Clean Living: Cutting out toxins and taking your health into your own hands

By: Kayla Wright

For most of my life, I did what I thought I was supposed to do to be healthy and beautiful – whether with food, the latest exercise trend, or the newest beauty product. However, I couldn't help but notice that I was constantly bloated, always tired, my skin and hair were dry and dull, and I just generally felt awful. This was confusing because I thought I was doing everything right. If I ate this food instead of that food, and if I used this moisturizer instead of that moisturizer, I was supposed to look and feel amazing, right?

So why wasn't I? This is what sparked my interest in learning more about what other factors could affect my health. I've learned a lot since I started this journey, and I'd like to share one piece of the puzzle: reducing toxins and focusing on clean living.

Our environment, food, water, cosmetics, and personal-care products contain many chemicals and ingredients ("toxins") that harm our hormones and health. Take the beauty industry – of the 84,000 chemicals in use, the EPA and FDA have tested the safety of 200 and only banned 11, while in some European countries, over 1,300 are banned because they are known endocrine disrupters, or worst-case, possible human carcinogens. If we look at feminine care products, the FDA has no regulations for the cotton used in tampons and pads. Cotton farmers use some of the most hazardous pesticides (the EPA has classified 7 of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton as "possible, likely, probable, or known human carcinogens"). On top of this, the FDA does not require companies to test for these chemicals or disclose their presence.

As I learned more about the harmful substances I was exposed to, I realized that I still felt awful most days because of the toxins in my life. The low-fat food I ate, and the cosmetic and personal-care products I used, were never going to help me – they were actually harming me. So, what's a girl to do?

1. Research! Take the time to learn more about what's out there and the potential risks involved. It's not all black and white, so educating yourself is the best way to start.

2. Prioritization – Start prioritizing what you feel are the most important areas to address.

3. Finances –While the “cleaner” alternatives can be a little more expensive, I’ve found that I’m still spending about the same amount of money as before (if not less). This is because I need to use fewer products that last longer due to their higher-quality ingredients. I’d recommend looking at the total amount you spend on your current products, not just each individual item when evaluating costs and determining what you’re able to afford.

4. Good, Better, Best – Even the smallest changes are better than no change! Look at products with a mindset of "good, better, best" instead of "terrible or perfect."

Those four steps provide a great foundation as you start making changes. For myself, these are the areas I decided to focus on and the changes I made:

· Water – There are a lot of high-end water filtration systems out there that are great but outside of my budget. I opted for a high-quality pitcher and filtered water bottle (Clearly Filtered).

· Food - I started buying organic produce whenever possible, focusing on EWG's "Dirty Dozen" –the produce grown with the most harmful pesticides. I began reading the ingredients on food labels first and nutritional labels second. I switched brands or cut out certain foods based on the potentially toxic ingredients found in them.

· Cosmetics/Skin-Care, and Personal-Care Products – It wasn't practical to toss all my products and replace them at the same time. Instead, as one ran out, I would replace it with a cleaner alternative. Sephora has a "Clean Beauty" tool – it's not perfect, but it's a great way to start figuring out what ingredients are potentially harmful (remember, "good, better, best" mindset!). I also replaced my shampoo/conditioner, dry shampoo, lotions, sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, razors, laundry detergent, and other personal-care products. Some brands I've come to love:

The Yellow Bird (budget-friendly), Molly Suds, Earthley Wellness, Sun & Moo, Beauty Counter, Ilia, and Hugh & Grace.

· Feminine Care Products – There are a lot of organic tampons and pads on the market now; some great options are Lola and Cora. There are also many options for menstrual cups or period-proof underwear (be mindful of the materials used in these products).

· Air Quality – This is one I'm still working on, as it's one of the more expensive areas to tackle. I have a small air purifier, and I try to be mindful of the candles I use and reduce air freshener use in my home.

On a practical note, I’m happy to report a noticeable, positive change in my well-being since starting this process. Plus, I've thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this subject. Educating myself and taking ownership of my health was one of the most empowering things I've ever done. I would tell any curious young woman out there to be encouraged and take that first step toward reclaiming her health!