by Kate Wilson
It’s one thing to detoxify your body — it’s another thing to detoxify your life. But detoxifying doesn’t have to be as complicated or expensive as it often seems. Make these simple changes to your daily life and kick toxins to the curb.
Use Natural Cleaners
Many popular cleaners contain harmful chemicals that can do more damage than good. There are some products on the market that are chemical-free, however you can make your own natural cleaners with items that can be found in your own cupboard.
For example, lemon’s acidity can cut though most household bacteria and baking soda deodorizes and can be used to scrub food from dishes.
Buy Organic Foods
Organic might be a little more expensive, but there are ways to shop smart and eat organic on a budget. Organic food is free from pesticides that are used with modern farming.
Even though these pesticides are effective against bugs, they’re linked to many health issues. Visit your local farmer’s market to support your local businesses while eating healthy.
Minimize Plastic Use
Cut out as much plastic as you can. Try to buy beverages in glass bottles. When you’re buying groceries, bring fabric bags with you so you don’t have to use the plastic bags available at the store.
Be sure to also avoid reheating food in plastic containers. Going plastic-free can help cut down on your environmental impact.
Reuse and Recycle
Rather than going for disposable products, make the splurge on items that will last longer and won’t sit around in landfills for eternity.
Go for metal water bottles that are durable and will last for years.
Instead of packing your lunches in plastic bags, opt for reusable Tupperware container. If you must use something disposable, be sure to recycle whatever you can.
Avoid Toxins
Even if you’re eating organic foods, there are still other toxins you should avoid. Having the occasional glass of wine is fine, but avoid drinking it in excess.
Toxins can also be found in cosmetics and other beauty products. Be sure to choose natural products whenever possible.
Invest in a Water Filter
The typical American wastes over $100 each year on bottled water. Depending on the quality of water in your region, you can opt instead for tap water.
Self-filtering water bottles and filtering pitchers are another low-cost investment and require only the occasional replacement filter. Even a whole house filtration system to get rid of any lingering chemicals in the water can be a good long-term investment.
Cook More at Home
Rather than ordering delivery food or going out to eat, you can cook your meals in the comfort of your own home. Cooking your own meals has numerous benefits. In addition to controlling what you put in your food — meaning you can personalize it to your own tastes — you can ensure that the items used are fresh.
You’ll also save more money cooking in bulk and eating leftovers than having to buy food from a restaurant a couple of nights a week.
Use Aluminum-free Deodorant
Don’t worry, I’m not telling you to eliminate deodorant from your daily routine. However, many deodorants use aluminum, which can cause cancer and other health issues when used in large amounts. Even though it’s safe in normal usage, you can avoid the worries by switching to natural deodorants.
Avoid Canned Foods
Fresh food is the way to go if you want to detoxify your life. Canned foods contain preservatives that, while keeping the food edible, doesn’t keep it very healthy.
Even if you can’t go organic, you should at least avoid anything that is loaded with preservatives.
Add Plants to Your Home
Decorating your home with a little bit of green can be beneficial in many ways. We all learned in elementary school that plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Adding a couple of plants can help freshen the air in your home.
Exercise More
Daily exercise can keep you healthy mentally and physically. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly have less stress and are less susceptible to various health issues, such as heart disease and obesity.
Even if it’s as short as 15 minutes a day, that activity can make a difference.
Minimize Time in your Car
Besides emitting pollutants in the air, spending large amounts of time in your car can make you feel irritated, stressed and tired.
Try biking to places if you can or walking if that option is available. If you must drive, try to plan your day so you’re not stuck in traffic or take a scenic route to make the drive more enjoyable.
Living a healthy lifestyle begins with simple choices that don’t need to cost you a fortune. Once you start making these changes you will be on the way to detoxifying your life.
(Kate Wilson is a freelance writer, green living guru, and budget extraordinaire. When she’s not helping others to live the green life, Kate can be found knee-deep in her garden or nose-deep in a 19th-century novel. Follow her on Twitter @kateowilson for more on writing and the great outdoors.)
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