Here are ten simple swaps you can make to detox your home and your life. Start with the ones that seems most doable to you and remember, whether you go all-in or take it slow with baby steps, what matters most is that you get started. Think about the things you do or are exposed to most often, those swaps will make the biggest impact on your health and your body and mind will thank you!
Swap #1: Aluminum foil for parchment paper. Simple swaps to detox your life
This one is easy peasy because parchment paper is inexpensive and easy to find. WHY make this swap? We don’t know exactly the relationship between heavy metal exposure and autism and alzehiemers but we know enough to recommend you avoid your food coming in contact with aluminum. When cooking anything on my aluminum cookie sheets I cover it with parchment paper (for uses at 400 degrees or below). When cooking bacon in the oven – which happens often around here – I cover with foil and then parchment paper. The riskiest foods to cook on aluminum are those that are acidic, such as those with ctirus or tomatoes, which can leach aluminum into your food. Pick up some unbleached parchment and protect your food! Buy some HERE, at the local grocery store or Costco (where we get ours)
Swap #2: Plastic cooking utensils for silicone.
This is another easy and inexpensive swap! Heating up plastic risks leaching chemicals into your food. Plastic + heat is a big no- no. Silicone, however, is SAFE up to very high temps with no risk of leaching. You can find great deals on silicone spatulas at discount stores like Ross or TJ Maxx or get a whole set for only $20 here (I may or may not have an addiction to colorful silicone cooking utensils) This is an easy and fun way to detox your home!
Swap #3 : Toxic candles and scentsy and air fresheners for a diffuser and doTERRA essential oils. Simple swaps to detox your life
Y’all, this one is super important. There are thousands of hormone-disrupting, toxic chemicals our government allows to be called “fragrance”. You can save money by switching to doTERRA essential oils and a diffuser and beeswax candles and get HUGE benefits for your health. Synthetic fragrances can cause symptoms such as problems concentrating, coughing, sneezing, congestion, headaches, migraines, hormone imbalances etc. The more synthetic fragrance you cut out of your life, the better.
Swap #4: Regular coffee for organic.
WHY? Unfortunately conventional coffee can contain a lot of harmful chemicals. Purchasing organic coffee removes this risk. Coffee is also very acidic which can be detrimental to your health.
Even better? Organic cold brew. Cold brew coffee is considerably less acidic and so a much healtheir choice. Make your own with this cool cold brew kit and save a lot of money while bettering your health.
Swap #5: Non-stick pans for stainless or cast iron.
Teflon pans which release toxins when you cook for PFOA *and* PTFE-free, safely coated pans (better) or Stainless Steel, cast iron cookware (best). This is a bigger change with a HUGE impact.
Beware of false marketing when it comes to “green” pans. Many are still coated with some type of toxic, non-stick coating similar to Teflon. You really have to do your research and dig into the descriptions. I recommend an Itailan brand cookware called (ironically) Daterra. It is lead-free and free of PFOA and PTFE. Most “green” or “natural” pans aren’t free of all three. Check out the one I have here: Daterra non-stick pan I typically only use this pan for eggs and my stainless or cast iron for everything else. Ditch the teflon and non-stick pans to detox your home in a big way.
Cast Iron skillet
Swap #6: Sugary or diet soda for a healthier soda (better) or sparkling water (best). Simple swaps to detox your life
WHY? Drinking large amounts of sugar leads to insulin resistance and diabetes plus it raises inflammation (hello pain) and lowers your immune system. Do you drink diet soda? Many studies have linked it to cancer. It’s not worth it. I know this is a very, very hard habit to break. Trust me, I had my share of diet soda back in the days. It took my husband years to stop his habit but he finally did and Im so glad!
We like Zevia sodas sweetened with stevia, Bai drinks sweetened with stevia or erythritol (better) and sparkling water with essential oils (best). Once your tastebuds adjust you will really enjoy these drinks!
Swap #7: Tap water for filtered.
Water is essential to life and if the water you drink has chemicals, flouride and even pesticides, then it could be damaging your health.
The type of water you have at your home will determine the best step for you. We have well water so we have a high quality well filtration system and we added a UV light to make sure its 100% bacteria-free. Since we aren’t on city water we dont have to worry about flouride but at our old house we did. The best of the best when it comes to filtering city water? A Berkey water filter.
We also have a reverse osmosis we brought with us. This is the best tasting water in my opinion; it removes everything so it’s crisp and pure. Just make sure to add some good trace minerals back in if all you drink is reverse osmosis water as your body needs those.
Swap #8: Plastic cups, plates and cutlery for glass or stainless. Simple swaps to detox your life
Only eat off safe glassware such as Correlle and avoid plastics and ceramic coated plates that are not verified lead-free. We have the plain white Correlle like THIS. It’s inexpensive, easy to replace, holds up to years of use (and drops on the tile floor). If you do use plastic plates or utensils for yourself or your kids never ever use them with HOT or acidic food. The chemicals in plastic can have all sorts of effects on the body including hormone disruption and allergy symptoms. Detox your home of all the plastic you can!
Swap #9: Cows milk for plant-based milk.
Are you making a face at me right now?? I promise there are some good ones! You may have to try a few to find one you like. Choose unsweetened to keep it healthy. I prefer cashew and macademia nut milks, vanilla & unsweetened.
WHY? Dairy is highly inflammatory for the body and increases mucous production. Congestion, allergies, large tonsils or ear issues? Cutting dairy is my number one recommendation. Even if you don’t react, its not good for you so cut back where you can (better) or go all the way and cut it out completely (best)!
Swap #10: Upgrade your eggs. Simple swaps to detox your life
This is another one where you have to read through the marketing hype to make sure you get the best quality food for your money. For example, a lot of people think brown eggs are healthier than white eggs but that’s not true. The color of the egg is only determined by the type of chicken it’s laid by. What matters most is how that chicken lives and what it eats.
What’s better than the typical cheap egg at the store? One that’s organic AND says pasture-raised. Cage free does NOT mean the chickens get to roam out in the sunshine and eat bugs which is what gives you the healthiest eggs with the darkest, most nutrient rich yolks. Even free-range ,which sounds better does not mean the chickens were ever outside. They are both marketing ploys. You have to read the label carefully so look for organic and pasture-raised.
Check out this graphic from the Huffington Post:
The best option? Find someone local with chickens that run all over some pesticide-free farmland! This will give you the best nutritional bang for your buck and support the local economy.
Are you inspired? I hope so! What are you going to change first to detox your home? Comment below and let me know….
Linda Johnson says
We’ve also made these swaps, however we choose “living” restructured, ionized filtered water & avoid carbonation too. Our water keeps the minerals which this improves vitamin absorbance too. It’s also high in antioxidants, hexagonal shaped which permeates the aqua porine thus intracellularly hydrating organs and passing through the blood brain barrier even. Sounds almost too good to be true almost, but it’s been used globally for almost half a century. It replicates the natural waters found in Lourdes, France and Japanese hospitals and Dr H. Shinya and the Anti Cancer Society among others highly recommend it for wellness. (Drinking it helped me to have a clear colonoscopy. ?)
?Feel free to watch the video/demo at CoachLindaJohnson.KangenDemo.com.
Anne says
Can you highlight the website for the ioni,ed water so it can be copied?
Josie Vasquez says
Just bought my first daterra pan that you linked above! Can hardly wait for it to arrive on Wednesday!
Healing in our Homes says
I hope you love it Josie!