Resolution for Health: Reduce the Toxic Burden on Your Body
Have you ever walked down the grocery aisle of cleaning products and felt overwhelmed by the fumes? Personally, I get nauseous, fatigued and usually have a headache by the time I get home. I'm more sensitive to chemicals than most people. That's not to say that less sensitive people aren't affected or aren't at risk--just not noticably. We are truly poisoning ourselves everyday with the air we breathe, the substances our bodies physically come in contact with, and the food and drink we ingest. While it may be difficult to eliminate toxic chemicals from our lives altogether, there are many ways to reduce the risks.
Dish Detergent
Dishwashing detergent is toxic. So, why are we washing our dishes in it? There are alternatives. Seventh Generation brand detergents, for one, are non-toxic, seem to clean just as well as others and don't cost much more. Automatic dishwasher detergents are especially toxic with phosphates and other chemicals. Then there's rinse aid, which is pure poison and leaves a film on dishes. For rinse aid, I use a mixture of distilled white vinegar and distilled water, which works great for my dishes. Although they may not smell like lemons and Raid or a fresh mountain rain, my dishes are clean and not tainting my food and beverages with poison. It's a stress-free aspect of my daily life--one less thing I have to worry about compromising my health.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste containing fluoride is extremely dangerous for children. Too bad I didn't know this when I was little. I used to put toothpaste in between two Mardi Gras doubloons (like an Oreo cookie) and carry it around in my pocket like a lollipop. My immune system has never functioned at maximum power. Ingesting higher than normal amounts of fluoride daily for several months could have contributed to this.
Pesticides
Several years ago I managed an office where the pest control guy came once a month and sprayed odorless pesticide around me as I worked. I had severe eye problems at the time, which I then attributed to either my contact lenses or my cats. I would lose entire multiple days because my eyes itched, burned and hurt terribly. I can't even describe the profound detrimental effect the problem had on my life over the three year period I worked there. It was a living nightmare that cost me a lot of money. By records of my opthamologist visits, I later realized that the eye problems went away around the time I quit working there. Another incident occured years later when pesticide was sprayed in my home without my consent. As a result, I thought I was dying. The pain all over my body was so severe that I couldn't move. I just sat on my stairs praying and crying. I eventually seemed to become temporarily delusional. I was sick for days. Anyone who has been poisoned will understand what I am describing. The fact that some people aren't affected as noticeably or severely as someone as sensitive as me is not assurance or indication that no harm is being done to their bodies by such exposure. Cancer usually manifests silently over a period of years. So does multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, among others. In 2003, cancer took the young life of a dearly beloved friend of mine, just as it had taken the lives of his father, grandfather and great grandfather. Their family business was pest control. Pesticides are poison--not just to bugs, but also to humans and animals. Having your home sprayed for bugs is a ridiculous thing to do to your family--especially your children. There are alternatives if you have a bug problem. There are natural products that work--I have used them myself. They may cost a little more, but it's a matter of poisoning your family or not poisoning your family. You could also make them yourself for a lot less money. Even in apartments where I have been told that my neighbors had severe roach infestations, I have never had roaches and never sprayed for bugs. Childhood cancers have become common for reasons. Pesticide use, in my opinion, is one of the reasons.
Unnecessary Household Poisons
It seems like everyone is quick to try new household products, such as air fresheners, fabric refreshers and plug-in devices that emit fragrance into the home. Apparently people aren't concerned about the effects these products may have on their health.
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