Your daily routine probably looks a little like this: you rush to get ready for work, you run a few errands after the workday ends, you grab a quick bite to eat or cook something easy. Even if your routine feels fruitful, leading a productive—but busy–life can take a toll.
In the midst of taking care of your day-to-day responsibilities, you may neglect the one thing that matters most: your health.
That’s why we challenged our readers to embrace our Organic Challenge throughout the month of May and reevaluate what it means to truly lead a healthy, organic lifestyle.
Each week, we focused on a different area of daily life that’s affected by potentially dangerous chemicals. With over 80,000 chemicals produced in the United States, it’s nearly impossible to know whether the items you’re putting into and onto your body are safe—or toxic.
At Naturepedic, we know how difficult it is to study each and every chemical that may be in your household items—from the laundry detergent you use on your children’s blankets to the popcorn you enjoy while watching TV at night.
Throughout our Organic Challenge, we explored some of the most common items in your house that can easily be traded out for healthier, organic options.
Week One: Food
Nearly 3,000 chemical additives saturate the foods we eat on a daily basis. Buying organic food (as often as you can) is therefore a must. In particular, remember that the following foods contain a frightening amount of chemicals:
• Microwave popcorn
• Strawberries
• Milk
• Meat
• Celery
Week Two: Health & Beauty Products
Since our skin absorbs 60 percent of the chemicals we put onto it, using organic beauty products will substantially lower your exposure to toxic ingredients. Switching out these products will especially help with minimizing your contact with chemicals during your beauty routine:
• Deodorant
• Sunscreen
• Lipstick
• Moisturizer
• Hairspray
Week Three: Cleaning Supplies
Household cleaners are notorious for greenwashing, so it’s important to check for government-regulated certifications as you shop. These items, in particular, often exaggerate claims about their “organic” or “eco-friendly” nature, so be extra-cautious:
• Laundry detergent
• Dryer sheets and balls
• All-purpose home cleaners
• Yard pesticides
• Dish soap
Week Four: Household Items
Since today’s average home contains 62 toxic chemicals (which is more than a chemistry lab at the turn of the century!), it’s critical to consider whether the household items you use each day are swimming with chemicals. Things as unassuming as the pots you cook with and the mattress you sleep on every night can contain toxins that could be significantly affecting your long-term health. Trading out these items for organic options can have a positive impact on your health:
• Cookware
• Water bottles
• Food storage containers
• Cotton balls
• Mattress and bedding
We know it isn’t easy to make the switch to an entirely organic lifestyle, but starting small—and starting at all–is a big step in the right direction. Instead of letting it overwhelm you, all you have to do is actively strive to remove anything that might be toxic from your daily routine.
We hope these insights provide you with some simple, straightforward options for organic living!
Did you take our Organic Challenge? Comment below and tell us about the best changes you made during May that are now a staple of your daily life.