Wellness Minute:
Easy Swaps to Go Low-Tox: Part Two
by Carollyn Mushro
We originally published an article on low-tox swaps back in February’s newsletter find part one here. Knowing that going low-tox is a journey that takes baby-steps of consistent effort…we couldn’t limit the list to just three swaps!
By now, we know that chemicals are an inevitable part of our modern lifestyles. Learning how to mitigate the most prevalent offenders can make a significant impact on you and your family’s health!
Swap #4– Toothpaste
I know you’re wondering how something as mundane as toothpaste could make this list. If you buy conventional toothpaste, you might want to go check your toothpaste tubes for a warning label. Before I had children, I had NO IDEA that something as commonplace as toothpaste could possibly be unsafe. I assumed that anything on the store shelf was there because it was tried & true. Well, I was mistaken.
Over the course of a lifetime, the average person uses about 20 gallons of toothpaste, and even if you spit most of it out, some of the chemicals it contains make their way into your bloodstream. Whilst you're brushing, the ingredients in your toothpaste enter your mouth and gums, which are the gateway to every system in your body.
Due to toothpaste’s “cosmetic” regulation status, almost anything is fair game when it comes to ingredients. Here is a brief list of some common culprits in that toothpaste ingredient list: Hydrated Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Parabens, and Fluoride.
Yes, fluoride has been used in toothpaste and water supplies for decades…but how much do you truly know about it? Would you be surprised if I told you that this ingredient is the reason that toothpastes are forced to carry that warning label? Fluoride itself is highly toxic and when it accumulates in your body can lead to skeletal fluorosis, bone cancer, and thyroid disorders. New research links it to type 2 diabetes. This is a bigger risk for children who typically swallow more toothpaste than adults, where it can affect cognitive function and can cause yellow and brown stains on the teeth.
There are plenty of toothpastes out there that are safe and effective that do not contain these harmful ingredients. You can find brand ratings by toxicity level on the Environmental Working Group website: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/category/Toothpaste/ (I use this resource before I buy almost any product!)
Swap #5– Conventional produce
I don’t know about you, but when I head to the grocery store and make selections from the produce section, I usually pride myself on filling my cart with as much gorgeous produce as possible! When I go to the farmer's market, these fruits & veggies are even more tempting!
I know it is hard to believe that the best food on the planet—even in its rawest, most nutritional form - could be potentially harmful to us, but, sadly, modern farming & agricultural practices have made our food sources a possible health risk. Many of the chemicals used on foods in the United States are banned for use on food in other countries. Still, they don’t violate U.S. laws, because our regulations for pesticides in food are outdated and aren’t keeping us safe.
Thankfully, the Environmental Working Group has our back, & does research each year to determine the foods that are heavily laden with toxic pesticides. Based on their research, they publish a list of both the “Dirty Dozen” & the “Clean 15” foods.
The Dirty Dozen list is a reminder that we have work to do to clean up our food system. This year, the report found that almost 70 percent of non-organic samples tested positive for at least one pesticide. (In many cases, the numbers were much higher.) And get this: A single strawberry sample harbored 22 different pesticide and pesticide breakdown residues.
And while spinach nutrition is loaded with calcium and vitamins, there’s one reason to always try to choose organic. Researchers found DDT, a neurotoxic insecticide banned in the U.S., in an alarming number of samples…40% of them!
“Clean 15” list identifies the non-organic produce least likely to be contaminated with pesticide levels. I advise choosing and growing organic as often as possible, but if you’re on a budget or your selection is limited, these lists help you focus your attention on avoiding the most contaminated fruits and veggies.
Check out the lists here– and I would even copy & paste the lists to the notes of your phone to access this info at the grocery store. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
In our modern world, it is more important now than ever to be vigilant of the products that we choose & allow into the walls of our homes. We have the distinct privilege and complete responsibility of these choices riding on our shoulders. We get to choose if this knowledge will allow us to feel empowered and emboldened to know better and do better for ourselves, our families, and even for the clients we serve!
About the Contributor
Carollyn is a wellness enthusiast living in the Chicago burbs with her husband and two children. She loves inspiring families to find their own healthy journey through holistic modalities. She loves kombucha, travel, and questioning the status quo.
You can find her on IG: @carollyn.mushro