Even with our best efforts for living a clean, green life, it is virtually impossible to avoid all toxins. Toxic load is an issue of the amount of exposure along with our body's individual genetic tolerance to them?

For instance, many people, have methylation impairments such as the MTHFR gene mutation. Not only do these gene changes increase your chances of autoimmunity, but they also inhibit your body's ability to handle toxins.

There are a few steps you can take to lower your exposure to toxins and protect your health. Here's what I recommend:

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 mold.
• Poor indoor air quality can increase allergies, weaken the immune system and increase chronic illness and disease

Solution:

• Don’t smoke indoors
• Change air filters every month
• Get houseplants to clean the air
• Get an air purifier for your home
• Control humidity
• Open windows and allow ventilation
• Dust and vacuum regularly
• Ask people to remove their shoes before coming in
• Don’t store paints, solvents or varnishes in the home

2. Eat Organic – or at least follow the ‘Dirty Dozen’

Potential Harm:

• Conventional fruits and vegetables are grown with pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, which are highly toxic and major health disruptors.

Possible Health Effects:

• Carcinogenic (cancer causing)
• Weaken the immune system
• Cause reproductive damage.

(Note: The ‘Dirty Dozen’ is a list of the top fruits and vegetables with the highest concentration of pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. You want to buy this produce organic or avoid it all together. Download the free app ‘The Dirty Dozen’)

3. Use a Shower Filter

Potential Harm: Exposes you to a wide range of toxic chemicals that are carcinogenic, neurotoxic and hormone disruptors:

• Chlorine
• Fluoride
• Polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
• Heavy Metals (arsenic, lead and mercury)
• Trihalomethanes (THMs)
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Haloacetic Acids (HAAs)

When you shower or bathe, chemicals in the water vaporize, releasing poisonous gases from volatile organic compounds.

Solution: RainShow’r Shower Filter

4. Choose Non-Toxic Personal Care Products

Potential Harm: Exposes you to a wide range of chemicals with various potential health effects:

• Hormone disruption
• Cancer
• Damage to reproduction and development.

Solution: Avoid products that contain:

• Formaldehyde
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
• Methylene Chloride
• Phthalates
• Triclosan
• Fragrance
• Sodium Benzoate
• Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, or ethyl)
• Propylene Glycol
• Mineral Oil
• DEA (Diethanolamine)
• TEA (Triethanolamine)
• Imidazolidinyl, Diazolidinyl Urea,
• Synthetic Dyes/Colors and Fragrances.

5. Avoid Plastics! with Bisphenol A

Potential Harm: Plastics can contain Bisphenol A, S, P, and M. Although Bisphenol A is the most well known, the most toxic is Bisphenol S. BPA free plastics still contain bisphenol S, and possibly P and M, as well.

• 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 (including pet foods). It can leach into food and beverages.

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

Solution:

• Glass bottles
• Stainless Steel Bottles

6. Choose Chemical-free Lawn Care

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

Solution: Use chemical-free gardening methods

• Mulching and planting flowers that attract beneficial insects to feed on pests
• Diatomaceous earth
• Cedarcide
• Nematodes
• Compost

7. Say NO to Non-stick Cookware and Stain Repellents

Potential Harm: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is found in cookware, stain repellent clothing and carpets. 

• Cause cancer
• Disrupt hormones (thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, progesterone)
• Harmful to reproduction and development
• Resistant to environmental breakdown

Solution: Stainless steel, cast iron, titanium, ceramic cookware

• Zwilling cookware
• GeenPan
• Cuisinart Green Gourmet
• Scanpan
• Ozeri Green Earth
• Beka Eco-Logic
• GreenLife
• Ecolution

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.

• Lemon Eucalyptus Oil (place in carrier Oil)
• Badger insect repellant
• Burt’s Bees insect repellant
• Kinven Mosquito repellant spray
• Babyganics natural insect repellent
• California Baby natural bug repellent

9. Ditch Toxic Cleaning Products

Potential Harm: are associated with a variety of health concerns, including cancer, hormone disruption and immune and organ damage.

• Benzene, toluene
• Ethylebenzene
• Xylene
• Methanol
• Chlorine bleach/sodium hypochlorite
• Fragrances
• Formaldehyde
• Naphthalene
• Phosphoric acid

Get Rid of:

• Bleach
• Room fresheners and deodorizers
• Laundry detergent
• Dryer sheets & fabric softeners
• Glass cleaner
• Disinfecting wipes
• All-purpose cleaners
• Drain cleaner
• Bathroom & toilet cleaner

Solution:

• Hydrogen Peroxide- disinfects countertops for bathroom & kitchen, clean showers and toilet (kills mold), cleans floors
• White Vinegar – window and glass cleaner (50:50 blend of vinegar:water), replaces fabric softener, cleans floors, unclogs drains (when used in conjunction with baking soda)
• Baking Soda – clean fresh fruits & veggies, scrub for kitchen surfaces, use in place of laundry detergent, use in carpets or furniture to deodorize and get rid of smells, unclog blocked drains (used in conjunction with vinegar)
• Vegetable oil & lemon juice – make your own furniture polish (2 parts vegetable : 1 part lemon juice)

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.