We are doing it! We are becoming joyful from the inside out. Let's start leaning in, shall we?

Hi! I hope you are doing well today!

Let me start by saying, all of this is my offering to you.

This information is here for you if and when you need it.

Reducing chemicals and toxins in our home is a great starting point to BECOMING JOYFUL FROM THE INSIDE OUT. Article Link sourced in title.

Why Are Toxins So Harmful?

Toxins can and do negatively affect every part of the body. Toxic effects on the brain include poor memory and concentration, erratic behavior, word confusion, mood issues, headaches, vertigo, and cravings. Toxic brain exposures, as from alcohol abuse, are also linked to accelerated mental decline.

Common toxins can be absorbed through the skin (when you rub in a cream, for example), ingested (when you eat or drink), or inhaled (when you breathe). Use these lists to see if you’ve possibly been exposed to any toxic substances:

Toxins that can be absorbed when ingested or applied to the skin:

Polluted or tainted water (including lead and arsenic)
BPA (bisphenol A, found in plastics, food and drink containers, dental sealants, and the coating of cash register receipts)
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) found in paints, plastics, and rubber products
Heavy metals, such as:
- Mercury: in “silver” dental fillings (which are 50 percent mercury), contaminated fish, and distributed ubiquitously in the environment
- Lead: in contaminated drinking water, soils previously exposed to environmental contaminants, old and peeling paint, paint, lead pipes, aviation fuel
- Cadmium: in soils treated with synthetic fertilizers and industrial waste sites
Excessive alcohol, marijuana, “lifestyle” and various illegal drugs, some prescription drugs
Many pain medications, notably prescription opioids and other narcotics, or benzodiazepines commonly prescribed for anxiety or insomnia
Chemotherapy can cause a long-term “brain fog” or “chemobrain”
General anesthesia can result in long-term memory loss in some patients
Artificial food dyes and preservatives, including bromates, nitrates or nitrites (processed meats), tartrazine dye (linked to asthma), MSG, red dye #40 and other “#” dyes. The artificial sweeteners aspartame (blue packets) saccharin (pink), and sucralose (yellow) all are linked to toxic effects on the body. The body’s detoxification systems often cannot process artificial chemicals that don’t occur in nature
Herbicides such as glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer, with residue present in genetically modified crops)
Pesticides including organochlorines and organophosphates, many of them powerful neurotoxins
Apples sprayed with diphenylamine (used to prevent the browning of fruit skin)
Foods manufactured with plastic equipment, leaking plasticizers

Toxins that can reach the tissues when inhaled:

Air pollutants, whether industrial or associated with lifestyle
Smoke from cigarettes, other tobacco, or marijuana; “vaping” of inhalants, secondhand smoke from being around smokers. All hot gases entering the lungs can be toxic.
Automobile exhaust—carbon dioxide and monoxide, but also numerous categories of small particulate matter that come out the tailpipe
Cleaning chemicals
Welding, soldering fumes
Asbestos
Fireplace/campfire smoke
Paint and solvent fumes

Friends, seems kind of overwhelming, right?

It did for me, that's why I walked this path slowly, and continue to walk it. Choice by choice.

The short of it is, if our bodies and minds are constantly fighting off chemicals and toxins, they can’t ever really get to the good stuff, which is to help us thrive!

I found that making the gradual changes in our house – to nontoxic/natural cleaning products wasn’t so bad. It did take some getting used to, but now I rest easy knowing our bodies aren't being loaded with chemical agents that can bring so many unwanted results.

Some of these toxins can cause crazy thing like infertility, obesity, asthma, inflammation in our bodies, all sorts of things.

Here are most of the switches I have made in our house:

Dish soap
- I use Seventh Generation and drop in some Lime or lemon essential oil to jazz it up.
Hand soap
- I make my own with essential oils, Dr. Bronner’s baby soap and water
Floor cleaner
- I buy a big bottle of Sal Suds from Dr. Bronner’s, or Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living and just mix with water.
Surface cleaner
- I make my own with Sal Suds from Dr. Bronner’s, 10 drops of Thieves essential oil and water.
Hand sanitizer
- Dr. Bronner’s or Thieves from Young Living
Laundry detergent
- I use Seventh Generation and add some essential oils (whatever I’m in the mood for – Lavender, Citrus, Peppermint) for a yummy smell and extra cleaning power.

Some brands I love that are non-toxic are: Dr. Bronners , Young Living, Seventh Generation, Ecos.

If you ever have a question whether something is toxic or full of chemicals (names like "Natural" or green packaging can be deceiving) , you can always consult the “Think Dirty” app. This app has helped me learn so much about different products. The app rates products on a scale of 0-10. “0” being the cleanest and “10” being the dirtiest.

My goal is not to get anything over a 3. That’s just what I’m comfortable with.

Products we learned didn't serve our health and wellness goals so we CUT OUT:

Candles (sad, but true)
Air fresheners (any type of artificial fragrance in the house)
Fabric softener
Dryer Sheets
Clorox wipes (everything Clorox)
Lysol (everything Lysol)

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Sometimes making the switch isn’t super easy, because we are attached to the “clean,” smell or the “way we’ve always done it.”

I have an emotional attachment to candles. My Mom always burns them to welcome us home and make the house smell yummy. (I'm working on finding a non-toxic alternative.)

But when we know better, we do better, and now that we know better, we can do better!

Reply back with any questions or comments, I'd love to help you along!

Next week, we’ll delve into making the switch from "normal" beauty products to non-toxic beauty products.

I have some FUNNNNN recommendations!!! It's a whole new world and there are so many options.