We discussed this a bit in the Sun Exposure and Nature blog. Indoor pollutants can have a significant impact health. However, toxin exposure goes far beyond that. Our bodies are flooded with toxins on a daily basis and it’s almost impossible to account for all of them. These toxic chemicals can cause endocrine disruption, immune toxicity, birth defects and developmental abnormalities, organ damage and chronic disease, and increase the risk of cancer.

Here are a few worth addressing now:

Pesticides/herbicides: Regularly used in agriculture, the residue remains in and on your produce (fruits and vegetables), even if washed thoroughly. Buy organic produce and avoid using chemical pesticides in your own garden to reduce exposure.

Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: I think people tend to forget that the skin is an organ and absorbs what we apply to it. Many treat the skin like a canvas and paint it with dozens of products with little thought about the amount of chemicals we expose ourselves to throughout the day. Make-up, deodorants, toothpaste, lotions/creams, sunscreens, shampoo/conditioner, feminine products, etc. The Environmental Working Group has a list of toxic chemicals on their site that you should try to avoid. “The Toxic Twelve Chemicals and Contaminants in Cosmetics,” ewg.org.

Drinking Water: A glass of tap water can consist of a wide variety of chemicals depending on your location. This can include agricultural waste, medications, heavy metals, and pathogens. EWG also has a Tap Water Database available on the site that gives you access to the quality of tap water in your area. They also provide a water filter guide.

There is obviously many more sources of environmental toxins that you should work on reducing your exposure to over time. This week let’s make a conscious effort to reduce these toxins to improve our health and wellbeing long-term. It may take a little planning and research but your health is worth it!