Non toxic living involves making changes to reduce our exposure to the 700,000+ chemicals we encounter everyday, which are harmful to our health and contribute to a range of symptoms and conditions, including fatigue and pain. Making these changes doesn’t have to cost anything. Here are 7 free ways to start a toxin free lifestyle and why it’s important for health and chronic illness management.
Disclaimer: This post is intended for informational purposes only. I’m not encouraging anyone else to make these changes. This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you I will earn commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclaimer here. First published 5th May 2021. Last updated on 18th September 2023.
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- What is toxin free living?
- Importance of chemical free living
- 6 free & easy ways to start a non toxic life
- Other non toxic living posts
What Is Toxin Free Living?
We’re exposed to numerous chemicals, toxins and heavy metals everyday, in our environment, homes and work places, which are harmful to our health (1). They are in:-
- The air we breathe,
- Water we drink, bathe and shower in,
- Pesticides on the food we eat,
- Cleaning products we use,
- Body care products we apply to our skin,
- Non stick cookware,
- Plastic containers, utensils and other products,
- Radiation from Wi-Fi and electronic devices.
Toxic free living involves making changes to reduce our exposure to these harmful toxins.
Importance Of Chemical Free Living
Our bodies naturally detoxify and remove these toxins from the body via 6 pathways :-
- Colon,
- Liver,
- Kidneys,
- Skin,
- Lungs and,
- Lymphatic system.
My other post How To Open Drainage Pathways has information on the foods, strategies and therapies we can consume and perform to support each of the 6 channels.
However, we are exposed to over 700,000 different chemicals everyday, more than ever before (2). If the amount of toxins we are exposed to exceeds the amount the body can eliminate then they begin to accumulate and be stored in the body. This suppresses the immune system, causes inflammation and can cause a range of health issues and symptoms like:-
- Allergies,
- Hormone imbalances,
- Digestive problems,
- Breathing difficulties,
- Neurological problems,
- Reproductive problems,
- Autoimmune conditions,
- Headaches,
- Fatigue,
- Poor concentration and memory,
- Dizziness,
Related Post: How To Open Drainage Pathways
6 Free & Easy Ways To Start A Non Toxic Life
With toxins being present in all of our environments and so many products we use, it can feel overwhelming knowing where to begin to reduce your exposure. In other posts I have detailed 15 simple swaps you can make to create a chemical free home, such as switching to natural cleaning products like NeerSol, and also 10 tips to create a non toxic kitchen.
However, starting a toxic free lifestyle doesn’t have to cost any money at all. Below are 7 simple ways to reduce your toxin exposure that are either free or actually save you money!
Related Post: 10 Healthy Habits To Improve Your Health For Free
1). Open The Windows
Indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air (6). The easiest and cheapest way of improving indoor air quality is to open the windows. This helps eliminate pollutants in the indoor air and allows fresh air from outside to circulate. This is especially important when cooking and showering (7).
2). Take Your Shoes Off Before Entering The House
The outside and inside of our shoes contain on average 421,000 and 3,000 different types of bacteria and toxins, respectively (19). Removing shoes before entering homes prevents around 80% of dust and harmful bacteria entering them (8).
3). Don’t Buy Bottled Water
Shop bought water is stored in plastic bottles, which leaches chemicals into the water you drink (9). Stopping buying these and instead drinking filtered tap water at home saves you money.
If you do need a bottle to store water in, a cheaper and healthier alternative is to use glass water bottle (UK Link/US Link), which doesn’t leach any chemicals into the water (10).
4). Remove & Stop Buying Candles & Air Fresheners
Regular candles and air fresheners contain artificial fragrances, which release harmful toxic chemicals into the air, which we inhale (11, 12). Most scented candles are also made from paraffin wax and contain a metal wick, all of which are released into the air when burned (13). Stopping buying these products not only reduces your toxin exposure but saves you money.
Natural Candle Alternatives
If you want an alternative, switch to beeswax candles with a cotton wick, like Fantasy Candle in the UK or Bear Natural Organics in the US. Not only are beeswax candles safe and free from harmful chemicals but they also help clean the air in your home by releasing negative ions, which removes dust, mould, pollen, bacteria and odours from the air (14).
However, as beeswax candles are not suitable for vegans, soywax candles, that are scented with natural essential oils, like Tofu, Benevolence LA or Octo in the UK, or Mile High Life, Prank Kiss or All Fur One in the US, are a safe vegan alternative (14).
Natural Air Freshener Alternative
For a natural air freshener alternative, use a diffuser (UK Link/US Link) to diffuse essential oils into the air. The most popular ones are:-
5). Unplug Electronics When Not In Use & Turn Off Wi-Fi At Night
Electronic devices and Wi-Fi emits EMF radiation, which causes positive ions to build up in the body. These positive ions:-
- Damage healthy tissues,
- Increase inflammation,
- Increase pain,
- Increase fatigue,
- Increase anxiety,
- Impair sleep,
- Impair concentration & memory,
The following can be sources:-
- TV
- Radio
- Kettle
- Toaster
- Computers, laptops & tablets
- Cordless phones, mobile phones & chargers
- Electric toothbrushes
- Hairdryers, straighter & curlers etc.
- SmartMeters
- Digital baby monitors
- Electric fans
- Vacuum cleaners
- Washing machines
- Microwave ovens
- Gaming systems & consoles
- Photocopiers, printers & scanners
- Electrically adjustable chairs, sofas & beds
- Lamps & ceiling lights
Even when switched off and not in use, electronics still omit small amounts of radiation if plugged into electrical sockets (20). Switching off these items when not in use and, where possible, unplugging them from their power source, reduces our exposure, while turning your Wi-Fi router off at night reduces your radiation exposure by around a third.
You can also make the following adjustments to reduce your exposure further:-
- Let your hair dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer.
- Say no to SmartMeters.
- Use manual toothbrushes and razors rather than electric ones.
- The amount of radiation you’re exposed to reduces the more distance there is between your body and the source (21). For example, having your phone 20cm away from us reduces the radiation we’re exposed to by 99% (22). Therefore, don’t place your phone directly on your body, such as in pockets, and use a hands free headset or speaker phone while making phone calls to avoid resting your phone against your ear.
- Where possible, avoid using your phone when in areas of low signal as this produces more radiation.
- Put your phone on airplane mode when not in use, especially at night while sleeping.
- Avoid resting your laptop directly on your lap while using – place it on a desk, lap desk or table instead.
6). Say No To Receipts
Receipts are printed on thermal paper that contain chemicals like BPA plastics, which are rapidly absorbed through our skin when we touch them and can disrupt hormones (18). If you need receipts, ask them to be sent electronically if possible.
7). Avoid Tattoos & Body Piercings
Tattoo ink and piercings are made from heavy metals like lead, aluminium and nickel, which are absorbed into our body and negatively affect our health (19, 20, 21), with even temporary tattoos containing synthetic plastics, varnishes and colorants (22, 23). Clip on earrings, belly, nose, stomach and lip piercings are a safe alternative to having body parts pierced and tattoos are able to be removed (although it is recommended to support the liver after removal using these tips in How To Open Drainage Pathways post, to aid the removal of heavy metals and toxins that are released after removal).
Other Non Toxic Living Posts
Other Health & Wellness Blog Posts
Contact Me & Follow Me On Social Media
I hope these tips help. Does anyone else follow a toxin free lifestyle? What changes have you made? I’d love to know. Leave me a comment below or message me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or YouTube.
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700,000 chemicals per day? Wow! Unbelievable. I diffuse my essential oils regularly. So much nicer than artificial air freshness. And Tisserand is my favourite brand!
Thanks for your comment Gloria. I know, I couldn’t believe it when I read it! I love Tisserand too, I wouldn’t use any other brand! Essential oils really are so much nicer than artificial air fresheners (and so much healthier too!).
So many toxins in daily life! I’m looking at new candles and room sprays!
There really are, it’s scary how many thousands of chemicals we’re exposed to everyday! I hope you’re able to find natural candle and room spray alternatives.
Thanks for these handy tips… it’s difficult to live totally chemical free these days. Whilst hygiene is important, if we could do it more naturally that would be a win-win too!
You’re welcome Sheryl, thank you! It really is so difficult as we’re exposed to so many chemicals everyday!
Wow, that’s a lot of toxins in the air, I had no idea. We never buy bottled water and I do use essential oils so I’m part way there at least x
I couldn’t believe it either when I first read how many toxins are around us. I’m pleased to hear the positive changes you’ve made. Take care x
I love burning candles but had never really thought about what was actually burning before.
I didn’t either until I read about it. I couldn’t believe the harmful chemicals that are in them.
“Receipts are printed on thermal paper that contain chemicals like BPA plastics” – that was one I had no idea of. I’d just assumed it was regular paper, just a bit thinner than printer paper. I think people are becoming increasingly aware of their health and the products they use, but there’s just so much around us now in our 21st century living that there are plenty of aspects we may not have considered. I ensured to use only BPA-free plastic Tupperware and I’ve used a BPA-free reusable water bottle for years, which oddly enough makes water taste so much better than even drinking it out of a glass. Fantastic post, lots of points to consider!
Caz xx
Thanks for your comment Caz. I had no idea either about receipts until I read about. There’s definitely more awareness and knowledge about the harmful chemicals we’re surrounded by and, like you said, everyday we’re becoming more and more aware of other products and things we use that can have a negative impact on our health. I agree with you, I switched to a stainless steel bottle and drink water at home out of glass and there’s a noticeable improvement in the taste. Thank you very much again Caz, I really appreciate your kind message xx
This is such a good post Lucy. We live with so many toxins in our lives and you have explained well what some of them can do. It’s so important to reduce what we can. I never drink bottled water because I have delicious tap water where I live. It comes direct from a spring. If I am going out, I fill glass bottles with our own water. The fruit cordial that I buy also comes in a glass bottle, so we save those bottles to use for our water.
I am also very sensitive to those artificial scents in air fresheners and candles. Essential oils are so much nicer.
Thank you so much Elizabeth, I really appreciate your comment. That’s great to hear about the high quality spring water you have available. Like you, I never drink out of plastic bottles, even BPA free, and ensure I always buy products packaged in glass rather than plastic. Essential oils really are so much better than artificial fragrances.
Great tips!
I love when the weather warms enough to open the windows! And I didn’t grow up in a remove-the-shoes household but we started doing it when we got this house and our kids were babies (long ago!), and now it’s just habit.
I really hate any kind of artificially scented stuff, though my son loves all that! He has air fresheners in his car and uses his own scented laundry detergent – I think it’s all just too smelly! ha ha
Nice tips – thanks!
Sue
Thank you very much Sue, I’m glad you found the post helpful. I always have the windows open all year round, I just wrap up warm in the winter and colder months! Like you, I can’t stand artificial scents but my dad loves them so he uses a different washing up liquid and laundry detergent to me too. Thanks again for your comment. Take care. Lucy