My family is in no way responsible for my previous junk-food addiction. My dad gave up drinking soda altogether when I was little. My mom made us delicious homemade meals, and even dabbled multiple times in the realm of organic and natural foods.
And then there’s me. In my mind, eating healthy meant the ice cream made of tofu instead of dairy, a disgusting peanut butter flavored cereal, and dinners with a whole lot more green stuff than I thought was entirely necessary.
My high school eating habits? Vending machine lunches of a bag of chips and a Cherry Coke. Packages of cookies that disappeared in a day. I was lucky my parents taught me to clean my plate, otherwise I don’t know how I would have gotten any vegetables into my system.
So you can be sure that I’m not some kind of organic expert.
But recently I’ve become aware of some sobering facts. Did you know that:
– Europe bans 1,372 harmful or potentially harmful ingredients from being used in cosmetics; the FDA only bans 10. Here are eight examples of banned ingredients in Europe that the US allows, from Refinery 29.
– Unnatural preservatives found in prepackaged foods to keep them from spoiling have been known to cause cancer (although natural ones are safe)!
– About pesticides – that they affect the brain and nervous system, that they are being used in increasing measure, and that your state may be the most highly exposed to pesticides.
– Some harmful chemicals in personal care products include fragrance/parfum (cancer-causing or otherwise toxic), triclosan (used in antibacterial products, causing cancer, disrupting hormones, affecting fertility, and possibly causing birth defects), and talc (which can cause ovarian and testicular cancers). Many more are untested – we don’t even know what kind of effects they can cause.
– These 11 facts about organic food, like that organic-grade produce is grown without pesticides and fertilizers, and organic livestock is raised without synthetic hormones, antibiotics, or genetic engineering or cloning.
I recently read The Honest Life by Jessica Alba, which goes into great detail about why the star chose to go organic and eco-friendly to protect her family from allergens, carcinogens, and downright poison in everyday foods and products. I was amazed at the dangerous chemicals that are found in ordinary products like make-up and household cleaners – they can affect your brain, nervous system, reproductive system, hormones, and on and on.
All of this was a dramatic wake-up call for me to change my lifestyle and take a good look at the foods I eat and the products I use.
To be sure, it is kind of a lifestyle overhaul. But it can be quite simple. Here are some tips to help you get started. These may seem a little novice for those more practiced in the art, but for me, they were game-changers.
1. When grocery shopping, stick around the perimeter of the store. If your grocery store is like mine, the things on the outside perimeter are the produce, meats, bakery, dairy, wine section… Okay, I’m getting off track. The rows of aisles in the middle are the processed foods.
2. Make it yourself. At least when it comes to food. That way you have control over what you’re putting in, instead of buying the pre-made things where someone else decides what kind of “ingredients” go into it.
3. Keep it simple. Along the same lines. Some of the best recipes I have are simple, few-ingredient dishes. Again, it gives me more control over what I’m putting into my system. And keeps it less expensive.
4. Shop smart. Look for discounts, compare items, get coupons, know which produce items you should/shouldn’t buy organic. Clean living does not guarantee you spending more money. Our budget has gotten tighter, but we still eat and live pretty clean.
5. Focus on biodegradable, pronounceable ingredients. Best ways to judge if a product is actually good for your body? Read the label, and make sure it is, in fact, natural. A lot of products make that claim, but you can see if it’s for real based on the ingredient list.
Ultimately, be easy on yourself. Lifestyle changes take time. Don’t go and throw out everything in your kitchen. Don’t spend zillions of dollars on beauty products you can’t afford. Just do the best you can, making healthy and informed decisions.
Great resources:
Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 – Produce you should buy organic, and the produce that doesn’t necessarily have to be organic to be clean. My sister-in-law made it simple for me: if you don’t eat the skin, you don’t have to buy organic.
Beginner’s Guide to Clean Grocery Shopping
Eat Seasonably – Great blog resource
Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database – Want to know how eco-friendly and safe your personal care products really are? The Honest Life recommended this website, which is super helpful and tells you exactly what ingredients are in those products that you don’t want in or on your body.
End Your Relationship with Plastic – This whole blog is a great one!
Recipes for Green Cleaning – Make it yourself using safe ingredients; I also like Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products.
These are some great tips – especially staying around the perimeter of the store. I like that idea!