E is for Eliminate 3 Toxic Things Now

ABCs for healthy living are quick takes on simple strategies for creating a healthier life.

Eat real food like quinoa patties and avocado instead of processed food.

Making healthy living a priority is compromised by our exposure to toxic food, chemicals, people, and mindsets. We can minimize the damage by making smart choices for our body, soul, mind, and spirit every day.

Where do we start? There are 3 toxic things most people are exposed to on a daily basis. Eliminating these potentially harmful substances from our home environment is a good way to move toward a healthier life. Many of these toxic chemicals are linked to a wide variety of illnesses including most autoimmune diseases and many types of cancer.

Highly Processed Food

Food that is manufactured in a plant is often made with ingredients that adversely affect our health.Some of the worst offenders are artificial colors, nitrates and nitrites, high fructose corn syrup, BHA and BHT preservatives, MSG, artificial sweeteners, and the trans fats found in hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils.

Eat real food instead. Focus on nuts, fruits, and vegetables that have a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Try this. Set a target goal of at least 80-90% of your diet being composed of real food. Eliminate processed food a little at a time until you reach your goal. Try real food recipes like quinoa patties and fresh avocado.

Check out this post for a cool video on how to peel an avocado A is for Avocado

Try this recipe for Quinoa Kale Patties. Once you get the hang of these you can add different vegetables and seasonings to change up the taste. Just keep the amount of quinoa to vegetables the same.Try spinach instead of kale, add a finely chopped carrot, use purple onion instead of yellow, use chopped bell peppers instead of jalapeno if you want to reduce the spiciness..Quinoa Kale Patties

Household Cleaners Full  of Chemicals

Residue from the products we use to clean our homes stays on the surfaces on which they are used, gets on our skin, and is inhaled through our lungs. Anything made with an artificial fragrance pollutes the air in your home. Perfume, air fresheners, and many cleaning products contain artificial fragrances.These products are made with toxic volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), phthalates, and many other harmful chemicals. You breathe in everything you put into the air in your home and it all eventually ends up in your bloodstream causing damage to your health on a cellular level. 

Use non toxic natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda instead. You can make your own all-purpose cleaner by mixing half white vinegar and half warm water in a spray bottle. Or buy organic cleaners made without toxic ingredients.Two brands to check out are Seventh Generation and Method. 

Personal Care Items with Potentially Harmful Ingredients

Think of how many personal care items you use each day: perfume, cosmetics, antiperspirants, shampoo, sunscreen, lotions.Do you know what ingredients you are slathering and spraying on your body? Many of these items contain petroleum derived ingredients, VOCs, parabens, aluminum compounds, oxybenzone, and other harmful chemical ingredients. Permanent hair dye often contains coal tar and formaldehyde. 

Look for organic mineral based and fragrance free products instead. Reduce the number of  
personal care products you use and know what is in the products you do use. Use more natural versions of your favorite cosmetics. Consider embracing your natural look instead of dying your hair. Check out this recent post on a good option for nail polish.  
Safer Nail Polish 



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