleaching paper products. These are also released into the air through trash burning.

Perchlorate — this lovely one is a by-product of the weapon and pharmaceutical industry. It's found in drinking water.

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) — these are used in flame retardants, and are also present in children's flame retardant pajamas, and non-stick cookware. These are widely used in industrial applications.

Phthalates — these are found in soft plastic food packaging, makeup, toys, and some medical devices. They make plastics more flexible.

Phytoestrogens — these are naturally-occurring endocrine disruptors that come from plants. Soy is a well known phytoestrogen.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) — found in common household items such as couches, mattresses, and carpet. It is used as a flame retardant.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) — PCBs are found in electrical equipment and liquids used for electrical equipment.

Triclosan — this very common ingredient is found in handwashing soap, body wash, and other personal hygiene products.

This list is not exhaustive but it's still a lot to take in.

Where We'll Go:

• This substack will take you through household products for cleaning, cooking, and food storage. I will discuss common products, their concerns, and safe alternatives.

• We'll dive into general personal hygiene products, then into specific products for men and women, including cosmetics.

• I will guide you towards safe and effective products for your babies and children.

• We will talk about water contaminants and filtration systems.

• I am tossing around some other ideas for toxic-free products for traveling.

• Later, I may create another substack on how to detox your body from heavy metals and toxins.

I am also interested in hearing YOUR thoughts about what you'd like to see in this substack. Thank you for joining me here, I welcome discussion and questions.

-Angel