Tips for lowering your toxin load in your home for healthy hormones
As you may know, we live in a toxic world. Realistically, there’s no escaping the toxins that cause disruptions to our endocrine system. I’ve put together a list of practices that I do to lower my toxin load at home.
What are EDCs?
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are defined by the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences as natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues.
The endocrine system is a network of glands that pumps out hormones that controls almost every process in your body. If the endocrine system isn’t healthy, you may have issues with development, metabolism, reproduction, mood, energy, and organ function. That being said, who wouldn’t want to take care of this vital system in the body?
How to lower your toxin load in your home
We encounter EDCs everyday through diet, air, water, soil, and skin. So, the food we eat, what we drink, cosmetics we put on our skin, and the air we breathe all contribute to hormonal issues such as infertility and irregular periods. Common toxins found in our homes include: brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalates, BPAs, lead, chlorpyrifos, glyphosate, atrazine, and PFAs.
As with everything, this isn’t about being perfect, it’s about showing up, being consistent, and doing what you can. I’d like to share with you some of the ways you can keep your home healthier:
take your shoes off before entering your home to avoid tracking in dirt and dust from the outside world
open your windows often for fresh air flow
filter your water - Environmental Working Group has a list of the best water filters for removing the most toxins possible
use non-toxic household cleaners to avoid breathing in dangerous chemicals
dust your home often as dust contains tons of toxic chemicals and is also bad for the respiratory system
crowd out the plastic and nonstick cookware in your kitchen for glass and stainless steel - when heated, plastic and non-stick cookware can leak toxins into foods
invest in non-toxic cosmetics, sunscreens, and personal hygiene products that are free of the word “fragrance” and ingredients like and phthalates - search for clean products on EWG
swap out synthetic fragrance such as candles or Glade plug-ins for natural options like essential oils, eucalyptus, or simmer pots
The Environmental Working Group or EWG is a great source for finding swaps for our everyday products. On their website or app you can search food, cosmetics, household cleaners, water pitchers, you name it. When searching for new foods or products I look for the EWG verification stamp.
It’s super important to remember that striving for perfection only leads to procrastination. It is also a great privilege to be able to take care of your health in such detail as this. Try to take one small action step every day and you’ll reach your goals before you know it!