Tips to Help You Avoid Toxic Chemicals. Implementing the following measures—many of which are included in the EWG’s recommendations for avoiding the worst endocrine-disrupting culprits—can also help you protect yourself and your children from toxins from a wide variety of sources. 1. As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic meats to reduce your exposure to added hormones, pesticides and fertilizers. Also avoid milk and other dairy products that contain the genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST). Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury, supplement with a high-quality purified krill oil, or eat fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity. 2. Buy products that come in glass bottles rather than plastic or canned, since chemicals can leach out of plastics and into the contents. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a serious concern; make sure plastic containers and canned goods are BPA-free. Also store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap. Always microwave (if you have to) in glass never plastic. Use glass baby bottles and BPA-free sippy cups for your little ones. 3. Eat mostly raw, fresh foods. Processed, prepackaged foods (of all kinds) area common source of chemicals such as BPA and phthalates. 4. Replace your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware. 5. Filter your tap water—both for drinking and bathing. In fact, if you can only afford to do one, filtering your bathing water may be more important, as your skin absorbs contaminants. To remove the endocrine disrupting herbicide Atrazine, make sure the filter is certified to remove it. According to the EWG, perchlorate can be filtered out using a reverse osmosis filter. 6. Look for products that are made by companies that are earth-friendly, animal-friendly, green, non-toxic and/or 100% organic. This applies to everything from food and personal care products to building materials, carpeting, paint, baby items, upholstery and more. 7. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove contaminated house dust. 8. When buying new products such as furniture, mattresses, or carpet padding, ask what type of fire retardant it contains. Be mindful of and/or avoid items containing PBDEs, antimony, formaldehyde, boric acid, and other brominated chemicals. As you replace these toxic items around your home, select those that contain naturally less flammable materials, such as leather, wool and cotton. 9. Avoid stain- and water-resistant clothing, furniture and carpets to avoid perfluorinated chemicals (PFC’s). 10. Make sure your babys toys are BPA-free, such as pacifiers, teething rings and anything your child may be prone to suck on. Only use natural cleaning products in your home, or make your own. Avoid products that contain 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME)—two toxic glycol ethers that can damage fertility and cause fetal harm. 11. Switch over to organic brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. Remember, you can replace many different products with coconut oil and baking soda, for example. The Environmental Working Group has a great database to help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals. 12. Replace feminine hygiene products like tampons and sanitary pads with safer alternatives. 13. Avoid artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances. 14. Look for products that are fragrance-free. One artificial fragrance can contain hundreds -- even thousands -- of potentially toxic chemicals. 15. Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric. 16. Exercise, it helps to massage the lymphatic system and remove toxins more readily from your body.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 14:31:09 +0000
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