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Top 10 Ways to Detoxify


Thu, 10/04/2007 - 20:18 — zlu

We all want to lead a greener healthier life. This Top 10 list can help you do just that.

Read on or Download the full report on top 10 ways to detoxify.

 

  1. Clean Your Indoor Air Quality -- Find a couple simple ways to improve your indoor air quality  
  2. Eat Organic -- Eating organic food helps you avoid cancer-causing chemicals and other health problems
  3. Choose Personal Care Products Carefully -- Read our list of harmful chemicals to avoid
  4. Avoid Plastics with Bisphenol A -- Plastics may be leaching chemicals into your food and beverages
  5. Choose Chemical-free Lawn Care -- Organic gardening tips for detoxifying your backyard
  6. Get Green School Supplies -- Find out how to avoid numerous hazardous chemicals in school supplies
  7. Say NO to Non-stick and Stain Repellents -- Start avoiding  toxic chemicals in non-stick cookware and Goretex that can disrupt hormones and cause cancer
  8. Get Rid of the DEET Insect Repellent -- Bug spray can harm more than just the mosquitoes!
  9. No Need for Toxic Cleaning Products -- Many cleaning products contain suspected carcinogens, irritants and other toxins
  10. Avoid Toxic Flame Retardants (PBDEs) -- Find products without the toxic chemical found in some flame retardants

 

1. Clean Your Indoor Air Quality

Potential Harm: Poor indoor air quality can expose you to a number of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mould.

Solution:  Don’t smoke indoors; control humidity; allow ventilation; dust and vacuum regularly; don’t store paints, solvents or varnishes in the home; and keep fuel-burning appliances maintained.

Want to know more?

Check out what Environment Canada has to say

2. Eat Organic

Potential Harm: many non-organic fruits and vegetables are grown with organochlorine pesticides (OPs), which are highly toxic and environmentally persistent.

Possible Health Effects: These pesticides have been shown to cause cancer, and immune system and reproductive damage.

What’s the alternative? Eat Organic! When it’s not possible to eat organic try to have a variety of foods in your diet. This helps to keep you from being exposed to the same pesticide repeatedly.

Want to know more?

Check out FoodNews from Environmental Working Group

 

3. Choose Personal Care Products Carefully

Potential Harm: Exposes you to a wide range of chemicals with various potential health effects: hormone disruption, cancer, damage to reproduction and development.

Avoid products that contain: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Cocamide DEA (Diethanolamine), Formaldehide, Benzyl Violet, Nonyphenols, Parabens, Phthalates, EDTA, Polyethylene Glycol, Triclosan, Synthetic Dyes and Fragrances.

Want to know more?

Resource: Environmental Working Group Skin Deep database

 

4. Avoid Plastics with Bisphenol A

Potential Harm: Mimics estrogen, and may be linked to breast and prostate cancer.

How You’re Exposed: Bisphenol A is found in polycarbonate plastic and the lining of some food cans. It can leach into food and beverages.

Alternative: Avoid hard, clear plastic bottles – including baby bottles and sippy cups, and stay away from canned foods.

Want to know more?

Check out our Bisphenol A Fact sheet And, don’t forget to send a letter to the federal government calling for a ban on bisphenol A in food and beverage containers!

 

5. Choose Chemical-free Lawn Care

Potential Harm: Organophosphate insecticides are known neurotoxins, and chronic exposure causes reproductive system damage resulting in reduced fertility.

Alternatives: Use chemical-free gardening methods such as mulching and planting flowers that attract beneficial insects to feed on pests.

Want to know more?

Check out Toronto’s Guide to Natural Lawn and Garden Care, and the website You Grow Girl.

6. Get Green School Supplies

Potential Harm: exposes you to a wide range of toxic chemicals e.g. PVC plastics, formaldehyde, toxic solvents.

Alternatives:
  • Back packs: choose organic cotton, hemp or recycled rubber
  • Paper: chlorine free, post consumer recycled
  • Markers/pens: water-based, non-toxic
  • Lunch containers: avoid #3 and #7 plastics; use re-usable utensils
  • Desks: avoid wood treated with formaldehyde (particleboard, fibreboard, plywood); choose solid wood with a non-toxic finish, or buy furniture from stores that are committed to formaldehyde-free wood (e.g. IKEA).

Want to know more?

Check out the Toxic Nation Guide to Less Toxic School Supplies

 

7. Say NO to Non-stick and Stain Repellents

Potential Harm: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is found in stain repellent clothing and carpets.  Studies have shown PFOS to cause cancer and disrupt hormones, as well as being resistant to environmental breakdown. The chemicals that make your pans non-stick are also suspected of causing cancer, disrupting hormones and harming reproduction and development.

Alternatives: Avoid! 

Good news: PFOA, the chemical in Teflon, will be phased out by 2015

Want to know more?

Read more on this family of chemicals call perfluorinated chemicals in the Toxic Nation Glossary

 

8. Get Rid of the DEET Insect Repellent

Potential Harm: Many bug sprays contain DEET, which is a suspected neurotoxin, reproductive toxin, and respiratory toxin

Alternatives: Soybean oil-based repellents, and avoid scented personal care products that attract bugs

Health Canada warns: Don’t use personal insect repellents containing DEET on infants.

Options for Prevention and Avoidance:

Remove all standing water around your property.

Wear light coloured clothing that covers the skin (pants and long-sleeved shirts).

Avoid scented personal care products; bugs are attracted to heavy scents.

Limit outdoor activities at dawn and dusk when bugs generally bite.

Want to know more?

Check out the Toxic Nation Guide to Insect Repellants

 

9. No Need for Toxic Cleaning Products

Potential Harm: Benzene, toluene, ethylebenzene, xylene, methanol, bleach/sodium hypochlorite,  fragrances, formaldehyde, naphthalene, phosphoric acid- are associated with a variety of health concerns, including cancer, hormone disruption and immune and organ damage.

Alternative: Make your own cleaners with vinegar, baking soda, vegetable oil, and lemon juice

Want to know more?

Download our Guide to Spring Cleaning

 

10. Avoid Toxic Flame Retardants (PBDEs)

Potential Harm: Suspected of disrupting hormones, causing cancer and developmental disorders

Electronic Alternatives: Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, Panasonic, Motorola, NEC, Philips Semiconductors, Sony, Toshiba. All have phased out the use of PBDE flame retardants.

Furniture Alternative: IKEA (commitment to see products free from hazardous substances)

Want to know more?

Check out Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia’s Guide to Less Toxic Products