Lower Your Toxin Load (Without Losing Your Mind) What to Look For & Why It Matters
Here’s the deal: the way we live, eat, clean, and slather ourselves in personal care products tells our genes how to behave. That’s epigenetics. It’s not about changing your DNA (don’t worry, you’re not turning into a science experiment) — it’s about how your body reads your DNA. And the good news? Those “readings” can be changed.
So if you’re wondering why chronic disease, hormone chaos, early puberty, and cancer rates are off the charts... toxins are a huge part of the conversation.
Clean food and filtered water are a great start. But the stuff we put on our skin, inhale in our homes, and wash our babies with? Also matters. A LOT. Our body’s burden matters — especially for our kids.
Yes, some exposure is unavoidable — we live in a toxic world. But a lot of it is within our control. So let’s take some baby steps toward lowering our toxin load. Start where you are. One product, one room, one habit at a time.
Here’s a breakdown of the big offenders (a.k.a. the “uhh...why is this allowed?” list):
ALUMINUM – Tied to Alzheimer’s, hormone problems, and more. Found in foil, deodorant, baking powder, antacids. , use parchment instead of foil.
BHA/BHT – Preservatives linked to cancer and hormone disruption. Found in chips, cereals, and beauty products.
BPA / BPS – Mess with hormones, even in low doses. BPA-free doesn’t always mean safe. Found in canned goods, receipts, and plastics.
FLUORIDE – Interferes with thyroid. In water, toothpaste, and dental treatments.
FORMALDEHYDE – Yes, the stuff used to preserve dead things. Found in hair products, deodorant, nail polish... but it hides under names like DMDM hydantoin or quaternium-15.
FLAME RETARDANTS – Found in furniture, baby gear, electronics, and clothing. Linked to neurological and hormone disruption.
FRAGRANCE – Umbrella term that hides a whole bunch of nasties. Just skip it. If it says “fragrance” or “parfum,” back away slowly.
LEAD – Still a thing. In water, soil, older homes, and sometimes makeup.
MERCURY – From dental fillings, seafood, some cosmetics, and more. Can mimic all kinds of health issues.
PARABENS – Preservatives that mimic estrogen. Found in makeup, shampoo, deodorant, etc. Look for names like methylparaben or propylparaben. And then don’t buy it.
PFCs (Teflon chemicals) – Found in nonstick cookware, food packaging, waterproof gear. Linked to cancer and hormone issues.
PHTHALATES – Found in “fragrance” (spoiler alert: that’s a loophole word). These mess with hormones, cause fertility issues, and can lead to early puberty. Found in perfume, lotion, nail polish, and most scented things.
PHENOXYETHANOL – Causes skin issues. Found in lotions, makeup, and baby wipes.
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEGs) – A petroleum byproduct. Found in moisturizers, shampoos, and creams. Linked to organ toxicity.
SODIUM LAURYL/LAURETH SULFATE – Found in everything that foams. Irritates skin, eyes, and lungs. Often contaminated with dioxane.
SUNSCREEN CHEMICALS (OXYBENZONE, OCTINOXATE, HOMOSALATE, OCTISALATE) – Hormone disruptors. We stick with non-nano zinc-based sunscreens and manage our sun exposure smartly (hello, morning and evening rays!).
SYNTHETIC COLORS – FD&C, D&C dyes = petroleum-based. Linked to hyperactivity, banned in other countries. But hey, it’s cool here (sarcasm fully intended).
TALC – Linked to cancer and lung disease. Found in powders, dry shampoo, and some makeup.
TITANIUM DIOXIDE – Found in sprays, foods, and supplements. Not worth the risk.
TOLUENE – Found in nail products and hair dyes. Damaging to the brain and especially dangerous in pregnancy. Also released when you burn most commercial candles. Want better? Try essential oil diffusers.
TRICLOSAN – Endocrine disruptor that was banned from soaps but still shows up in deodorants, toothpaste, and mouthwash. That’s neat.
Yes, it’s a lot.
I get it. It can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to clean house overnight. God gives us wisdom and discernment — we just need to be willing to take a step. Choose one room. One product. One swap. Then another. And another.
Baby steps change generations.
And God didn’t design our bodies to live in fear — but He did call us to be wise stewards.
You’ve got this.
