Chemicals in the Things We Use
Every day, many people expose themselves to hundreds of different chemicals in the things they use without giving it a second thought. Chemicals are used in skin, hair, body and personal care items to preserve them as a scent, active ingredient, or filler. These chemicals are also present in candles, furniture, clothes, and typical household items. Manufacturers and consumers find them cheap to buy, use, and readily available.
The Hidden Dangers: Unveiling Chemicals in the Things We Use
Common chemicals include Phthalates, Parabens, Talcum powder, Nanoparticles, Formaldehyde and formaldehyde donors, Lead acetate, Coal tar, UV filters, Triclosan, Resorcinol, Toluene, Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). These can cause strong smells, minor irritations, full-blown reactions, headaches, and more serious health conditions.
In the past, I made most of my buying decisions based on convenience, brands, and price. I gave little thought to those products’ potential effects on me. I thought the black plumes of smoke that appeared after I blew out a candle were normal and those expensive brand-name products couldn’t be harmful because I was paying big bucks for them. Misinformation, lack of information marketing, and ignorance shaped these and many other thoughts.
Chemical-Free Living
My view started to change about 20 years ago when I began working for a company that manufactured and sold all-natural, organic products. I noticed a difference in the efficacy of products, the smell, texture and lack of irritations it caused me. That was when I began to examine the chemicals in the things we use. Being young and working in my first full-time job, I couldn’t afford to throw everything out and replace them with the newfound natural, organic products, even with the staff discount. Instead, I slowly replaced what I had, starting with the most regularly used items.
Fast forward to about 15 years later, when I received a breast cancer diagnosis, this sent me on a next-level natural, toxic-free trajectory. I worked on the things I could control, including what I could afford and what was available. There are hundreds of chemicals in the things we use and eat. Thankfully, hundreds of healthier alternatives are available (like here on this website) to replace the things causing us harm. Choose one thing you’d like to detox and start from there. One cream, shampoo or candle at a time.
I’ll share info about the chemicals mentioned in this blog in upcoming blogs.
