Our top tips to reduce unnecessary toxin exposure for Optimal Health

In the past 70 years, the manufacture and use of industrial chemicals has increased exponentially. There are now approximately more than 86,000 chemical substances used commerce (1). Chemicals linked to harm are now pervasive in the environment: they may be found in the air, water, soil, the dust in our homes, food and consumer products we use everyday.

 

Ongoing exposure to toxics like BPA (found in plastics), PFAS (non-stick cookware/food packaging) and phthalates (large group of chemicals used in plastics to soften and increase flexibility and used as solvents in household products) is contributing to rising rates of chronic disease, like asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, infertility, low sperm counts, miscarriages, and breast cancer. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) is the law that’s supposed to protect us from harmful chemicals in makeup, personal care products, furniture, plastic and the air we breath. It hasn’t been updated since 1999, over 20 years ago (2). Public pressure and advocacy efforts have been pushing for CEPA reform a new bill was just introduced this month. The federal government just introduced Bill C-25 which will finally help modernize CEPA and protect people in Canada from toxics and pollution. This is a huge step in the right direction and an acknowledgement that there is an issue that needs to be fixed to protect the health of all Canadians. 

 

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Are you buying processed foods without even knowing? Or using cosmetic products that have ingredients linked to human health issues? What’s in the products that you're using every day? Have you ever really sat down to think of all the products/food you use and the ingredients in them?
 
Get expert advice from Brandy Williams RD on where to start so it's less overwhelming.
 
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Our top tips to reduce unnecessary exposure:

 

Meal Prep Glass

  1. Switch from plastic to glass containers to store your food. Never microwave your food in plastic and be careful about food prepping hot food into plastic containers. 

Harmful cleaners

  1. Search your cleaning products, sunscreen, cosmetics and personal care products on the EWG app to get an overall sense of the safety of the products you are using now. There is a lot of greenwashing happening in the market. Just because it has a picture of a plant on the label and sounds “natural” doesn’t mean it is. 

frangrance

  1. Avoid the ingredient “fragrance/parfum. This one ingredient can contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Consumers have a right to know the ingredients in their products and this ingredient is not giving consumers full transparency. This is in things like shampoo, body wash, hair styling products, perfume, candles, bath bombs, baby products, laundry detergent (we sell an incredible fragrance-free laundry detergent at most of our Natural Markets.

EWG Skin Deep Website

 

paper pages

  1. Look to more sustainable packaging which is better for the environment when you're shopping.  

organix

  1. Shop organic for the “dirty dozen” for fruits and vegetables to reduce your pesticide exposure. Sometimes, these are more affordable frozen than fresh and there are more options in the Spring/Summer. Remember, our Natural Markets source organic wherever possible! Look for coffee and tea organic because it's something many consume everyday.

Click here for the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce

 

cast iron

  1. Ditch the non-stick cookware! The chemical PFOA was used in non-stick pans up until 2015 and has been linked to many diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver tumours and reduced fertility. Many non-stick cookware has been reformulated since the 2015 restrictions, but there are still concerns about the chemicals used, sometimes termed “regrettable substitutions, meaning the new chemicals used may not be any better. You can also choose from a number of nonstick alternatives, including cast iron, ceramic and stainless steel cookware.

glas water bottle

  1. Filter your water and ditch the plastic water bottles. Microplastics are a huge concern in our water supply. We are huge fans of the Berkey, it is thought to be able to filter out micro plastics and is cheaper than some other water filtration options.

Click here for the Berkey

 

receipt

  1. Ask for no receipt or get an electric copy where available as they have high levels of BPA and BPS. 

cook at home

  1. Cook more at home. Chemicals can transfer from food contact materials and articles into food. This phenomenon is known as migration and has been studied since the 1950’s (3). One study compared phthalate exposure in people who reported dining out to those more likely to enjoy home-cooked meals. People who reported consuming more restaurant, fast food and cafeteria meals had phthalate levels that were nearly 35% higher than people who reported eating food mostly purchased at the grocery store, according to the study (4). Pregnant women, children and teens are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of hormone-disrupting chemicals, so it's important to find ways to limit their exposure. Reducing their intake of fast food may be one way to do this and enjoy more food cooked at home. 
Follow credible scientists and non-profit organizations sounding the alarms on toxic chemicals and our health. Beware of bias and conflict of interests from people who are dismissing this as a serious issue. There are full-time lobbyists trying to fight against more regulation to protect industry interest over human health. 

 

Good sources for more information: 

  1. The American Academy of Pediatrics
  2. Environmental Defence
  3. Endocrine Society
  4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Exposure to Toxins
  5. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists- Clinical Guidance

Article References 

  1. https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory/about-tsca-chemical-substance-inventory#whatdoesitmean
  2. https://environmentaldefence.ca/campaign/government-toxic-chemicals/
  3. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408690490424621
  4. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29605141/

 

 

April is the perfect time to hit the restart button. Not quite summer but you're in the mood for Spring cleaning and changing your lifestyle can also be involved. This April hit the reset with our Restorative Detox program. It doesn't just involve specific food, it also involves reducing the amount of chemicals you are exposed to everyday! It'll also focus on detoxing your mind and helping reduce your stress levels.
 
Online or in person consultations available!
 
Speak With A Coach
Restorative Detox FB SMblock Oct 2020 EN1

 

 

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