We frequently see patients looking for support for improving their health through dietary changes. However, it is important to realize how cleaning up one’s diet can only do so much when you are absorbing an abundance of toxins and endocrine disruptors through your largest organ system, your skin.
We define a toxin as anything our bodies cannot use to heal or make energy. In addition, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) defines endocrine disrupters as:
…chemicals that may interfere with the body’s endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife… Endocrine disruptors may be found in many everyday products– including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), who creates the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen for foods, also works to help consumers understand the toxic and endocrine disrupting burden their cleaning and beauty products have on them. You can visit their site and search the products you use on a day-to-day basis to learn about your exposure levels to harmful chemicals.
How can I begin to reduce my exposure to unwanted environmental toxins during this new year? Let’s start with some very simple tips:
- Use household cleaning products that work and won’t make you or the environment unhealthy: EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning
- Switch to a fragrance-free, dye-free and/or eco-friendly laundry detergent and fabric softener:
- “But I like my clothes to smell good!” Then why not try using dryer balls with essential oils on them? Here is an
- example of a product several people in our office use. Not only do they make your clothes soft and great smelling, they cut down on drying time! AIM carries many essential oils that you can come in and smell to help you determine the scent of your next load of laundry
- Use cosmetics that you can eat:
- The creator behind the Intelligent Nutrients line of cosmetics believed that you should only put things on your skin that are safe enough for you to eat. We carry several of their hair- and skin-care products.
- Keep your overall beauty regimen clean:
- These are clean products that AIM physicians, practitioners and employees use every day. We LOVE them so much, that we want to share them with our AIM family! By carrying them all in our store, we are able to help reduce your cost by not having to pay shipping multiple times!
