Health in the Home - Part II

Naturopathic Medicine is all about awareness and informed decisions you make to improve your health. My first blog in this series focused on the toxins found in your kitchen and in your diet. Now it’s time to discuss how to reduce the rest of your toxic burden in your home. It’s important to note that the homes we live in are now more toxic than the external environment – even in a city like Toronto. Take these steps to make your home a safe place for you and your family.

1. Leave it at the door. Think about where your shoes have been today. Shoes carry toxins with them, from bacteria to pesticides. Simply having a no-shoes policy in the home is the first step to greener space.

2. Use a HEPA-filter vacuum. Kids spend lots of time on the floor, and household dust can contain contaminants like lead and fire retardants. Dust regularly with a warm cloth. A HEPA-filter vacuum will trap allergens as well.

3. Use greener cleaners. Household cleaners and air fresheners can irritate kids lungs, especially if your kids have asthma. Look at ingredient lists on your cleaners and avoid ones with toxic labels. Try to minimize your products. Most homes can be safely cleaned with these simple ingredients:
1. Vinegar: it’s anti-bacterial and can clean countertops, tile, and windos
2. Baking soda: acts as an abrasive for your sink, tub, & toilet
3. Lemon juice: use instead of bleach in laundry and on kitchen surfaces
4. Olive oil: mix with vinegar and use as furniture polish

With a these simple products you can make all your own cleaners. I will share with you now the recipe I use for my countertop spray. It lasts months and smells divine!

§ 1 tablespoons white vinegar

§ 1 tsp baking soda

§ 2 cups hot water

§ ¼ cup castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s soap is great and is scented with essential oils).

4. Keep the air clean. Ventilate your house on warm days by keeping the windows open. Change the filter on your furnace regularly. Plants will naturally detoxify the air, so having a green thumb also helps. Finally, air fresheners and scented candles use artificial chemicals for fragrance. Use flowers or burn essential oils to add natural fragrance to your home.

5. Choose better body care products. Just because a label says “gentle” or “natural” doesn’t mean that it’s safe. Read the ingredient list on your products and avoid all parabans. Parabans are a preservative found in 8 out of 10 breast cancer cells. If your label also has fragrance, know that fragrance is a chemical mixture that is not disclosed on the label. Look up your products on CosmeticDatabase.com to learn more about what’s in them and how safe they are.

I hope that you are now one step closer to a cleaner home!

Yours in health,

Sarah Oulahen, HBHSc, ND

Naturopathic Doctor, Sow Health

Health in the Home - Part I

As a Naturopathic Doctor I fully believe in being fully informed regarding your health. In today's society we are exposed to more chemicals and pollutants than ever before. A lot of this we cannot change, but some of it we can. Food, in particular should be something very nourishing. If you're interested in eating healthy, avoiding toxins in your food is the next step to optimal health. Here are a few tips to make you more aware of the environment's impact on your health and ways you can decrease exposure to toxins in your food:

1. Plastics. Some plastics contain BPA, which is linked with cancer. Plastic also mimics estrogen in the body and has been linked to early onset of menses, painful periods, and obesity. What can you do? Do not heat or microwave in plastic, as this promotes it to leach into your foods. Instead, use glass containers or dishware. If you drink tea or use boiled water daily, make sure your kettle is stainless steel. Plastics labeled 3 or 7 are the ones to avoid completely.

2. Skip non-stick. Non-stick cookware contains the chemical PFOA and can emit toxic fumes which cause flu like illness in humans but is toxic to pet birds. It has also been linked to cancer, birth defects, and increased cholesterol. What can you do? Cook with stainless steel or cast iron instead. Otherwise, do not overheat your non-stick meals.

3. Produce. Pesticide residue can be found on your healthiest foods - fruit and veggies! Pesticides have been linked to health conditions that affect the brain and nervous system, hormones, and cancer. What can you do? Avoid this chemical by knowing which items have the most and least amount of pesticides. Learn the dirty dozen and clean 15. Buy the dirty dozen organic and feel confident eating the clean 15 conventionally.

4. Fish. Fish contain omega-3 fatty acids which protect the body from inflammation and are exceptionally healthy fats. Make sure you have fish in your diet, but avoid ones that have mercury and BPA. What can you do? Eat wild fish instead of farmed. Farmed fish are fed contaminated meals. Use the chart below for learning low mercury containing fish:

5. Water. It's true that your body needs 8 glasses of water per day. But, you want to make sure the fluid that you're bathing your cells in is clean. What can you do? Avoid bottled water, as there is no guarantee that is any different than your tap water. Instead, use a charcoal filter (e.g. Brita) or reverse osmosis system. Drink out of glass or stainless steel.

Naturopathic doctors are specialists in environmental health. If you think you have been exposed to toxic levels of any of the above seeing a naturopathic doctor for a comprehensive assessment and treatment protocol is essential. Otherwise, follow these tips to promote optimal wellness and prevent any future health problems.

Stay tuned for more tips for other areas of your home in my next blog.

Yours in health,

Sarah Oulahen, HBHSc, ND

Naturopathic doctor at SOW Health