bare basics to low tox living
Why live low tox?
Modern day living can expose us to a myriad of chemicals everyday. From the products in our skin care routine, to the the packaging of our food or even our menstrual hygiene products. These chemicals are endocrine disruptors and can disrupt our hormones, leading to adverse symptoms like PMS and severe period pain. It can be hard to navigate the world of low-tox (minimising chemicals) so we’ve put together a brief guide.
Endocrine disruptors may interfere with the body’s endocrine (hormone and cell signalling) system and produce adverse reproductive, developmental, immune and neurological effects. Xenoestrogens are endocrine disruptors that strongly mimic oestrogen, some examples include dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and bisphenols (found in pesticides, petrochemicals and plastics).
Limiting exposure through food
Our diet and everything we consume can, unfortunately, be a source of chemicals. Where and how our produce is grown, how it is packaged and we prepare it can have a huge impact. We recommend reducing dietary toxin exposure through:
- Avoiding pesticides, fungicides and herbicides
- Choosing locally-grown, in-season and organic where possible
- Peeling non-organic vegetables and fruit
- Avoiding foods packaged in plastic
- Washing all fruit and veggies well, before consumption
- Shop at local green grocers, farmer’s markets and organic stores- don’t forget your produce bags and bulk buy bags
Limiting plastic contamination
There are lots of opportunities for contamination with plastic. Plastic is everywhere but it really shouldn’t be anywhere near our food.
We recommend reducing and removing plastic use wherever possible:
- Reduce plastic use wherever possible; limit/avoid plastic cups, bowl, cutlery, Tupperware or drink bottles
- Don’t microwave in plastic and avoid plastic cooking utensils (spatula, ladle)
- Store food in glass, ceramic or an organic cotton Swag Bag
- Avoid drinking from plastic water bottles especially if they have been heated, left in the sun or frozen
- Avoid buying food in plastic or with plastic linings (cans and tetra packs often contain BPA)- try making things from scratch
- Ditch cling wrap and swap for reusable wraps
- Invest in reusables to avoid single use plastic use; drink bottle, keep cup, beeswax wraps, stainless steel straw
Recommendations:
Cookware: Ceramic, cast iron enamel
Utensil, chopping boards: wooden, metal
Crockery, cups, mugs: Ceramic, glass
Household
- Choose chemical free and grey water safe laundry and household cleaning products
- Surface sprays, toilet cleaners, hand soaps, stain removers are loaded with toxic xenoestrogens.
- Instead, try using natural cleaners such as lemon, vinegar and baking soda
- Use chlorine free and unbleached products eg menstrual products, toilet paper
Brand recommendations:
Cleaning: Dr Bronner's, Counter Culture, ecostore
Laundry: That Red House, Abode, ecostore
Toilet paper, tissues: Who Gives A Crap
Hygiene and beauty
- Only use beauty/hygiene products with natural ingredients this includes deodorant, face wash, toothpaste, soap, makeup and hair care
- Minimise exposure to nail polish and nail polish remover
- Avoid anything with added “fragrance” or perfumes/parfum
Brand recommendations:
Skin care: Eco by Sonya, Jojoba Co, Weleda, Moogoo, Sven's Island
Haircare: Australian Natural Soap Co, Moogoo
Oral health: Grants, Magic Mud, Weleda Dr Bronner's
Sexual health: YES, jonny, Smile Makers
Makeup: Inika, Ere Perez, Eye of Horus, Dusty Girls
Fake tan: Eco Tan, Moogoo
Period products
Standard period products like pads and tampons are often coated with dioxins, made of plastic and if not organic have been sprayed with pesticides. We opt for a menstrual cup, period underwear or organic pads as a low tox and sustainable option.
Brand recommendations:
Organic pads and tampons Tsuno, TOM Organic
Period undies Juju, Thinx, ModiBodi
Menstrual cup Lunette, Juju
Read more about sustainable/low tox menstrual products in our article: sustainable period products