Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or work 9 to 5, you spend a lot of time inside the four walls of your home. If you think about it, there is little found in your home that is also replicated in nature. Indeed, scientists find that over each day, you are exposed to literally thousands of toxins that your body has to metabolize and purge. Some of this exposure is within our control, while some is not – as you’ll see below.
With this in mind, you should be concerned about your family’s exposure to toxic substances commonly found in your home. Children with developing bodies are especially susceptible, given the number of hours they spend indoors.
Common Sources of Toxins at Home
Within the home:
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- Lead-based paint exposure in homes built before 1978
- Fumes from newly installed carpeting or flooring
- Poor air quality
- Tap water that includes impurities like chlorine or lead from old pipes
- Carbon monoxide exposure from wood stoves or fireplaces
- Household mold within the walls
- Treated woods used in decks and play structures
What we choose to do at home:
- Smoking indoors
- Using beauty products that contain man-made ingredients
- Storing and cooking food in plastic containers
- Eating foods treated with pesticides or that are not organic
- Using chemical-based household cleaning products
- Cooking food in Telfon-coated pans
- Buying furniture made from particle board, which contains a glue that emits toxic fumes
- Applying insecticides or herbicides to lawns and gardens
10 Tips to Reduce Toxins in Your Home
- Eat organic. This will greatly reduce your exposure to harmful agricultural pesticides.
- Avoid plastics. If you must use plastic dishware, choose ones that are labeled “BPA-free.” (BPA is linked to disorders that disrupt sexual development.) Do not microwave plasticware as it breaks the plastic down, which leaches chemicals into your food.
- Filter your tap water. An inexpensive Brita filter will reduce your exposure to chemicals in tap water. Avoid bottled water stored in plastic containers.
- Use “green” cleaning products. From laundry detergent to floor cleaners, dish soap to tile scrubbers, your family comes into constant contact with whatever you use to clean your home.
- Avoid lawn treatments. Do you really want your children to be playing on a lawn made greener and weed free with pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides? Talk to your local nursery about natural ways to reduce insect pests and weeds.
- Purify your air. Don’t smoke inside the home. A HEPA-filtered vacuum is a great tool for fighting toxic particles and allergens found in dust. Test your home for mold, which can emit unhealthy fumes.
- Remodel with care. When the need arises for a home remodel, explore green options. Replace vinyl flooring with bamboo, tile, linoleum, or hardwoods. Carpeting emits toxic fumes for years, so try wool carpeting instead.
- Avoid flame retardants. These are used in hundreds of household items, including children’s clothing, carpets, and mattresses. They have been linked to brain disorders, skin conditions, and cancer, to name a few.
- Test your home for lead. Any home improvement store sells inexpensive test kits that can tell you instantly whether lead is present on a given surface.
- Grow live plants indoors. Plants naturally purify air, especially spider plants, rubber trees, peace lilies, and palm trees.
It’s a great idea to go through your entire house and do what you can to reduce toxin exposure, but also remember that in our modern environments we can’t completely avoid exposure, and your body sometimes needs support to help get rid. A body cleanse diet, like the Isagenix 9 or 30 day cleanse, can help support your body and return it to its natural balance.