Nowadays, we are constantly exposed to various things which can harm our health to a great extent, especially in food. We are often told that certain chemicals are safe while they are actually dangerous for us, and negatively affect our health over time.

Moreover, everyday devices, like electronics and even office chairs, have a detrimental effect in the long run.

These offending items are numerous, but this article will list 10 of them we use every day and their avoidance is a must in order to prevent numerous health issues.

1: Plastic Food Containers and Bottles

You should avoid plastic bottles and plastic food containers in order to lower the exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like phthalates, bisphenol-A (BPA), and bisphenol-S (BPS).

Namely, the endocrine system regulates your tissue function, mood, metabolism, growth and development, as well as reproductive processes and sexual function, so these endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been associated to numerous harmful side-effects, such as:

• Lower IQ in children
• Thyroid, prostate, breast cancer
• Reproductive health problems
• Hypertension: A randomized, controlled trial showed that BPA from cans or plastic bottles increases the blood pressure in a couple of hours after ingestion
• Learning difficulties, hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness

Moreover, the number of chemicals leaching from these containers is increased by heat, a wear, and tear through multiple washings. Therefore, the use of the old container is also dangerous.

Also, it has been shown that “BPA-free” plastics can leach endocrine-disrupting chemicals which have the same effects as BPA. Therefore, you should avoid the use of plastic containers altogether, and use glass ones. If your children are small, use glass baby bottles as well.

2: Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose (Splenda) increase the risk of diabetes as they trick the body into storing fat, so you should eliminate them in order to improve your health.

Moreover, foods and beverages that contain artificial sweeteners, like diet soda, lead to weight gain and worsen the insulin sensitivity, while at the same time, lead to numerous health problems, such as stroke, heart attacks,  and Alzheimer’s.

Namely, artificial sweeteners disrupt the intestinal microflora and thus cause diseases and obesity. They change the metabolic pathways linked to metabolic function.

For instance, disrupted function has been found in pathways related to the transport of sugar in your body. Moreover, these artificial sweeteners have been shown to lead to glucose intolerance and gut dysbiosis in healthy people.

3: Antibacterial Soaps and Detergents

In the long run, the frequent disinfection of your body and surroundings may lead to more negative, than positive consequences, as it will support the development of drug-resistant bacteria.

Moreover, common antibacterial compounds like triclosan have been found to cause numerous health problems, particularly in young children.

Research has shown that triclosan may change the regulation of hormones and may even interfere with fetal development in the case of pregnancy. It has also been associated with other health issues, such as:

• Thyroid dysfunction
• Endocrine disruption
• Inflammatory responses
• Allergies
• Weight gain

Hence, all you need in order to get rid of microbes which lead to diseases is some warm water and mild soap. Even the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suggested that “there is currently no evidence that antibacterial soaps are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water.”

Despite antibacterial products and hand soaps, triclosan is included in numerous personal care items, acne creams, toys, cutting boards, and Colgate Total toothpaste.

Furthermore, you can start using one all-purpose disinfectant, which can be used in the bathroom, for kitchen counters, cutting boards, and various other places- vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide.

All you need to do is to pour this solution into a spray bottle and spray it on the areas. According to the tests conducted by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, this spray is even more efficient than any other lethal bacteria killers, and even chlorine bleach, as it effectively destroys virtually all Shigella, Salmonella, and E. coli bacteria on extremely contaminated food and surfaces.

4: Non-Stick Cookware

You should also substitute your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware as they are made with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical which has been labeled as a “likely” carcinogen, by an independent scientific review panel that gives advice to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This complex chemical is based on fluoride for its non-stick features. Thus, as soon as the pot or pan is heated, the vapors of the fluoride go into the air and harm you and even kill small birds. Therefore, in order to avoid emitting toxic fluoride, replace this cookware with ceramic or glass one.

5: Air Fresheners

Common air fresheners often include 2, 5-dichlorophenol (2, 5-DCP), which is a metabolite of1,4-dichlorobenzene, and has been related to precocious puberty and various health issues, even cancer.

These air fresheners and room deodorizers often include endocrine-disrupting phthalates.

Therefore, instead of using chemicals sprays, try some other natural solutions to improve the smell of your home, like high-quality pure essential oils, and open your doors and windows to enhance the general quality of the air inside.

The article continues on page 2.