Most people think that a clean house means a healthy house but for the average home this cleanliness comes at the expense of exposing their families to hundreds of toxic chemicals which makes it more like a house of toxins which is far from healthy. Toxic chemicals in everything from laundry detergent, dishwasher soap and bathroom cleaners, to name just a few, can contribute to an array of health problems such as allergies, sinus problems, asthma and headaches. For more data on these chemicals read my post How Toxic Is Your Home? For those with children it is even worse for them since their immune systems are more fragile. Don't forget about our four-legged friends, pets are also exposed to these chemicals and due to their shorter life span they are even more affected by these toxic chemicals. They play on lawns that have been sprayed with toxic chemicals, put things in their mouths they should not and drink tap water that is full of chemicals including pharmaceuticals.

The majority of household cleaners and detergents use chemicals that are petroleum based which also increases our nation's dependence on imported oil. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found that one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic. This includes fragrances in laundry detergent, cleaners (glass, bathroom, furniture polish, etc) and also things such as fabric softeners and air fresheners.

You can eliminate these toxins by cleaning your home with cleaning products that are green. Green means to use products and methods that won't negatively impact the environment with pollution and toxins or deplete natural resources. In the case of your home it helps to limit your exposure to these harmful chemicals that can affect your health. The more toxins and chemicals that are dumped into the environment the more you get exposed through the food you eat, the air you breathe, etc. When you use that tub and tile cleaner or wash your clothes with that "fresh" smelling laundry detergent or bleach your towels all of those chemicals are washed down the drain into our water systems where they filter out into the ground, our oceans and our air.

Going green can be a little confusing. There are a lot of products that label themselves as "natural" or "organic" and are not. Up until recently, there have been very few household cleaning products and laundry detergents that were actually organic. There is a company now called Greenology products that have the first USDA certified organic label on all their products(this is the only true organic label) including the first laundry detergent to be certified as such. You can check out their website at www.greenologyproducts.com  There is a place to type in your zip code and it will tell you the nearest store where you can buy their products. Surprisingly, Lowes in San Antonio carries their products. 

Getting rid of all the toxic cleaning products in your home (don't forget about your office as well) is huge step in going green and improving the health of your family. It is not that difficult to do. Good news Kermit, it just got easier to be green!

I use different products from time to time, but these are the things I'm currently using. I am always looking for better and more effective products, and I will keep you posted on those as I find them. To see when I use all my products and in what order go to my post: My Skincare Routine.

In the morning as part of my treament and moisturizing I use a skin brightening lotion. It is a very light lotion that has glycolic and fruit acids to help slough off those dead skin cells that leave the complexion dull. Although it says it is an anti-acne and skin brightening treatment, I use it for its brightening effects. It is very light and soaks right in. I suppose if you had very young skin you might not need a moisturizer with this but I use it in conjunction with my moisturizer. You can purchase it at www.brenditasbodyworks.com and it is called Glowshine Anti-Acne, Skin Brightening Lotion. Her products are all organic and very nice. They are also very reasonably priced.

The moisturizer that I use in the morning is from a company called Global Healing. Their website is  www.ghchealth.com the name of the cream is called Parfait Visage. When you go to the website click on organic skin care on the left-hand side of the opening page and this will take you to all of their organic skin care products. Just scroll down until you see Parfait Visage. This is an all natural product. It has a Manuka Honey and frankincense which are both very good for the skin.

No matter what your skin type is you need to wear a sunscreen everyday (on you face). I have tried a lot of different sunscreens in the organic and natural arena. This is one product where I only want to use something natural. There are basically two ways to block the damaging rays from the sun and that is with a physical or chemical barrier. I do not like sunscreens that use chemical barriers, because these chemicals have been shown to be hormone disrupters and mimic estrogen in the body and some are believed to be possible carcinogens. I prefer to use a sunscreen that uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide or a combination of both. These provide a physical barrier to the sun and are both very safe.

I think I finally found a sunscreen that fits my criteria (no chemicals and light enough to wear over my regular moisturizer). It is called Burnout Clean and Clear Zinc Oxide Sunblock SPF 32 and you can order it from  www.brenditasbodyworks.com Go to the homepage and click “all products” in the upper left-hand corner and you'll find it in her complete list of products. She also carries a sunscreen for children, which I would highly recommend if you have kids. Kids immune systems are more fragile and they are more susceptible to the damaging effects of toxic chemicals so you should try to keep their exposure to toxic chemicals as low as possible.

Another point worth mentioning is the subject of nanoparticles. For a size comparision, a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. A nano particle is basically a very very small particle of a particular element. The problem with nanoparticles is that they are so small that they can get through most of the barriers that we have in our system and be absorbed directly into cells and once they are in there is no way of getting them out. Nanoparticles have made their way into the sunscreen industry. At this point I would stay away from anything with nanoparticles. Even though zinc oxide is considered safe, I would not use any product that had zinc oxide nanoparticles in it. When you use zinc oxide it provides a physical barrier that protects you from the sun and is not absorbed into your skin or body and is harmless. But nanoparticles of zinc oxide can be absorbed directly into your body and into your bloodstream and like any nanoparticle be absorbed directly into your cells. There is a huge concern of nanoparticles safety at this point, and therefore I would recommend not using anything at all, even things that are not applied to your body, that use nanotechnology.

The moisturizer that I am currently using at night is from Dr. Mercola. You can find it at  www.mercolahealthyskin.com I am actually using his Organic Cupuacu Day Moisturizer as my night cream. I really like it and I love the smell (it has a light citrusy smell, which I find very pleasing). I just found it to be a bit too heavy for my day moisturizer. If you have dry skin you could certainly use it as your day moisturizer. This is 100% organic product and is very, very nice. This is the first skincare product that I have used from him and I am very impressed. His products are also very reasonably priced for the quality you are receiving.

My husband’s skin is more on the oily side and right now I have him on a daytime moisturizer from a company called Gunilla of Sweden. It is called Lerosatt Moisture Matte. This company makes a line of acne products that are pretty natural. You can order it off of  www.Amazon.com Just type in Gunilla of Sweden in the search bar and it will pull up their products.

The Parfait Visage (as mentioned above) would work as a night cream if your skin is more on the normal to oily side.

When you are in an infrared sauna you do not feel like you can’t breath or have to get out for a minute due to intense heat like a conventional sauna. Infrared saunas are pretty maintenance free. You can put them just about anywhere. I have had mine for almost 2 years and I have had to do absolutely nothing to it. The infrared technology came out of NASA so there is actual science to back this up.

I did quite a bit of research on the companies that sell infrared saunas and I bought mine from  www.sunlighten.com  There are different ways to generate infrared heat and their carbon heating system is the best. I was also able to order it in an untreated wood so the materials used to build the sauna are not toxic in any way. It does not make much sense to buy something for detox and then sit in wooden box that has been treated with harmful chemicals and inhale them.

These saunas are very easy to put together. I hired a guy and he put the whole thing together in about 30 minutes. They are magnetic pieces that just snap together. It has a glass door. I think that is the only thing that requires a tool (installing the glass door). If you move or want to move the sauna then just unsnap it, take the door off and that’s it. It is not heavy. Mine has a radio and CD player inside of it. I got the one that seats three and it is very comfortable for me and my husband to sit in there and have room to move. Sunlight saunas has a very informative website and their sales people are very helpful. You will probably want to call if you decide to order. Please tell them you were referred by me.

Asthma and other respiratory ailments are increasing at high rates. When you wear perfumes you are not the only one that is breathing in all these toxins but you are forcing those around you to breathe them as well. I have to get on my soapbox a minute regarding perfume etiquette. I do not know why when people fly they think it is okay to douse themselves with scented products including perfume and then get on an airplane where the air quality is poor anyway and subject everyone around them to inhale these toxins for 3 or 4 hours. On more than one occasion I have had to change seats and not been able to sit with my husband because someone next to me had on perfume or cologne that gave me a sick headache within 5 minutes of sitting next to them. I had a guy come and install my satellite dish and set up my TV’s last week and he was wearing aftershave and by the time he left I had a headache. Okay, I am stepping off my soapbox now.

Most people who wear perfume or cologne cannot smell it after a while and put more and more on. This is because these toxic chemicals are desensitizing their olfactory (sense of smell) senses. With all the chemicals that we ingest and are exposed to why subject yourself to even more toxins when it is not necessary. Get yourself some high quality essential oils and use those (make sure they are 100% pure essential oils). They are not toxic and some have therapeutic qualities. A small amount will not leave you over-powered and probably will not bother others. The manufacture of perfumes creates tons of chemicals that are dumped into the environment that we all get exposed to including children whose immune sytems are more fragile. Every small thing you can do, like not buying or wearing perfume, adds up to help this planet and first and foremost makes you and your family healthier.

Look on the list of ingredients and if you see the word fragrance or scented anywhere on it do not buy it. The exception to this is if the scent or fragrance comes from 100% pure essential oil. It will state this if it does. Check your laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, conditioner, all hair products, any kind of soap that you use, lotions, etc. for fragrance. You might be suprised at how much exposure to chemicals you are getting. See my post on Toxins In the Home for more data regarding this.

See my post on the Top 10 Killer Household Chemicals to learn more about keeping toxins out of your home. Go through your home and gather up all the toxic cleaners, bug sprays, etc and dispose of properly. You cannot throw these in the regular trash. You will have to call your local sanitation department and ask them where to take them so they are disposed of properly. Most cities have a location where you can drop them off. I suggest gathering them all so you only have to make one trip.

The International Association for Research on Cancer classifies PERC as a probable carcinogen. Every time you bring dry cleaning home or wear anything that is dry cleaned you are getting a healthy dose of PERC. Personally, for a number of years I did not dry clean anything or buy anything that needed to be dry-cleaned. I just started washing everything that said dry clean only (other than coats or jackets which do not really need cleaning very often) and not one thing got ruined. Recently, I found dry-cleaners that uses eco-friendly solutions and uses a process called “wet-cleaning.” If you live in San Antonio the name of the dry cleaners is Clothesline and they have numerous locations. Not only does wet cleaning not use perc it uses less energy and the machines cost less than traditional PERC machines and the cleaner does not have to have toxic waste hauled away. PERC has been banned in California and hopefully will be banned entirely some day. If you do not live in San Antonio then do a search in your area for green dry cleaners and ask them if they use the “wet-clean” method. Just type in green dry cleaners and your city under search or keyword on your computer and hopefully you can find one near you. If not, let your local dry cleaner know that you won’t be dry cleaning anymore and why.

There is also something called the “Teflon flu” where after inhaling these particles the person gets flu like symptoms such as headache, chills, backache and a temperature between 100 and 104 degrees. It is temporary. Anyone with birds know that you cannot keep birds anywhere near the kitchen if you cook with non-stick because if they inhale these particles it is fatal to them. In light of all this, I have made a choice to not cook with non-stick pots and pans.

There are several good pans that do not have this coating. The one’s that I use now are called Green Pans from Thermolon and you can order them off of  www.hsn.com  I like them because they are a certified “green” product from the way they are manufactured to cooking with them. You can also buy Green Pan from Thermolon at Target. I have the set that first came out and I have had a few problems like after a while things started sticking. They say to not use non-stick spray and I think this happened (I have several persons in/at my household besides myself who use the pans). Also, they cook much faster and you do not need to use high heat and I think that this also happened.

I found another set of green cookware at  www.mercola.com  and I just ordered it. It is a ceramic material (much like the coating on the Green Pans) that is not supposed to leach anything into food. They have frying pans, pots and bakeware. You have to be a little bit more careful with it because even though it won’t crack or break from high temperatures it can break if dropped.

Apparently even stainless steel can have problems with things like nickel leaching into food. Even if you do not have concerns about Teflon, if you are going to buy pans then buy pans that are safer for our environment. By the way, Dupont plans to phase out Teflon by 2015 since the chemicals used to manufacture it are highly toxic to the employees of their plants and to the environment. The workers in the plant in Virginia have had major health problems and children with deformities. It is funny how they keep telling us it is safe but yet plans to discontinue making Teflon.

TOP TEN DEADLY HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

AIR FRESHENERS: Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film, or by releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives. Can cause cold sweats, convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma and even death.

AMMONIA: This is a very volatile chemical, it is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.

BLEACH: It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes which can be DEADLY. Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), available alone and in detergents and other products, is toxic to fish and can bind with organic compounds in water to form organochlorines, which break down slowly in the environment and accumulate in the fatty tissues of wildlife. Chlorine is especially toxic to organisms that live in water and soil.

CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen that damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.

Dishwasher Detergents: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated. # 1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.

DRAIN CLEANER: Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloricacid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.

FURNITURE POLISH: Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer. Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed through the skin,extremely toxic.

MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS: Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.

OVEN CLEANER: Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns both skin and eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.

ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain: Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage.

LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.

TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.

OTHER NASTY THINGS THAT ARE AROUND YOUR HOME:

PESTICIDES: Most pesticides have ingredients that affect the nervous system of insects. Imagine what these extremely poisonous chemicals do to your body… or your baby's. Dimpylate: Better known as Diazinon, extremely toxic. Impairs the central nervous system. Chlorinate Hydrocarbons: Suspected carcinogen and mutantagen. Accumulates in food and in fatty tissue. Will attack the nervous system. Organophosphates: Toxic and poisonous. If you can smell it, your lungs are absorbing it.

FLEA POWDERS: Why put toxins on "man's (or woman's) best friend." Carbaryl: Very toxic, causes skin, respiratory and cardiovascular system damage. Chlordane: Accumulates in the food chain, may damage eyes, lungs, liver, kidney and skin. Dichlorophene: Skin irritation: May damage liver, kidney, spleen and central nervous system.

LICE SHAMPOO: Especially vulnerable are children. Lindane: Inhalation, ingestion, or ABSORPTION through the SKINcauses vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and circulatory collapse. May cause liver damage, stillbirths, birth defects and cancer.

CAR WASH AND POLISH: Petroleum Distillates: Associated with skin and lung cancer, irritant to skin, eyes, nose and lungs. Entry into the lungs may cause fatal pulmonary edema, most marked Danger, Harmful or Fatal.

TAR AND BUG REMOVER: Contains XYLENE and PETROLEUM DISTILLATES. Xylene affects the central nervous system.

  If you are not familiar with any of this, do not go in to overwhelm. Even if you just start replacing one product at a time with something more natural, you are on the road to getting toxins out of your home. Going green can take some time. “Going Green" is a phrase referring to the pursuit of knowledge and practices that lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, thus helping protect the environment and sustaining its natural resources. I would not try to memorize all the chemicals listed above, or try and check labels for these ingredients.

Just start out with taking a general category such as laundry detergent and then chose a laundry detergent from one of the brands I have recommended. Laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent are the first two things I would replace with a more natural and eco-friendly brand. Phosphates, found in dishwasher and laundry detergents, cause algae bloom, which kills fish and aquatic plants, and produces chemicals that are toxic to animals and people who drink the water.

I would also get rid of all air fresheners including scented candles since these are a major source of irritants. Brands like Seventh Generation, Ecover, Sun and Earth and Mia Rose can be trusted. There are a lot of brands that claim to be natural, but they really aren't. Seventh generation products can be found at most chain grocery stores. If you really want to go green and cheap, you can use distilled white vinegar for just about anything. You can go to  www.vinegartips.com  and see their list of 1001 uses for distilled white vinegar. By eliminating toxic household products and eating certain organic fruits and vegetables (see my list of the top 10 foods that you should always buy organic) you can significantly reduce the amount of harmful toxins that you are exposed to without having to go to extremes.

1. aluminum
2. barium
3. chlorine
4. chromium
5. Ethylbenzene
6. Flouride
7. HAA5’s
8. Nickel
9. TTHM’s

The filters that I use can be ordered from a great site called www.greenlivingnow.com  Amy Tedesco is very knowledgeable and knows her stuff. She did a lot research regarding these filters and this company. They are not very expensive and the unit that houses the filter will not become obsolete as they upgrade filters with new technology from time to time.Amy puts in a lot of time and effort on her research and is not compensated so this will help her out plus you are getting a superior product. You can also sign up for her free news letter which is great.

Having your own filtered water is also better and cheaper than buying bottled water and is much better for the environment. See my post on bottled water for some eye-opening data.

Besides filtering your drinking water I also recommend a shower filter. This can also go under the heading of beauty because bathing and washing your hair in filtered water is so much better for your skin and hair. You skin is the largest organ on your body and it does absorb chemicals. If you are showering without a filter then you are dousing yourself with a good dose of chlorine everyday. As the hot water opens up your pores you absorb chlorine and the steam vapor causes you to inhale chlorine also. The one that I have in my master bath is a little fancier. It is an ionizing showerhead that produces negative ions (that is the experience you get after it rains or when you are in the mountains and have that fresh clean air). It is a little pricey but you never have to change a filter or anything. It also produces infrared rays that help improve the skin and scalp. It is very easy to install. The water feels like silk. You can go to the products section and learn more about it and order  directly from my site!

*the actual hot and cold point countertop dispenser is from a company called Oasis but the filter system with it is from Lakota (the filters that you can purchase from www.greenlivingnow.com) You do not need to a countertop dispenser, I just like having hot and cold water to hand. The Lakota filters can be hooked up directly to your water line and they are very easy to install.

The Dirty Dozen

• Apples
• Bell Pepper
• Celery
• Cherries
• Imported grapes
• Nectarine
• Peaches
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Red raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries

Dr. Fuhrman says if you buy the above things organic, you can cut down on 90% of your pesticide exposure. Now here is the list of the foods with the least pesticides that you don't have to buy organic:

• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn
• Kiwis
• Mangoes
• Onions
• Papaya
• Pineapple
• Peas

One other thing that you need to make sure when buying your fruits and vegetables or any food for that matter is that you're not buying genetically modified foods. See my post on Genetically Modified Foods.