There are few things I would consider life changing, but learning more about natural products is certainly in the ranks.
Ironically, I stumbled across “non-toxic living” purely by accident! It’s been just over one year (at the time of writing this post) and I’ve already gained SO much! While I’m learning more each day, here are some things I wish someone had told me when starting out.*
Non-Tox Newbie
Once you start paying attention to toxic ingredients, it’s hard to ignore or continue down the same path. Before that though, you first have to be made aware of what’s what. If you do a quick search online, you’ll easily come across thousands of articles and opinions on all things non-toxic.
Such a multi-faceted topic makes most people immediately turn the other way and continue on as they have been. Wouldn’t life be better if you just ate the name brand snack, or got fast food on the way to your destination, or used the skincare product everyone else swears by?
Toxic Overwhelm
Early on in my own journey (and even sometimes now, being honest) it doesn’t take much to get overwhelmed or even apathetic trying to live a marginally clean life.
Everywhere you turn you see a reel about a new harmful ingredient, or hear about the dangers of something you just ate for breakfast that morning, or spend hours at the grocery store trying to decipher which product is the lesser evil.
Eventually, you might question if it’s all worth it or even realistic in today’s world. While it may be impossible to completely avoid every last toxin in modern life—some change is certainly better than none at all!
Cheering You On
However you ended up here, this post is to 1) gently remind you why clean living is worth your while, and 2) offer simple ways to keep moving forward.
Even if no one in your inner circle seems phased by “bioengineered” or “genetically-modified” rest assured that you’re not alone and there’s plenty of others navigating the same path. It might seem like a lot at first, so here are some things I wish I’d been aware of when first starting out.
THE BENEFIT ➡️ what happens when you switch to non-toxic products
Everyone has different lifestyles and physical makeups, so the following may not be noticeable to every person. However, they’re all changes I’ve read about numerous times &/or experienced firsthand. So there’s a good chance you’ll see at least one pop up once you start implementing cleaner products!
- You have more dreams💭
- Toxic ingredient: fluoride
- What it’s found in: toothpaste
- Why it’s used: can help enamel & prevent tooth decay
- Harmful effects: impairs sleep cycle, memory, hormones
- Recommended product: VanMan tooth powder
- Your hair feels more full🙆♀️
- Toxic ingredient: sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate
- What it’s found in: soap, personal care, cleaning products
- Why it’s used: helps create lather/foam for cleansing
- Harmful effects: hair loss, irritates skin, clogs pores
- Recommended product: 100% Pure or Innersense hair products
- Your skin clears up😌
- Toxic ingredient: phthalates & parabens
- What it’s found in: skincare, makeup, deodorant
- Why it’s used: prevents bacteria growth, helps soften formulas
- Harmful effects: disrupts hormones & reproductive system, increases cancer risk
- Recommended product: grass fed tallow balm, pure essential oils
- Your gut & memory issues improve🧠
- Toxic ingredient: high fructose corn syrup
- What it’s found in: cereals, baked goods, candy, soda, ice cream, condiments, soups, canned food
- Why it’s used: sweetens & enhances flavor, increases shelf-life, lowers production cost
- Harmful effects: damages healthy gut bacteria & brain cells, causes inflammation, weight gain, liver issues
- Recommended product: 100% raw honey, natural coconut sugar, pure maple syrup (plus lowering overall sugar intake!)
THE HOW ➡️ clean + simple alternatives you can start using today
This is by no means an all inclusive list—just a handful of go-to items I’ve come across that are worth sharing. Keeping it small & simple means easier to implement, which makes for easy motivation and attainable goals!
- Splenda ≫ coconut sugar or raw local honey
- International Delight, Chobani creamers ≫ half and half
- Flavored yogurt ≫ plain greek yogurt with honey
- Wheat Thins, Ritz, Club crackers ≫ Nut Thins, Crunchmaster, Good Thins
- Campbell’s, Progressive soups ≫ Amy’s, Health Valley
- Hidden Valley ranch ≫ Primal Kitchen, or try homemade!
- Rays BBQ sauce ≫ Primal Kitchen, Stubb’s
- Bragg apple cider vinegar ≫ Full Circle ACV
- McCormick seasonal all ≫ Mrs. Dash table blend
- Good & Gather, Pam oil sprays ≫ expeller pressed extra virgin olive oil
- Crisco, Smart Balance ≫ Kerrygold grass-fed butter
- Log Cabin ≫ pure maple syrup
- Name brand sodas ≫ Olipop, Poppi, Petal
- Artificially flavored water ≫ Karma probiotic water
- Crest 3D white strips ≫ Sierra Clean whitening strips
- Colgate, Crest toothpaste ≫ Van Man tooth powder
- Carmex, Blistex chapsticks ≫ Van Man lip balm
- Name brand face creams ≫ Van Man tallow balm
- Name brand acne creams ≫ Laguna Moon tea tree oil
- Name brand makeup ≫ Well People, Taylor Made Organics
- Febreeze car air fresheners ≫ reusable vent clips with pure essential oil
- Clorox, Lysol, Windex cleaners ≫ Blueland, Grove Co, Common Good, Thrive Market
- Tide pods ≫ Earth Breeze laundry sheets, Nellie’s laundry soda
Looking for a simple + healthy recipe to get started? Check out this crowd favorite PEACH BERRY CRUMBLE! →
Where To Now?
Keep in mind—clean living isn’t going to be perfect, and there’s always more to learn. But opting for even one natural alternative is progress and something worth celebrating! To learn more and start your own journey toward cleaner health, checkout the FREE TRACKER ⬇️
You’ll gain access to a complete tracker, practical tips, simple meal plans, mindfulness, PLUS how clean living can impact spiritual life! Use it to get organized and stay motivated, plus deepen your mind-body-soul connection and start living a more natural & balanced life.
≫ Want more clean living content or non-toxic product reviews? Let me know in the comments or submit a message through the Contact Page!
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***Disclaimer: The information provided on The Beacon Road is not a substitute for professional medical advice, mental health advice, spiritual advice, or treatment of specific medical, mental health &/or spiritual conditions. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem, for yourself or others, without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. The Beacon Road is not liable for how the information is used and cannot be held responsible or guarantee any results. The Beacon Road is simply serving as a guide to help you reach your own health and wellness goals through simple holistic remedies and lifestyle changes.
