How to Live a Healthy, Toxic Free Lifestyle

Making a lifestyle change to live a healthy, toxic-free life is not as daunting as it sounds. Is it a long term commitment? Yes, but the results are definitely worth it. Here are some steps you can take immediately to jump-start your healthy, toxic-free lifestyle today.

Avoid pharmaceuticals! Medication is not always the solution - your food and lifestyle choices should make up your healthcare regimen. More than 50 million Americans use acetaminophen each week, and while using medication as a replacement for proper nutrition might be a quick fix, it is ultimately harmful to your long-term health and wellness. Instead of turning to pharmaceuticals, lifestyle changes such as eating habits, work out routines and living environments are very impactful in the long run. Eventually, these improvements will alleviate the need to use medications and contribute toward your toxic-free life.

Clean air means a happier, healthier you. You know the saying, "you are what you eat?" Well, the same can be said about what you breathe in. More than 40 percent of Americans - nearly 140 million people - breathe unhealthy air. Air pollution can affect not only your lungs, but your heart as well. While it is harder to demand the need for clean air in public spaces, you can control what you inhale in your own home. Investing in a high quality indoor air filter for your home will help reduce the risk of lung and heart diseases associated with breathing in bad air.

Know exactly what ingredients are in your everyday products. Most people don't know that trusted department store brands often use toxic ingredients, which can lead to negative health effects down the road. It is vital that you, as the consumer, understand how to pinpoint the dangerous ingredients on a label before you purchase the product. Some ingredients to watch out for include:PEGs, Parabens, Phthalates, Artificial colors, Synthetic fragrance

Too much of anything, especially meat, can be a bad thing. Processed meats, or any meats that are smoked, frozen or canned are pumped with chemicals in order to be preserved. Eating processed meats can greatly increase your chances of stomach cancer, while consuming red meat can lead to bowel cancer. To put it simply, stay away from high meat consumption of any kind. From tofu, to beans, to nuts, there are plenty of other ways to get your daily dose of protein.

Go all natural with your cleaning products. A typical roundup of cleaning products in one household can accumulate very quickly. What's really scary is that for each product, there is an unfathomable number of chemicals within, including but certainly not limited to: Triclosan; 2-Butoxyethanol and 2-Butoxyethanol Acetate; Ammonia, Quarternary Ammonium Compounds; Formaldehyde; and Phthalates. Here are some DIY recipes and for toxic-free cleaning product alternatives: (1) Glass cleaner: ¼ cup white vinegar, 1 tbsp. corn starch, 2 cups warm water (2) Dish soap: Dr. Bonner's 18-in-1 Pure Castle Soap (3)Dish washer detergent: 2 parts Borax, 2 parts washing soda, 1 part citric acid, 1 part salt, essential oils for scent (4) All-purpose surface cleaner: 1 cup water, 25 drops antibacterial essential oil blend (5)Tile and shower scrub: ½ cup baking soda, 2 tbsp. washing soda, 2 tbsp. Borax, 3 tbsp. liquid castile soap (6) All-purpose cleaner: water, hydrogen peroxide, essential oils (7) Mop spray: 1 part distilled white vinegar, 3 parts warm water

Cut out sugar from your diet. Sugar alters our biochemical pathways in our brain, tampering with our dopamine receptors. In order for us to get the next dopamine spike, we continuously need a greater dose of sugar. Because of this, 80 percent of the 600,000 food products in America today are laced with some form of sugar, which keeps us addicted. If you are looking for that quick sugar fix, reach for the organic berries instead of the candy bar.