In this article I discuss my personal opinions on the topic of consumer products and food being toxic, what to avoid, and when the stress caused by worrying about these toxicities may be worse than the “toxins” themselves.
Toxins, Toxins Everywhere!
In this era of emerging interest in natural living, discussion of “toxic” products seems to be everywhere. Like most aspiring to a more natural style of living, I do want to avoid toxic items in my home as much as possible. However, as I read various blog and Facebook posts, I wonder if these claims of toxicity are accurate and/or based on any real evidence.
There is a misunderstanding that if something is harmful in large quantities it is altogether toxic. There are many, many beneficial compounds that can be harmful if ingested in large quantities. For example, fat-soluble vitamins (Vitamins A, D, E, and K) are essential, but because they build up in fat tissue, they can cause problems if ingested in large quantities. Water is the same. I think we can all agree water is beneficial to drink. However, if too much is ingested, sodium levels in the blood can become altered.
Routes of ingestion can also determine a compound’s effect on the body. For example, if you inject a large quantity of water into your veins, it is fatal. However, drink it and it is very beneficial.
Lastly, I also take into account the risk to benefit ratio of so-called toxic compounds. I use parchment paper enough that, to me, any risk of toxicity is minimal and the benefit to using it is huge. Therefore, I will continue using parchment paper at this time. I do think the cortisol secreted by our bodies in response to constant worry is very detrimental, and at some point, that may be more harmful than the actual compound. As an anxious person at baseline, I struggle with this anyway. I do not want to add to my worries and baseline cortisol level fretting over every small thing. I know there is likely no way to avoid every potentially toxic object. Therefore, I am going to do my research, weigh the risks and benefits, and try to avoid toxicities when feasible.
Remember, this lifestyle is not all or nothing. Any improvement is better than none, so just do what you can and what you feel is right for you and your family!
”We grew up around this stuff and we are fine!”
Not to pick on anyone who says phrases like the one above, because I have thought the same thing, but ingredients in food and various compounds have drastically altered over the years. Preservatives and added sugars have become far more common in an effort to elongate shelf life and improve flavor. It is exceedingly difficult to determine how much of an effect these changes have on human health because they are so many other compounding factors that likely contribute to overall health — physical activity levels, diet, genetics, exposure to various compounds, medications, advances in healthcare, etc. In addition, some conditions appear to have a higher incidence at least in part because they are now more easily recognized and diagnosed.
Picture used with permission and credit to Vani Hari at FoodBabe.com
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All of that to say…I have no clue exactly what effect ultra-processed food has on human health. However, based on what I have read and common sense, I feel fairly safe in saying the effect is likely negative. In my mind, making things from scratch and using natural ingredients while avoiding preservatives and processed food as much as possible can’t really be a bad thing. I have to admit, I do occasionally indulge in fast food, processed treats, etc. By no means is our house completely void of store-bought snacks and foods, but we are trying to slowly move in a more natural direction. Again, I don’t think it is worth the stress to throw out every single processed item and frantically try to make everything myself. But if I can slowly learn to make more and more things myself then I am very happy to replace them.
The same goes for plastic items. I do not know exactly if or how bad plastics are, if it is only if they are heated, etc. I am not panicking and throwing out every piece of plastic in our home. However, we are slowly buying stainless steel and glass items such as cups and storage containers. I will eventually get rid of the plastic, but we also have small children. Sometimes glass dishes and small children do not mix well!
Introducing Natural Items with Kids
My kids do not always love everything I made, which makes it difficult to cut all store-bought things out. However, I have taken the time and effort to try and explain WHY our family is starting to make these kinds of changes and why something made at home is more healthy than something we buy. I am happy to say that these conversations have made a positive impact. Just the other day my parents took my kids for ice cream and my middle son did not eat all of his. He told my mom that he was finished because he wanted to make sure he had more protein than sugar. I was very proud!
In service of not worrying myself sick about things, I have taken a stance of moderation. I am not going to prevent my children from ever partaking of candy and the occasional store-bought treat, but I will absolutely strive to teach them moderation and encourage choosing more natural snacks. Again, any change that is feasible for your family is better than no change at all. If you are a family who has never had candy in the house, good for you! If your only change so far is making your own bread instead of buying, but the pantry still has Pop-Tarts in it, good for you too!
Bring your kids along with you on this journey into natural living, no matter if you plan on a complete lifestyle modification or just simple small changes. They will appreciate the conversations and you leading by example.
My Conclusions
I am towing a middle ground on natural living. I am not throwing away every item rumored to be toxic, removing every store-bought food from my home, or giving up deodorant. But, I am slowly getting rid of things I can replace with healthier alternatives, making as much from scratch as I can at this stage in life, and making sure I do my own research and come to accurate conclusions. Don’t let yourself panic just because you saw an Instagram post say something was toxic.
As a scientist by trade, I always tend to question what I hear and try to find proof. In the absence of proof (as many topics on this blog cannot be definitively proven or are just simply not studied), I use common sense and Biblical advice as well.
In this blog I will provide recipes and tips, but I will also dive into research on various toxicities and test natural products in hopes of providing my readers with as much information as possible on this lifestyle. I hope this blog provides a safe place to ask questions, explore and learn together, and appreciate the simple joys of life!
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