How Environmental Toxins Affect Your Health – And How to Avoid Them
Learn about the toxins hiding in your environment, beauty products, and everyday supplies.
Did you know that you're exposed to tons of toxins in your environment and products every day? You and your family's health is your top priority. So it's super frustrating to learn the products you thought you could trust contain harmful chemicals.
Seemingly every brand claims to be "natural" or uses an environmentally-friendly looking label. But this branding can be deceiving if you don't know which harmful ingredients to check for.
That's why we put together this list of potential toxins in your products and environment. Use this guide to get rid of toxic products and replace them with safe alternatives.
Understanding Your Toxic Burden
The effect of toxins on your body depends on how many harmful products you're exposed to on a daily basis. The more these toxins build up, the more dangerous they are.
This buildup of chemicals that you’re consuming is known as your toxic burden. Your toxic burden is made up of chemicals you’re exposed to from food, water, air, and everyday products. (4)
Think about the number of products you and your family use before leaving the house in the morning. Each of these products by themselves may not be super harmful. But when they're used together, it increases your toxic burden as a whole.
Imagine that you...
Use shampoo and conditioner that contains fragrance, parabens, and sulfates
Put lotion on that contains parabens,
Eat leftovers for breakfast out of a plastic container,
Drive to work in a polluted area.
By the time you get to work, you’ve already been exposed to 5-6 different chemicals. While your body can detoxify a small number of chemicals, it’s not equipped to handle the large number of chemicals that you’re exposed to these days.
Your body needs a ton of nutrients to properly detoxify your system. Many of us are already lacking in proper nutrients, so a high toxic burden depletes our supply and leads to nutrient deficiencies. This can result in larger problems like fatigue.
These toxins aren't always visible, so it's easy to accidentally invite toxins into your home. What you breathe and put on your skin is eventually absorbed into your bloodstream. This is even more dangerous than ingesting toxins through food and water because it doesn’t get detoxified by the liver.
At Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine, we're here to make it just as easy to swap harmful products with toxin-free alternatives. And by doing this you'll be protecting your loved ones and preventing long-term health problems down the line.
Health Effects of Toxins in the Environment
Toxins in your environment and products are harmful because they contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC’s). These chemicals disrupt the hormones that regulate your bodily functions. So, when your hormones are disrupted, so are your healthy body functions.
At their worst, EDC's are linked to serious problems that affect your long-term health, like (2)...
Cancer
Heart problems
Reproductive concerns
Neurological issues
But aside from these severe health issues, these chemicals can also affect your daily well-being and vitality. EDC's are the root cause of thyroid issues, which are largely underdiagnosed. In fact, it’s estimated that around 20 million Americans have a thyroid disease and up to 60% are unaware of it. (1)
Just a few of the symptoms associated with thyroid disorders include...
Fatigue
Feeling cold
Thinning hair
Muscle weakness
Depression and anxiety
So many people are living with chronic feelings of low mood or energy, thinking it's out of their control. But the toxins you're consuming and exposed to daily could be the reason you're not feeling your best.
The great news is you have the power to replace these products and take control of your environment. It could make you feel healthier now, and protect your family’s health in the long run.
Common Toxins in Household Products
The first step to reducing your exposure to toxins is identifying the potentially harmful environment and products in your house.
Unfortunately, many brands don't make it obvious that their products contain chemicals. But once you know what to look for, you'll be able to avoid them.
Here are some common areas and products where toxins like to hide:
Kitchen Supplies
Tap Water. Is tap water safe? The unexpected truth is that your tap may contain a ton of chemicals that aren't cleared by a regular water filter alone. Tap water is known to include heavy metals, fertilizers and pesticides, toxic chemicals like fluoride and chlorine, and pharmaceuticals. (3)
Solutions:Reverse Osmosis (RO)- add a pinch of high-quality salt to your glass to remineralize
High-quality water filter like Berkey or Clearly Filtered
Plastic Food Containers. Plastics break down over time, releasing dangerous chemicals into your food – think back to those harmful EDC’s we mentioned. Just because plastic is BPA-free doesn’t mean it’s safe. Plastics contain all kinds of other harmful chemicals. Avoid microwaving your food in a plastic container as well as drinking hot beverages out of plastic cups at all costs!
Solution: Use glass containers or stainless steel instead of plastic.
Nonstick Pans. Although convenient, many nonstick pans contain a harmful chemical known as perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA. PFOA is linked to cancer and is very damaging to your health.
Solution: Use stainless steel, cast iron, or safe non-stick ceramic-coated cookware.
Cleaning Products. This is a big one. Most traditional cleaning products include harmful chemicals. Identify dangerous ones by checking the labels for ingredients such as phthalates, triclosan, phthalates, and chemical surfactants.
Solution: Use non-toxic cleaning brands like Branch Basics, or create your own home remedies with vinegar and lemon.
Beauty and Care
Cosmetics. The products and makeup you apply to your skin get absorbed by your skin. Many makeup brands contain harmful chemicals that end up in your body. Make sure to avoid synthetic fragrances and chemicals such as triclosan, phthalates, and parabens.
Solution: Choose beauty products with mineral-based pigments and natural oils.
Toothpaste and Mouthwash. Have you ever wondered why your toothpaste tube tells you to seek medical attention if you swallow too much? It's because many brands contain fluoride and triclosan, which are very harmful chemicals.
Solution: Avoid toothpastes containing these chemicals and opt for brands like David’s or make your own mouthwash with baking soda, tea tree oil and peppermint oil!
Deodorants. Many deodorants use aluminum which gets absorbed into your bloodstream through your sweat glands. Aluminum is linked to threatening conditions like bone disease and even dementia.
Solution: Look for aluminum-free brands that don’t contain parabens.
While the length of this list may be surprising, keep in mind, it’s not comprehensive. With so many toxins hiding in plain sight, you need a process for identifying harmful products off the bat.
Of course, it’s important to research the exact toxins to avoid them in your everyday life. But when you’re strapped for time, we recommend you try out the Think Dirty app. This app gives you a score of toxin level in real-time, right in the palm of your hand. If you have a little more time, try these two great resources: Mamavation and EWG to discern between safe and toxic products.
Testing for Toxicity Exposure
We know, the amount of chemicals you’re exposed to daily is overwhelming. If you're feeling confused about where to start, we're here for you.
Request a free consultation with Dr. Martina Sturm at Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine to learn about your toxic burden and how to manage it. We perform toxicity testing to get a better understanding of how toxins are affecting you and give you a roadmap on how to solve it.
Whether you're experiencing thyroid issues from chemicals or other health concerns, we'll get you on the path back to optimal health. We'll take the time to get to know your health journey and create a personalized plan for you. Let's get to the root cause of why you're not feeling your best!
Resources:
Pubmed: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: exposure, effects on human health, mechanism of action, models for testing and strategies for prevention
Jill Carnahan: Is Tap Water Safe? Dangerous Toxins That Might Be Lurking in Your Water
Allergyri: Toxic Burden: Causes and Signs