How to reduce the chemical load - and why?

How to reduce the chemical load -
and why should it be reduced?

By Hanne

When you hear talk about reducing the chemical load, reducing cosmetic products often immediately comes to mind. But it’s about a lot more that everyone should consider daily. In this article, I will tell you how to reduce the chemical load in your everyday life. And because I like to ask many questions, I will also tell you why one should reduce the chemical load.

How to reduce the chemical load -
and why should it be reduced?

Plastics and phthalates are everywhere. And plastic is, in many ways, the beginning and root of all evil. Many consumer products contain, for example, substances that affect human reproduction and can also disrupt hormone function.

Phthalates are plastic softeners. Fortunately, nowadays, they are banned in children’s toys and cosmetics, but they are still present everywhere in our everyday life. For example, have you thought about what you are wearing? Are you aware of wearing plastic? You probably own plastic summer shoes, flip-flops, Crocks, or Gote-Tex clothing.

The problem with phthalates is that they are absorbed through the skin, such as those lovely flip-flops you wore all summer. They can also enter our bodies through the environment. The air we breathe may contain phthalates from plastic carpets or textiles. However, the most significant exposure to phthalates comes through food, as they are allowed to be used in food packaging. Phthalates can also be found in the shells of medicine capsules. So there is clearly a reason for our attention; in what kind of packaging you buy your food and what material your clothes are made of.

Cosmetics

In her book Marjoja & Maskaraa, Noora Shingler writes about how the Danish Ministry of the Environment recommends that pregnant women shouldn’t use cosmetics at all because the ingredients in cosmetics are suspected to affect fetal development and early puberty.

The cosmetics industry uses more than 100,000 chemicals, of which only a fraction have been tested for their effect on fertility. It doesn’t mean that all of the tested substances are harmless.

Regarding the cosmetic chemicals in use, only some have been tested for carcinogenicity. And that by no means means that the tested products are safe; they have only been tested. And thus, a large percentage of all cosmetic chemicals cause cancer.

The raw materials of synthetic cosmetics have never been part of nature but have been created by humans. So it’s good to remember that when such raw materials end up in the environment with the washing water, they can cause something unwanted and unexpected.

Cutting out cosmetic products and replacing the ones you use with organic cosmetics is therefore justified. It is good to try to eliminate synthetic perfumes, i.e., what you smell in the cosmetics section of the department store, synthetic colors and preservatives (parabens), over-washing ingredients, i.e., intensely washing and foaming surfactants. They are often entirely unnecessarily strong, and they also dry out the skin. You can find silicone in both hair care products and cosmetics. In hair care, silicones are, e.g., creating a film on the surface of the hair, which makes the hair smoother and shinier. Silicone takes with it the volume of hair, which one is then trying to be patched with some other product. Arg, more chemicals!! Genetically modified raw materials and UV filters of sun creams also end up on the list of things to avoid.

Plastic, plastic, and even more plastic

Help, help, help! It was the first thing that came to mind when I became aware of the abovementioned things, especially since this is by no means all. As mentioned, plastic is everywhere. Even if you try to avoid it, it’s still everywhere. The thing to pay attention to when it comes to plastic is that disposable plastic drinking bottles are indeed disposable. However, the amount of their consumption should also be paid attention to too. If possible, replace the plastic food boxes with glass ones. You should also pay attention to canned goods and their consumption and minimize their use. As said, we cannot avoid chemicals, but we can control how much we allow ourselves to be exposed to them.

Why chemical load matters?

Why? Why does all this matter? Because of the chemical load, our body’s hormone receptors start to be blocked by hormone disruptors. And when this happens, your natural hormones don’t get to attach to the hormone receptors, and thus the hormone disruptors get to mix up the regular hormonal activity. Hormonal activity can also be disturbed by imitating hormones that act like natural hormones.

The superpower of hormone disruptors is that one is 100 times more potent than the natural hormone, and when they compete for the same receptor, the hormone disruptor always wins. Up to 800 different chemicals can act as hormone disruptors in our bodies.

Xenoestrogen

Xenoestrogen in the body mimics estrogen. It enters our bodies from commercially raised meat and dairy products, pesticides, tap water, parabens, plastic, birth control pills, tampons, and menstrual pads.

Estrogen regulates hormonal activity, binding to cell receptors and sending messages to the body. Xenoestrogen is a synthetic and hormone-disrupting pest that attaches to cell receptors and sends wrong signals to the body. Xenoestrogen causes estrogen levels to remain high, which is why progesterone does not rise until estrogen levels are balanced.

Too much estrogen in the body causes, e.g., decreased libido, swelling, fluid retention, mood swings, weight gain, and headaches.

What to do?

After reading this far, I’m sure you agree that it is appropriate to cut back on cosmetic products and replace them with organic products to reduce the body’s chemical load. Choose organic food whenever possible; we are lucky to have organic food widely available today. By choosing organic products, you often also choose a more ethical option, avoiding the harmful effects of pesticides.

Finally, pay attention to water. Get a water filter for your home, not only for your drinking water but also for your shower. Replace all the cleaning products with non-toxic ones. And with these instructions will get you far. The last step is detox. It is an excellent way to help your body to cleanse itself of your chemical load of years. However, a detox course is suitable for each of us once or twice a year.

Here are ways for you on how to reduce the chemical load. Make the changes out of your desire to do your body good and live a balanced and quality life.

Are you aware of your chemical load?

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Hi, I'm Hanne

I am a yoga instructor and personal trainer dedicated to holistic wellbeing and natural living. On my blog, I share insights and practical tips to help you find balance and harmony in your life.