The Hidden Toxins in Our Homes: How to Fight Them Like We Fight Against Loadshedding

Life has gotten toxic hasn’t it? 

I mean just the other day I was in the shops trying to figure out what was worse for me, a coke with like 6 teaspoons of sugar in it or an energade with zero sugar that has a whole other bunch of chemicals in it all starting with E and followed by a whole lot of numbers, hello? Since when did we have numbers in our food and drink ingredients?

Needless to say I got a bottle of water instead, only to feel guilty about the micro plastic levels in the water and worrying about whether or not it had any other harmful chemicals in it. 

I then headed home and realised that my surfaces needed a cleaning so brought out my Mr Muscle and started spraying it on my surfaces, only to find my interest peaked further by reading the shear volume of chemicals that were in this as well…

I’m sure you get the picture… everything, I mean everything seems to be toxic! 

So what do we do about this? How do we navigate everyday life without having to ask questions like: Is my soap toxic?, how do I know what is toxic in my kitchen?, will my shampoo make me go bald? and why does my dog hate me?… (ignore that last question, I just copy and pasted my recent google searches 👀)

We’ve put together a guide on what to avoid and what to use in a simple and easy to follow guide below. 

How to Spot Toxins in Food?

1. The journey to toxin exposure often begins in the most beloved place of our homes: the fridge. Foods, particularly processed ones, can contain a myriad (yes that is a fancy word that I used instead of saying a lot) of chemicals and preservatives. 
2. Pesticides, used widely in conventional agriculture, can remain as residues on fruits and vegetables. Similarly, meats might be treated with hormones and antibiotics, and packaged foods can be laden with additives that prolong shelf life but potentially harm our bodies.

Solution: 

• Opt for organic and locally sourced foods where possible. 
• Washing fruits and vegetables with a mixture of baking soda and water can help remove some of the surface chemicals. 
• Furthermore, incorporating plenty of fibre-rich foods can naturally help cleanse your body. 
• Stay away from processed foods
• Use trusted brands such as Checkers or Woolworths for your fresh produce to make sure you get great quality. 
• Look for labels such as: organic, pesticide free, when purchasing your fresh produce especially

How to spot Toxins in Household Products?

Cleaning products are a massive source of household toxins. Many of these products contain harsh chemicals that can cause reactions and can poison your home without you even knowing. Phthalates, found in fragranced products and triclosan, (yes these are real things) often used in antibacterial soaps, are just a couple of examples that studies have shown may have long-term negative health effects.

Solution:

• Embrace DIY cleaning solutions. Ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils can tackle most household cleaning tasks without the side effects associated with synthetic chemicals. Not only are these alternatives safer, but they are also eco-friendly and economical.
• If you’re too lazy to do that (or if you just don’t have the time, because who actually has the time to make their own soap at home) then definitely give Nu-Eco a look, they have some amazing products and won’t completely break the bank: https://nu-eco.co.za/. You can also find their products in most Spar’s or Checkers
• Use unscented cleaning products and use baby soaps for personal cleaning as these often aren’t allowed to contain harsh chemicals. Dove has a great baby soap that is also great for people who struggle with allergies. 

How to Combat These Toxins Regularly Without throwing Out Everything I Own?

One particularly potent solution to combating these toxins is Moringa the "miracle tree" is well known for its nutritional benefits, containing a plethora of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and more.

We’ve actually put together a Moringa Detox guide that talks you through how Moringa can help you detox your body and rid it of all sorts of harmful toxins that are having a negative impact on your health. So if you want to take your own health back into your hands definitely give it a look. 

You can get it here: 

To Summarise:

1. Evaluate Your Food Sources: Take a closer look at where your food comes from and what goes into it. Transition to organic and pesticide-free products where possible.
2. Rethink Your Cleaning Routine: Swap out chemical-based cleaning products with natural alternatives. 
3. Use Moringa5000: Start incorporating Moringa into your daily routine. Whether it’s a morning smoothie. Two small capsules or a regular tea, Moringa can boost your body’s detoxification processes and offers numerous other health benefits.
4. Educate Yourself: Awareness is key. The more you know about the potential toxins in your environment, the better equipped you are to avoid them and make healthier choices.