We view our home as a safe haven for our family and ourselves. What we don’t know is that sometimes the most common objects in our house can pose a great threat to our health.
Whitening toothpaste that ensures a bright, pearly smile, antibacterial soap that protects our children from germs, and diet sodas that advertise a trim figure aren’t as “innocent” as we might think.
We care about your health and well-being, which is why we’ve compiled a list of household products that can be harmful, along with some safer options.
Things we do every day that can seriously harm us
The real effect of diet sodas
The first thing we eliminate from our diet is regular soda. We rely on diet sodas to ease the transition, since we still have something sweet and caffeinated to drink when our energy is running low.
However, studies suggest that there is a direct correlation between drinking diet soda and the risk of developing serious health problems, such as dementia, obesity, cardiovascular diseasesand having a stroke.
To top it off, the main reason we drink them is to lose weight, but these types of drinks can increase our cravings and we can end up with a bigger waistline.
Alternative:
Try to be natural. If the water is too soft for you, season it by adding a little lemon juice. If you’re craving something sweet, smoothies can be your savior. You can even combine different varieties of fruits to make them more interesting.
A toxic touch of perfume
Before leaving the house, we make sure we have covered the “must haves” and a touch of our favorite perfume is always a must. What we don’t know is that we basically spray our skin with good-smelling chemicals, some of which are derived from petroleum.
Exposure to these fragrances can cause mild to severe symptoms, ranging from migraines to infertility. In addition, they are well known contaminants. So let’s stop using them and do ourselves and the environment a favor!
Alternative:
Switch to products scented with natural oils. You can create your own toxin-free perfumes.
Non-stick pans equal unwanted toxic gases
Being as busy as we were and not wanting to spend too much time scrubbing our pans, we bought the coveted non-stick frying pan. We think we have found the solution to all our problems, but we are only adding a new one to the group.
The coating on these products contains polytetrafluoroethylene. When pots overheat, toxic gases are released that can be carcinogenic.
Alternative:
Stainless steel or cast iron cookware is strongly recommended. You can also incorporate natural and non-stick sprays into your kitchen.
invasive cotton swabs
Ear wax exists for a reason: it protects our ear canal from dust and dirt. When it builds up, it feels sticky. Consequently, we can become irritated and resort to using a cotton swab. When pushed too hard, it can damage delicate structures like the eardrum and even cause hearing loss.
Alternative:
First, throw them away or remove them from your shopping list. So it is not really necessary to clean the accumulated wax inside your ear.
However, if you wish to clean dirt from the channel opening, use a damp cloth and be careful not to apply too much pressure.
The antibacterial hand soap that kills “too many” germs
From our childhood we are taught the importance of washing our hands frequently. We are not going to deny this part, but the use of antibacterial soaps can be “unhealthy”.
First of all, there’s no strong evidence that they kill all germs, and they shouldn’t either. Experts believe that some ingredients found in these soaps, such as triclosan, may cause antibacterial resistance.
Alternative:
All you need to keep your hands clean is soap, water, and a thorough wash.
Can you think of other products that could pose a threat to your health? We would like to know to better protect ourselves!