Our health is affected by much more than the food we eat or even the stresses in our life. There are other areas of our lives that we need to look at to determine if they are impacting our health negatively.
Cosmetics
What you put on your body affects your health just as much as what you put in your body. Did you know that the FDA does not regulate cosmetics and these manufacturers can put any ingredient they would like in them? That’s pretty scary. What are some ingredients you absolutely should stay away from? Hang in there the list is long.
- Aluminum
- Cetrimonium or cetalkonium chloride
- Chloromethylisothiazollinone
- Cocoyl Sarcosine
- Cyclomethicone
- DEA
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Dimethicone
- Dimethicone copolyol
- DMDM hydantoin, ethoxylated surfactants, discodium oleaminde (or laureth) sulfosuccinate
- FD&C color pigments
- Formaldehyde
- Fragrance
- Imadizaolidinyl urea
- Isopropyl pamitate
- Isothiozolinone
- Lanolin
- MEA compounds
- Methylisothiazolinone
- Mineral Oil
- Paraffin wax/oil
- Phthalates
- Preservatives (methyl, propyl, butyl & ethyl parabens)
- Propylene glycol
- PVP/VA copolymer
- Quaternium -7, -15, -31
- Sodium hydroxide
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Sodium methyl cocoyl taurate
- Stearalkonium/benzalkonium/cetrimonium/cetalkonium
- TEA (Triethanolamine) laureth sulfate
Clothing – Dry Cleaning
Chemicals used in dry cleaning are very toxic; especially when we bring these garments home and hang them in our closets. We make it worse by keeping the plastic over them. This just continues to seal the toxins in the clothing and does not allow them to “air out.” Try to locate Dry Cleaners who are going “organic.” I found one in my area. I definitely have to schedule it in my travels because they are about 25 minutes from my home. But it is well worth it.
Cleaning Products
What are you using to clean you home with? Are those products dangerous and affecting your health? 
Here is a list of ingredients to stay away from regarding your cleaning products.
Perfumes and Fragrances
Years ago we used to use essential oils as a body fragrance. Then synthetic perfumes were created. We spray them on our body daily only to fill our body with toxins. Go to Essential Oils for your fragrance.
Natural Air Fresheners
These are chemically laden fragrances that have nothing natural about them. Even if they use the word “natural” does not mean that is true. So many people enjoy filling their homes with different fragrances by burning candles, spraying with Febreze, or using Glad Plug-Ins. If you do, please STOP immediately. Throw them away. Get them out of your home. They are extremely toxic.
Deodorants
Antiperspirants are known to have high levels of aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer. Also, the fragrances in these deodorants are nothing but chemicals. Find a more natural means by going to your local health food store and researching safer items. There are ingredients that work well in helping to curb your perspiration.
Plastics and Food
Do you store your food in plastics? Better yet do you microwave your food in plastics? Please stop. Don’t do it any more. When you microwave your food in plastics, you are breaking down the plastic and these chemicals are seeping into your food.
Storing food should be done in glass containers as best possible; especially if your food is hot and you poor it into a plastic container. There again you are causing the chemicals in the plastic to seeping into your food.
Pesticides, Insecticides, Fungicides, Herbicides and Rodenticides
We all hate these pests and want them eliminated. But be very careful what you use to rid yourself of these pests or what you use to fertilize your lawn. It’s no longer safe for kids to play in the grass because we don’t know what toxin was sprayed and what residue is still left. As a child, I would run around outside barefoot all the time. It’s almost not safe to do that any longer. There are natural means to rid yourself of pests. They may take longer to do the job, but in the long run your health is more important.
Pots and Pans for Cooking
Do you use TEFLON? Yikes, please stop. Throw it away … especially if the pan is scratched and worn. Don’t even donate it. You are only allowing another to get harmed. I can’t say enough as to how toxic these pans are and are not worth the convenience of that “non-stick” cooking. There are some safe alternatives like Green Pan.
Drinking Water
This is a toughie. Drinking tap water can be toxic but so can buying bottled water because many of the bottled water companies are just tap water. It’s best to test your tap water to see how pure it is. Then perhaps consider putting a water filter system in your own home. There are some good ones on the market. Check out www.mercola.com he talks about this issue extensively.
Cell Phones and Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs)
There is so much controversy regarding the electromagnetic fields being emitted from our cell phones and there are more and more studies showing its dangers. The reality is we cannot be without our cell phones or WI-FI. So want can we do to be more health conscious? First, do your best to not store your cell phone on your body. I know this will be hard for the male population as they don’t carry purses. But the constant EMFs penetrating our bodies can be dangerous.
Secondly, do not sleep with your laptop or cell phone in your room. Remove them so you don’t have the EMFs flowing constantly in your room as your sleep. I know many people use their cell phones as an alarm clock. Find another clock to use.
Also, stop using these devices at least one hour before you want to go to sleep. The blue light being emitted from these devices will affect your natural melatonin and make it difficult to either fall asleep or stay asleep. Good sleep is important to your health and wellness.
Does all this seem overwhelming to you? Do you not know how to begin evaluating your health and wellness, then feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to walk along side you on this journey. You also might want to consider my Detox Your House Program to help you get your home to be a “safe haven” for you and your family. Contact Me
Regina Sanchez your Health, Wellness and Organizational Coach … believing in you!