Hidden Hormone Disruptors: How Toxic is your Home?

So, where ARE these Endocrine Disruptors?

Here are some top chemicals to look out for:

• BPA: Bisphenol-A, a synthetic chemical found in all plastics, can linings, resins, paper receipts etc.
• Atrazine: Found on conventional corn crops and in water supplies
• Glyphosate: Also known as “Roundup” weed killer, this toxin is used in conventional farming & has been found in conventional produce, corn, soy, vegetable oils, and even packaged foods such as cereal! It is found in most packaged/processed foods or those containing GMOs.
• Phthalates: found in plastics, skin care, beauty, self-care products etc. Most commonly labeled as “fragrance”.
• Parabens: group of chemicals found commonly in skin care products: soaps, lotions, makeup, deodorants, etc.
• Sodium Lauryl Suflate: hair products and laundry detergents
• Perfluorinated Chemicals/PFCs: used on teflon non-stick cookware & microwave popcorn bags
• Heavy Metals: Arsenic, Mercury and Lead have all been found in major water supplies, food such as conventional seafood, silver fillings, and paint
• Anti-biotics and Hormones: Found in conventionally-raised meat supply (poultry, red meat, etc). They are given to the animals to increase their growth & decrease rate of illness due to non-ethical conditions of the farm.

I know this list can be overwhelming and make you mad. I know it did for me. It can seem daunting…where do I even begin? Does it matter? The answer is YES.

We can’t avoid all toxins and live in a perfect chemical free life. The first steps are AWARENESS and REDUCE your exposure as much as possible!

There ARE many things you can take to avoid these chemicals to be proactive with your health.

So, where to start?

• Be aware & read labels. Look around your house…how many chemicals and toxins are YOU encountering every day? Being mindful is the first step. Most people have no idea how many toxins they are putting on and/or consuming even before they walk out the door in the morning.
• Start small. Don’t feel like you need to overhaul everything at once; it will only stress you out! Instead, focus on one “group” of products at a time. For instance, start in your bathroom. Swap out your skin products for ones with more natural ingredients. Then, move to your hair care. Once done in the bathroom, move to your cleaning supplies. Over time, you will have a chemical-free house!
• Finish what products you have now while researching what you will use instead. There are many great sites such as EWG.com for Consumer Education and references.
• Use apps, such as Think Dirty (thinkdirtyapp.com) to learn about the ingredients in your skin, beauty and/or cleaning products. It scans the barcode, ranks the product based on it’s amount of chemicals and then provides healthier options & brands.
• Eat the best food available. Choose organic, non-GMO certified and the highest quality foods possible to you. Eating whole, unprocessed real foods will cut back on the consumption of the chemicals found in conventionally prepared food products.
• Remove, Reduce, Repeat. Control what you can and avoid the toxins as much as you can!
• Consider making your own cleaning supplies, soaps etc. It is not difficult! Using vinegar and essential oils for a natural cleaning spray, coconut oil as a makeup remover etc.