I’ve said this before but, I’ll say it again: Take baby steps when making a lifestyle change! You don’t want to look at this the same way you’d look at a diet, which for me has never worked, FYI. To make a real change in your life that lasts, you absolutely must take small steps. By taking smaller steps and not rushing into things, you won’t get overwhelmed, and you’re more likely to stick to it.
The first product I swapped out for a non-toxic one was my deodorant. Through intensive blood work, I found out that I had heavy metals in my system. When researching metals in self-care products, I learned I was using a deodorant formulated with aluminum. Honestly, that was so eye-opening. We use deodorant every single day and right next to our breasts, so to think that there’s aluminum inside the product, I just knew it had to be harmful. That small change was the catalyst for me looking into other products in my lineup that had safer alternatives.
Through intensive blood work, I found out that I had heavy metals in my system.
Now, that’s not to say it was easy! I had a difficult time finding one that lasted through heavy sweat and workouts. At first, I always had to make my trainer aware I might smell which was obviously not something that I was used to (LOL!). It was a little embarrassing, but knowing that I was being safer and healthier is what really mattered. However, being in the game of clean natural deodorant for some time now, I’ve tried many and have my favorites. With a little trial and error, you’ll find something that works for you too. There are definitely ones last long and smell amazing. The benefits of switching to a natural deodorant including, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer, which have both been linked to aluminum. There are even some deodorants that contain infertility-causing toxic chemicals—SCARY!
The next product I swapped out was toothpaste. Yes, I too was a huge Colgate lover for quite some time, but a lot of toothpaste contains fluoride. Too much fluoride can lead to bone disease, thyroid issues, and neurological problems. I was shocked to learn all of the above! Thankfully, natural toothpaste is much easier to find now, and they all have a refreshing taste due to the natural ingredients like mint or cinnamon. Natural oils in natural toothpaste, like spearmint and peppermint, can help fight off bacteria. There’s also really no need for a soap-like effect we see in traditional toothpaste that we’re all used to. That foamy effect is Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS), which is essentially a detergent that’s also found in a lot of shampoos. SLS is also known to be a skin irritant to a lot of people, which obviously isn’t good for your gums.
It’s wild what a little research can do for our health and the decisions we make. Learning more about things found in our personal care products shouldn’t scare you, but hopefully pushes you in the right direction. Remember, its never too late for a change, and a healthier change at that. I’ve put a list of my favorite natural products below to make it easier for you!
Xoxo
-Ashley