Why Reducing Toxic Chemical Exposure Matters for Your Kids
Our modern world means we're all exposed to toxins and chemicals on a regular basis. Some are beyond our control, but many actually come from within the home. This means there's a lot we can do to reduce our kids' exposure to these harmful toxic chemicals.
There are an estimated 100,000 chemicals in the environment. They're all around us, in the air we breathe, the things we touch, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the products we use.
Carpets, furniture, processed foods, fluoridated water, personal care products, chemical cleaners, plastics, EMF pollution, medications, mould, pesticides and smog are just some of the sources of toxic chemicals we come into contact with daily.
The Link Between Toxicity and Children's Health
There's now substantial evidence showing a link between excessive toxicity and numerous ailments. These include poor concentration, attention deficit, trouble sleeping and allergies, as well as chronic and acute illness.
If your child gets sick often or suffers from regular headaches, runny nose, irritated throat, dizziness, drowsiness or nausea, then toxic overload could be the reason.
Children are particularly vulnerable to toxic chemicals due to their size, developing organs and their behaviour. But don't panic. While we won't ever be able to completely avoid toxins, there's plenty you can do as a parent to prevent toxic overload in their little bodies.
Taking Control in Your Home
The fewer toxins we expose our children to, the less their bodies have to process. You have the power to protect your family from many of these chemicals and toxins by adopting some simple everyday habits in the home.
11 Ways to Reduce Your Kids' Exposure to Harmful Toxic Chemicals
- Wash fruit and veggies with an organic veggie wash or you can use apple cider vinegar and bicarb soda
- Switch processed and pre-packaged foods containing artificial colours, flavours and preservatives to whole foods with lots of plants and vegetables
- Get a high quality water purifier such as a a home system that filters water throughout your house, or a Genzon filtration system that also adds minerals. This will reduce the exposure to lead and other dangerous chemicals in the water system
- Ensure any plastics in the kitchen including lunch boxes and drink bottles, are BPA free. Better yet replace them with metal lunch boxes
- Look for number 1, 2, or 4 on plastic toys to ensure they're BPA free. Toys made from wood or bamboo are good, safe alternatives to plastic
- Replace toxic chemical cleaning products for natural alternatives such as white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, adding essentials oils like lemon or lavender
- Switch out toxic personal care products. Replace shampoos, soaps, sunscreens and moisturisers with chemical free alternatives. Look for "phthalate-free" and "paraben-free" on the packaging
- Manage your indoor air quality. If your outside air quality is good, open the windows regularly to air your home and dilute indoor air pollution. Air new mattresses, rugs and furniture before bringing into the home
- Use air purifiers when needed. If you're in an area affected by smog or smoke, keep windows shut and use an air purifier. Alternatively, there are indoor plants that will purify the air in your home. You'll need approximately two plants for every 100 square feet
- Leave shoes at the door. Leave all shoes and sports boots outside the front door as you can walk in pesticide residue on the soles of your shoes up to a week after spraying
- Reduce EMF exposure. Turn the power off all electronics at night and put phones on airplane mode. Disable anything with bluetooth at all times when not in use
Small Changes, Big Impact
Protecting our children from exposure to harmful toxic chemicals is all about making small, consistent changes. By adopting these simple practices into your everyday life you'll go a long way to drastically reducing your child's toxic load.
You can discover more ways to help your family avoid exposure to toxins, as well as how to support your body's ability to detox, by participating in the Living Mojo 30-Day Detox.
