Every day we get exposed to harmful things whether they are the objects that surround us or the food we eat. On the long term, being exposed to these objects and foods that contain chemicals can have serious negative effects on our health.
The following 10 items are the ones that are most harmful and you should avoid using them too much or too often.
- Plastic bottles and food containers
Plastic bottles and food containers contain chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenol-A (BPA), and bisphenol-S (BPS). These chemicals disrupt the endocrine system, the reproductive processes and sexual function, and can also cause many other side-effects including:
- Lower IQ in children
- Thyroid, prostate, breast cancer
- Reproductive health problems
- Hypertension: A randomized, controlled trial showed that BPA from cans or plastic bottles increases the blood pressure in a couple of hours after ingestion
- Learning difficulties, hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness
Using an old food container is especially dangerous, as the amount of chemicals that they leach increases with heat and multiple washings.
BPA-free plastics also cause leaching of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, so they are just as dangerous. So, choose glass containers instead of plastic, and if you have a baby, use a glass baby bottle.
- Artificial sweeteners
These include aspartame and sucralose that trick the body to store fat which increases the risk of diabetes. Other foods and beverages that contain these sweeteners such as diet soda worsen the insulin sensitivity this lead to various health issues, for example strokes, heart attacks and even Alzheimer’s disease, by affecting the intestinal microflora.
Artificial sweeteners also cause glucose intolerance as well as dysbiosis in healthy people.
- Antibacterial soaps and detergents
Frequently disinfecting your body and surroundings could have adverse effects because it causes the bacteria to become drug-resistant.
It was proven that one of the compounds found in antibacterial soaps, triclosan, causes various health problems, more often in children.
This compound also disrupts the hormone production, affects the fetal development and also causes other issues including:
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Endocrine disruption
- Inflammatory responses
- Allergies
- Weight gain
The safest way to remove microbes is washing your hands using plain soap and water. There is not particular evidence that shows that antibacterial soaps are more efficient.
Triclosan is also an ingredient in many items for personal care such as some types of toothpaste, acne creams as well as toys and cutting boards.
You can prepare your own disinfectant by putting vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide in a bottle. You can spray it anywhere you need to, and the best thing about this spray is that it is safe and also very efficient in killing bacteria even on the most contaminated surfaces.
- Non-stick cookware
Non-stick cookware contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This chemical has been listed as a carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When this type of cookware gets heated, the toxic fluoride which is found in the chemical PFOA vaporizes into the air. This fluoride gas can even kill small birds. Glass and ceramic are perfectly safe alternative to non-stick cookware.
- Air fresheners
The ingredients in air fresheners are related to numerous health problems and even cancer. These include 2, 5-dichlorophenol (2, 5-DCP), which is a metabolite of1,4-dichlorobenzene.
Air fresheners also cause disruption of the endocrine system because of the phthalates they contain.
A much safer alternative for making your home smell fresh is using essential oils and also regularly ventilating your home.
- Commercial cleaning products
Commercial cleaning products also contain chemicals which have negative health effects.
Instead of using them, combine vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to prepare a home-made detergent. Also, lemon juice can be used for whitening, and baking soda for scrubbing wherever it is needed.
- Sedentary lifestyle
Sitting too much also has numerous negative effects for your health such as chronic diseases that can’t be neutralized no matter how much you exercise. Sitting, as well as obesity, are more harmful than second-hand smoking and they increase the risk of lung cancer more than 50%.
Other issues caused by sedentary lifestyle are diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
So, it is very important to move and exercise as much as possible. Try to stand up more often and, if possible, replace your regular desk with a standing one.
Stay motivated to exercise and move more, and your body will thank you.
- Electronic devices
We use computers and smartphones so much that they have become a part of our everyday life. However, they can have serious negative effects an even cause cancer because they emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields that are believed to be carcinogenic.
Time Magazine has published a report that shows the link between wireless phones and brain cancer. It is also very important to know that even if you are not talking on your phone, it emits radiation all the time. The following is the report that was published in Time Magazine:
“Mounting research indicates that information overload—what happens when you use smart devices constantly—is linked to depression and anxiety.
Recent studies suggest that this is particularly true for people who are overly attached to their smartphones and tablets, and for those who use multiple devices at once (which experts call media multitasking). Power down and stow your devices in a drawer at least a few times per week to give your brain a break‚ ideally on a set schedule (for example, weekdays after 9 p.m. or weekend mornings before noon).”
- Personal care products
The skin is the largest human organ that performs several vital functions. However, it absorbs chemicals easily, so using personal care products and makeup frequently increases the amount of chemicals and heavy metals that get inside our bodies.
One study conducted by the Environmental Defense tested 49 different makeup items and discovered that all the items contained heavy metals such as:
- 90 percent included beryllium
- 96 percent included lead
- 51 percent included cadmium
- 61 percent included thallium
- 20 percent included arsenic
Applying makeup regularly causes 5 pounds of chemicals to be absorbed in the body every year, not counting the amount that comes from conditioners, shampoos, deodorants and other products for personal care.
To avoid this, you should use organic cosmetic brands or using natural remedies such as coconut oil which can be used as body lotion, hair mask and in many other ways.
- Stale spices
Spices and herbs, especially fresh ones, are rich in nutrients such as vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, and some of them are even more nutritious than fruits and vegetables. Many spices contain medicinal properties such as fighting inflammation. These 4 are the most powerful anti-inflammatory spices:
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Thyme
- Rosemary
However, it is very important to keep the spices fresh, so avoid keeping them in your kitchen for too long.
Even though we are constantly surrounded by a toxic environment, there are ways to protect ourselves such as avoiding products that contain chemicals and choosing a healthier diet.
As we already mentioned, the skin absorbs many chemicals that get directly in the blood stream without passing through the filtering systems that the body has. Even though there are situations when there is not much we can do about it, we can always start by making sure our home and work place are safer as well as limit the time we spend using electronic devices.
source and courtesy: dailyhealthgen.com