One of my many 2011 goals is to be more "green"- meaning, I will be making a positive impact on the environment, lessening my carbon footprint, and most importantly, taking care of me and my family's health! With all the buzz out there about dangerous toxic chemicals (poisons) that creep their way into our lives via cleaning supplies, personal care products, food, water, air, medications etc. and knowing that toxins have damaging effects on someones health, I found myself convinced that I needed to do my part to eliminate the toxins in my life as best I can.
So how do toxins effect my life and my health? Where did all these diseases come from? Well, just think about how we didn't think twice about putting lead in paint or in pencils. But after we starting using those products we realized that lead is a neuro-toxin...whoops! Same with mercury in thermometers and BPA in plastics and tobacco in cigarettes and asbestos for insulation and pesticides for fruits and veggies! We didn't know then but we know now! And it makes me think, "What are we doing/using today that in 1, 5, 10, 20 years we will look back on and realize that we were poisoning ourselves and causing disease, and say we didn't know then but we know now!" But unfortunately, the dangerous effects may have already taken place and are irreversible. Many toxins are linked to the diseases that are rampant today in the US, cancer being the most prevalent, but also autism, Alzheimers, demetia, auto-immune disorders, liver disease, food allergies and list goes on. The damage has been done... so all we can do now is learn from our mistakes and make some lifestyle changes.
Now, I am not going to go super crazy with this (but maybe just a little) because, honestly, it can be quite overwhelming and sometimes expensive but I definitely think that it is worth making changes where I can. So I decided to take small steps and make small changes here and there to detoxify my life.
Here's my plan of attack:
1) small change that I plan to make is to concoct my own cleaning supplies. As I run out of my old chemically toxic cleaning supplies, I am going to research and learn how to make cleaning supplies using plant based and all natural ingredients. I found tons of information online and in a book my friend lent to me, and I can say that I was truly inspired!
2) small change is to use plant based personal care products. A friend of mine sells Arbonne, which is a botanically based personal care line, but I found a lot of good products at my local natural food store.
3) small change or work in progress is to make more food from scratch. I love to cook and bake so this one isn't too tough of a change for me. But I know for a lot of families cooking dinner means pulling out a box, bag, or can and popping it in the microwave or oven. I know it's fast and easy and cheap- and I have done it too! But all those foods are loaded with preservatives (toxins) and usually are high calories, fat, sugar, and salt... which is why they taste so good!!
4) small change is to buy organic fruit and veggies. I intend to research more about organic fruits and veggies so I know which ones are the "must buy" organic. It can be expensive but I know my health is worth it! Again this year, I will plant my garden so I have fresh veggies at my finger tips.
One area that we have already made the change to non-toxic living is medication use. Medications have dangerous side effects (I'm sure you have seen the commercials) and are also made with chemicals. We don't use "everyday" medications because we believe that our bodies are naturally healing and repairing and as long as there is no interference, we can express health and life to the fullest! (except for the occasional bout with giardia or face fungus that wouldn't go away on it's own!)
So stay tuned for my DIY- Cleaning Supplies, natural personal care products that have worked for me, more Delish Dish recipes, tips for home gardening, and the "how to" on picking organic fruits and veggies, and other ways to detoxify your life!
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