Did you know you are likely harboring harmful, poisonous chemicals in your home right now? It might sound incredulous, but chances are that you drink or cook with your city’s tap water, which as you know, contains a great deal of fluoride and chlorine. And you or people you know disinfect your kitchen with chemicals, right? A quick glance at the label of your cleaning products at home will be a real eye-opener. Here are 9 of the most dangerous toxins in your home you may not even know are harmful to your family’s wellbeing. Sadly many mainstream sources of information downplay or ignore the effect of these toxins. Bringing this information to light is just one-way Functional Medicine as a whole, is contributing to peoples better health and the disruption of the current health system.
Chlorine
Chlorine is a ubiquitous chemical found in almost every cleaning agent in your home, including the household tap water. You will find it in laundry whiteners, toilet bowl cleaners, scouring powders, and mildew removers among others. Chlorine is mostly used for its antibacterial effect, but it can cause respiratory irritation and other health issues. You are exposed to it when you bath with chlorinated water or clean with agents containing the chemical. Daily exposure to chlorine and other commonplace antibacterial agents contribute to dysbiosis in the gut. Chlorine exposure is actually a major contributor to the overgrowth of candida in the body.
Healthy alternatives including baking soda, vinegar, or borax powder for cleaning, scouring, and whitening. You can install chlorine filters on your faucets and showers to reduce exposure to chlorine.
Carpet Preservatives
That stain-resistant carpet of yours didn’t get its superior abilities from its natural origins. Carpet manufacturers use a series of industrial chemicals such as Teflon, PFASs, which causes a wide range of health conditions such as cancer and thyroid disease. Studies even show that PFASs can accumulate to the extent where a nursing baby gets it from her mother’s milk.
When shopping for a new carpet, buy models made from natural materials like wool or sisal, and make sure it is untreated.
Phthalates
You may find this caption strange, and it’s not by accident. Phthalates are used extensively in cleaning agents and perfumes as a fragrance but regulations do not require manufacturers to list the substance in the label. However, phthalates are endocrine disruptors. In high concentration, the compound can cause low sperm count and other hormonal imbalances. Go for all-natural organic cleaning products or use fragrance-free alternatives. You can also use essential oils and natural air detoxifiers.
Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants contain a lot of chemicals, many of which are aluminum-based compounds. The body absorbs these chemicals through the sweat glands and over time the buildup can lead to a wide range of health conditions. There are many natural antiperspirants out there, so you have no reason to continue using chemical-loaded ones.
Furniture Polish and Stain
Non-organic, Oil-based polishes and stain contain nitrobenzene and phenol, highly flammable and carcinogenic chemicals which you can absorb through your skin. If you need to polish or stain your furniture, go for vegetable oil-based products or water-based solutions that won’t harm your health.
Flea and Tick Products
Fleas are the biggest source of skin problems for our furry pets. But you may be poisoning your pet when you apply flea and tick pesticides on their coat. While these products product almost instant relief from parasite infestations, they can also cause nerve damage and worse to your companion animal.
Air Fresheners
Air fresheners are teeming with harmful chemicals which your body can accumulate over time. Unfortunately, these chemicals can disrupt your endocrine system, messing with hormone levels, and impacting the reproductive health, particularly in children.
Sunscreens
All of the unnatural sunscreens contain hazardous chemicals such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and octinoxate. It is much better to use natural sunscreen, and some would say none at all. A study in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics reported that: “Sunscreens protect against sunburn, but there is no evidence that they protect against basal cell carcinoma or melanoma.”
“Organic Cleaners”
Not everything with an organic label is actually safe for use. Many of the green products you buy also contain several harmful chemicals, but with lesser effects on your health. So, don’t be fooled by the label. Look out for concrete terms on what the ingredients mean before buying anything organic.
Sadly, in our modern world, it is almost impossible to completely avoid all exposure to harmful substances. This is why it is so important to ensure you are doing everything you can to have good overall health. Typically the people who react worse to these substances than others, have generally poor health. Unless you quarantine yourself you will not be able to avoid everything harmful. Reduce exposure as much as possible and live a healthy life.
Check out these other sources of information on this topic
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Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals
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Common Household Chemicals Linked to Human Disease in Landmark UN Study
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The Most Toxic Retailers on the Planet
