Non-toxic living is essential for overall health and well-being. In this post, I will share 13 ways to make the switch to a non toxic lifestyle.
Are you interested in non-toxic living? Have you been wanting to make the switch to this particular lifestyle for months or even years but have no idea where to start? Keep on reading because I will be helping you with just that.
I will help you determine possible toxic items that are in your home plus I will share toxin free products that you can switch to. These will be the best non-toxic living tips! You don’t have to break the bank to start living non-toxic. Any step towards toxin free living counts whether it’s a big step or a small one.
I began transitioning to a non-toxic lifestyle during my college years when I learned about the harmful effects of the ingredients in my most used items. Of course, being a college student I didn’t have much money so I made small changes. I was more mindful of the products I chose to put on my hair and what I ate.
In this post, you will learn about how to eat a toxin free diet, how to have a more toxin free home, and why clean beauty is important. It is possible to incorporate ways to live non toxic whether you are in college, single, married, married with kids, etc.
If you need a step-by-step guide on how to transition your home to a non toxic environment, then check out the post Amazing Tips For Transitioning To A Non Toxic Home.
This post is all about non-toxic living.
Non-Toxic Living
Toxin Free Diet
One of the most important parts of non toxic living is diet. No, I’m not talking about counting macros or a specific diet such as keto. Instead, I’m talking about the types of food you put in your body- the quality of the food you eat.
Your diet plays a HUGE role in your overall health, but sadly a lot of what is available to us today is toxic. A lot of the common foods we enjoy and can find at grocery stores are filled with hormones, chemicals, GMOs, and other harmful stuff. Here are some ways you can start toxin free living by changing your diet:
1. Eat organic foods
During my sophom*ore year in college, I started receiving food stamps. What a blessing that was! I was $190 richer every month! With the food stamps, I would shop at Trader Joe’s often and buy mostly organic foods. This was one of the ways I incorporated non toxic living in college.
Organic vs non organic:
Organic food doesn’t contain synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, GMOs, hormones, or antibiotics. Non-organic foods will contain one or more of what was just listed.
In the United States, “certified organic” labels are given to farmers and companies that go through annual audits. They have to meet the federal standards of containing no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, GMOs, hormones, or antibiotics. Well, does that mean that only food that contains the “certified organic” label is considered organic? No! This certification isn’t free and can be costly and time-consuming, so small farmers may choose to opt out of getting this certification even though they practice organic farming. To learn about where your food comes from and what practices are being done, it’s best to get to know your local farmer.
Are organic foods healthier?
The simple answer is yes! The fact that they do not contain harmful ingredients such as hormones and synthetic pesticides is the top reason why they are healthier.
10 benefits of organic food:
- Richer in nutrients
- Fresher food
- GMO-free
- Contains no growth hormones
- Contains no antibiotics
- No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
- Better for the environment
- More omega-3 fatty acids in meat and eggs
- No sewage sludge usage
- Helps combat climate change
2. Avoid synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
If you are a farmer or gardener, this tip is especially for you! Instead of using synthetic fertilizers use natural fertilizers. Instead of using synthetic pesticides use natural pest control methods in agriculture. Natural fertilizers are made from plant, mineral, or animal sources. Natural pest control methods include but are not limited to using natural pesticides, using pest traps or nets, crop rotation, and pruning the plant.
When buying food at the grocery store, you can limit pesticides in food by buying organic produce.
3. Eat grass-fed meat and drink grass-fed milk
Many farm animals are fed food that they wouldn’t eat naturally such as grains, corn, or commercial feed. Animals that are meant to eat grass, such as cows and bison, live better and healthier lives when they are fed grass. When animals get sick it is common for conventional farmers to use antibiotics. Animals that are fed grass are also richer in healthy fats and other nutrients.
To make sure that you are buying meat from animals that have only been fed grass, buy meat or milk that is labeled “100% Grass-Fed” or “Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished.”
4. Choose pasture-raised
Pasture raised vs grass fed:
Because pasture-raised animals spend most of their time outside, they often have access to what they would eat naturally. So you can expect pasture raised chicken to eat insects and pasture raised cows or bison to eat grass. So when you see pasture raised eggs being sold in stores or at your local farmers market, now you’ll know that they came from chickens that had the opportunity to roam around outside daily.
Sometimes to supplement the animals’ food the animals may be fed grains too. Overall pasture-raised animals live healthier and better lives because they are not confined to cages and have access to their natural diet.
So what’s the difference between grass-fed and pasture-raised? Well, the term grass-fed refers to WHAT the animals eat while the term pasture-raised refers to WHERE they eat.
5. Buy wild-caught fish & other seafood
Wild caught vs farm raised:
Buying wild-caught seafood is a great way to start embracing nontoxic living because wild-caught fish and seafood grew up in their natural habitat where they ate their natural diet. Unlike farm-raised fish and seafood, which lives in small spaces and are fed food that is unnatural for them, wild caught seafood are less likely to have diseases. When farm-raised fish and other creatures get diseases, they have to rely on antibiotics. You don’t want to eat fish or seafood that relies on antibiotics. You are what you eat EATS. So enjoy that wild-caught salmon knowing that it’s not only healthier but also tastier.
6. Limit fish that are high in mercury
Fish is delicious and there are so many different kinds to try! But, the truth is that some fish have high levels of mercury which is not good because mercury is a heavy metal that can have a negative effect on your health. So what do you do about mercury in fish? Eat fish that contains low or moderate levels of mercury and limit or avoid fish with high levels of mercury.
Is tuna fish high in mercury? It depends on which type of tuna you are referring to. Skipjack tuna contains moderate levels of mercury. Yellowfin and albacore tuna contain high levels of mercury. Ahi and bigeye tuna contain very high levels.
Here are fish and seafood that contain low levels of mercury: anchovies, catfish, crab, crawfish, clam, flounder, haddock, herring, oyster, mullet, pollock, scallops, shrimp, trout, wild-caught salmon, and smelt.
7. Avoid toxic additives in food
Most packaged and processed foods contain preservatives, emulsifiers, coloring, and flavoring that enhance the color or increase the shelf life, but it does not enhance the health benefits. These additives are actually not good for our health.
Some common preservatives in food include BTA, propionates, nitrates, and sulfites. If you’re looking for a natural option try rosemary oil or extract; it is one of the best natural food preservatives.
Carrageenan is a common emulsifier in food, along with polysorbate 80 and propylene glycol. What are some emulsifier side effects? It can cause digestive issues such as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea if consumed in large amounts and may negatively impact gut health.
Some food coloring examples include Red #40, Yellow #5, and Yellow #6.
{RELATED POST: The Ultimate Guide To Healthy Eating For Beginners}
Toxin Free Home
Believe it or not, toxins are super common in the home. From what you use to cook your food to what you sleep on, toxins can be hidden in a lot of your valued home items. Here are some ways you can start non toxic living and reduce toxins at home:
8. Switch to non toxic cookware
Switching to non toxic cookware is a great way to ensure that you maintain a non toxic kitchen. Toxins in cookware can leach into your food, so you want to use safe cookware. It doesn’t matter if you buy organic produce, grass-fed meat, or pasture-raised eggs if you’re just going to cook them in pots and pans that leach chemicals into them.
Teflon pans are commonly used, but they are coated in PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) which releases toxic fumes. So, it is best to get rid of these pans. Some non-toxic cookware options include ceramic coated cookware, cast iron, glass, and stainless steel.
9. Use non toxic kitchen utensils
Just like non toxic pots and pans, non toxic utensils are important to use as well. Instead of using plastic utensils, which can leach chemicals into your food, use wooden or silicone utensils instead.
10. Replace those toxic mattresses
Is your mattress toxic? Maybe.
No one wants to sleep on toxic mattresses. But, a lot of mattresses on the market today are toxic and can negatively impact your health. To ensure you are not breathing in harmful chemicals from your mattress, make the switch to an organic mattress.
11. Start using non toxic cleaning products
A simple and great way to embrace a non toxic lifestyle is by using toxin free products. Most cleaning products that are available today are loaded with harsh chemicals. Instead of exposing yourself to that every day, use non toxic or chemical free cleaning products such as vinegar, baking soda, and citric acid.
{RELATED POST: 4 Inexpensive Eco Friendly Cleaning Products That Disinfect}
12. Make the switch to non toxic candles
If you’re anything like me, then you love candles! They make me feel relaxed and calm. I also love to use candles at night instead of turning on the harsh white light. When I found out that most candles are super toxic, I was a bit sad. I thought I had to throw away my love for candles, but I was wrong! When I learned that there are actually safe and non-toxic candles out there I was ecstatic.
What is candle wax made from? Most candles today are made from paraffin wax. This particular wax is made from petroleum, a by-product of the production of gasoline. When burned, candles made from paraffin wax can release toxins that are harmful to your health and can reduce indoor air quality. If you’re wondering how to improve indoor air quality, start by getting rid of those toxic candles.
For non-toxic candles try beeswax candles, they’re amazing!
Natural Beauty Products & Natural Body Care
The skin is the body’s largest organ and whatever you put on it gets absorbed through it. Another way to start non toxic living is by using quality products on your body. Here is my last non toxic living tip for this post:
13. Shop clean beauty
You wouldn’t believe what kind of toxins might be in some of your favorite beauty products- Methylene glycol, fragrance, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and parabens are just a few. Toxins like these may disrupt your hormones, cause damage to the nervous system, and may even be linked to cancer. That’s why using clean beauty, safe hair products, non toxic nail polish, natural body wash, toxin free makeup, and so on are important. Shop clean beauty to avoid putting chemicals on your skin!
This post was all about non-toxic living.
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