A “Chemical Free” Life

by Rose Elder

Chemical free life? That would be ideal, but there is a way we can help ourselves and our families reduce synthetic chemicals in our daily life. There are thousands of synthetic chemicals in the products we use and consume everyday and we don’t really know if or how some of them harm our heath. Some synthetic chemicals have been known to cause breast cancer, reproductive problems, birth defects as well as respiratory problems like asthma.

The food we eat, the lotion we use, the fragrance in the air we breathe and even our clothes and our furniture. They all have thousands of synthetic chemicals and some of them are very bad for our health and our children’s wellbeing.

Harmful chemicals are in basic everyday items like air fresheners. Yes, they smell great, most of them anyways, but what are we actually inhaling? Well probably phthalates, linked to reproduction and developmental problems. Also some synthetic smells increase our risk for breast cancer.

We can find formaldehyde in our furniture, either in the wood (natural wood has it too), or in the lacquers, even in the glues. Compressed wood contains formaldehyde in most cases as well. If we don’t seal the exposed compressed wood, formaldehyde can travel in the air we breathe inside our own homes.

The clothes we buy, so soft and colorful at the store, look like that in some cases thanks to about 8,000 synthetic chemicals used in apparel today. We should always wash new clothes before wearing them, and stick to natural fibers as much as possible. Some synthetic fibers have hazardous chemicals we can’t wash out. Our skin absorbs all these chemicals that eventually end up being filtered by our livers.
Our shampoos, lotion, face cream, deodorant and even our sunscreen is full of synthetic chemicals. We try to avoid most of them at home with excellent substitutes that I will share with you next. And so sorry ladies, but the amazing Brazilian blowout, or most any other hair straightening treatment, has formaldehyde amongst other nasty things in it.

So here are a list of the products I use. I hope this list helps you. You can help yourself and your family to stay healthier while also being greener.

Use aluminum free deodorant. I use the brand Forever. I have tried most of them and this one works better than any other brand I have tried and is less than $7.00
Organic almond (coconut, grape seed, etc) oil to moisturize your skin instead of lotion. You can find these at Whole Foods, Sprouts and Amazon. Maybe even at a regular supermarket.
Essential oils with organic base oil (I use organic rosehip oil) to moisturize your face and neck. I use Young Living essential oils, I have use them for the last 3 years and my face has never looked better. I use this organic rosehip oil as the base and then add in a 1oz dropper 20 drops of geranium EO (essential oil), 20 drops of frankincense EO, 20 drops of lavender EO and 10 drops of myrrh EO.
For sunscreen we use the brand COOLA. It was recommended to me by a Sephora sales person when I asked for a sunscreen as chemical free as possible and when I used my application Think Dirty, it appeared not to have any harmful chemicals.
Buy organic non GMO foods as much as possible, trying to avoid the fertilizers that are most likely very damaging to the human body. Also avoid nitrates in your cold cut meats, or avoid them altogether. Buy wild fish, never farmed.
Avoid dairy products as much as possible because most of them contain casein, a know carcinogen. There are great substitutes for dairy products. Coconut milk or almond milk and yogurt. I buy “So Delicious” organic milk and yogurt. Cashew cheese is a good substitute for cheese spreads. It is hard to give up dairy, specially at first, but I never think about it anymore. I have been dairy free for the last two years. Beware, a lot of dairy free products contain casein.
Use a pitcher filter on your tap water. I use Brita filters
Wash your new clothes before using them and if possible stick to natural organic fabrics. You don’t need to spend the big bucks in organic fabrics. Even H&M has a conscious line consisting of organic fabrics. They are also supposed to be more sustainable for the environment. You can go as basic as making your own cleaning products with water, baking soda and white vinegar.
I use non-toxic cleaning products from Young Living. They are amazing products but if you can’t spend the money right now you maybe try less hazardous products from the supermarket like Seventh Generation, BoulderCleanc as well as a Free&Clear laundry detergent.
I use dishwasher soap without phosphates, chlorine free and biodegradable. I use the brand BoulderClean. I find their large presentation at Costco. As a rinse agent, and best tip I can ever give you, 1/4 cup of white vinegar. I add it to the dishwasher load and my dishes come out shinny. You can get a two gallon presentation for less than $4.00 at Costco.
Toms products are also better than other supermarket brands for toothpaste and deodorant. The deodorant didn’t work great for me but maybe it will for you.
Avoid air fresheners. You can defuse essential oils as a great and therapeutic substitute.
If you HAVE to color your nails use a nail polish that is non-toxic. I found this list: 13 Best Non Toxic Nail Polish Brands in 2017