By Jennifer Simmons, MD

We are currently living in a sea of toxins.  There are nearly 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States today.  Only around 1000 of them have been studied regarding their effect on human health.  Of those studied, many of them are known to have harmful effects on health.  Many are even directly linked to cancer.  Yet despite their known ill effects, they are still allowed and frequently used today.  You can find them in your food, in your personal care items, in your home, and in the products that you mindlessly use every day. 

Here are the top offenders and things that you should stop using immediately:  

Non-stick cookware, while convenient, leeches cancer causing chemicals into your food with each use.  

Instead, opt for stainless steel, cast iron, clay, or ceramic. 

Plastic water bottles contain chemicals like BPA or BPB that make them flexible.  Unfortunately, these chemicals are directly toxic to humans.  Small amounts of these plastics get incorporated into the contents and start to build up in your body, causing toxic effects. Best to drink out of glass, steel, or stainless steel. 

The same goes for plastic storage containers. The plastic leeches into the food and then you consume it. This is worsened by heating the plastic. Do not heat food in plastic, store it in plastic, or put plastic in your dishwasher. 

Candles, and the fragrance in them, are made of volatile organic compounds. This means that they give off toxic gasses. This is also true for indoor air fresheners. Instead, opt for diffusing essential oils. 

Perfume or fragrance is something that has very little in the way of regulation. Therefore, many toxic chemicals are hidden in perfume or fragrance. This, over time, has ill effects on the liver, the organ responsible for ridding your body of toxins. Instead of perfume, opt for a rollerball filled with essential oils. My favorite is Valor by Young Living.

Cleaning products, like household cleaners, contain phthalates, ammonia, perchloroethylene, triclosan, and other toxic chemicals. Though they are touted to kill germs, they also kill us. There are far safer options like vinegar, lemon juice, or green cleaners like Thieves by Young Living.

Air fresheners also emit volatile organic compounds, just like fragrance, perfume, and candles. Instead, opt for diffusing essential oils.

These formulations contain chemicals that plain soap and water don’t. These added chemicals bring with them a host of health hazards. Many of these antibacterial chemicals, like triclosan, have been added to consumer products—including clothing, kitchenware, furniture, cosmetics, toothpaste, and toys—to prevent bacterial contamination. Not only is triclosan linked to antibiotic resistance, it is a known hormone disruptor and has toxic estrogen-like effects on the body.

Since 2009, 595 cosmetics manufacturers have reported using 88 chemicals, in more than 73,000 products, that have been linked to cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. Consumers use a wide variety of cosmetics and personal care products. Few consumer products contribute as many chemical exposures as cosmetics and other personal care products. Each day, American women use an average of 12 personal care products that contain 168 different chemicals. Men use an average of six personal care products that contain 85 different chemicals. Many of these products are applied directly to the skin, the body’s largest organ, where ingredients can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream.  

Though it is difficult to abandon your products, unless you are using one of the clean green brands, like Young Living, Beauty Counter, or the like, you are almost certainly exposing yourself to cancer-causing chemicals on a daily basis.

In addition to these daily exposures, there are other chemical-containing compounds that you should aim to avoid. Things like flame retardants, dry cleaning solution, Stain master treated fabrics, flea and tick products, mothballs, oven cleaners, furniture polish, synthetic carpets, and toilet bowl cleaner all contain chemicals that are directly toxic to us. These can have profound effects on an already compromised body. 

If you are looking to promote health, it is best to avoid these products and opt to either not use them at all, or opt for safer options.