Plastic Food Containers and Bottles
To stay healthy, it is important to throw away your plastic food containers and plastic bottles. This will reduce your exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and phthalates.
BPA, a compound used in manufacturing polycarbonate and other plastics, is a harmful chemical. Even the U.S. government’s National Toxicology Program agrees that exposure to it is bad for human health.
discard plastic bottles and containers
Exposure to BPA interferes with reproductive development in animals and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in humans. This harmful chemical even increases the risk of cancer of the breast, prostate and thyroid.
A 2009 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives reports that drinking anything from polycarbonate bottles increased the level of BPA excreted in human urine. Such bottles release the chemical into the liquid that people drink.
Heat, along with wear and tear through multiple washings, can increase the amount of chemicals being leached from containers and bottles. Your best bet is to avoid plastic bottles and containers altogether, and replace them with glass bottles and containers.
Antibacterial Soaps and Detergents
If you regularly buy antibacterial soaps and detergents, it’s time to change this habit to stay healthy.
The “antibacterial” tag does not keep you healthy and protect you against germs and bacteria as you might believe. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that people use plain soap and water to wash their hands.
do not use antibacterial liquid soap
Antibacterial soaps and detergents are harmful due to the presence of the chemical called triclosan. Such hygiene products also contain other harmful chemicals, such as triclocarban, 2-butoxyethanol, BPA, d-limonene, dyes, parabens, phthalates and chloride.
A 2009 study published in Toxicological Sciences reports that triclosan exposure can significantly impact thyroid hormone concentrations.
Triclosan can alter hormone regulation and may interfere with fetal development in pregnant women. Other health problems linked to triclosan include allergies, endocrine disruption, weight gain and inflammatory responses.
Air Freshener
Air fresheners and room deodorizers are loaded with chemicals that are harmful for your health. They usually contain phthalates that have been linked to cancers and other health problems.
In most cases, these products contain a compound called 2, 5-dichlorophenol (2, 5-DCP). It is an endocrine disrupting chemical which is linked to earlier age of menarche.
avoid using air freshener
Instead of masking bad odors with room fresheners and chemical sprays, try to identify the root causes and deal with them.
You can also prepare homemade air fresheners using baking soda and essential oils. Another option is to prepare small sachets or pouches using dried flowers, herbs and spices.
Plus, you can create a stove-top potpourri using citrus fruits and aromatic spices to make your home smell nice and fresh. Just simmer ingredients like orange, cranberries, lemon, lemon zest, lavender, cinnamon, mint, rosemary, bay leaves and star anise in a pot full of water.
Kitchen Sponges
You must throw away your kitchen sponges every two weeks to stay healthy.
The kitchen sponge that you regularly use to wash your dishes and clean your countertops can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and other pathogens, such as viruses. It is the dampness and dirt on the sponges that aid in harboring these nasty bugs.
throw away dirty kitchen sponges
Experts report that a sponge can harbor 10 million bacteria per square inch and can be as much as 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat.
Even the cleanest, most well-kept sponges need to be thrown away two to four times a month. In between replacements, you must run your current sponge through the dishwasher to help keep germs at bay.
A 2006 study published in Saint Martin’s University Biology Journal found that for cleaning a kitchen sponge, the dishwasher had the largest bacterial reduction, reducing bacteria by 57.3 percent, followed by boiling and the washing machine method.
A washcloth is actually a better option than a sponge for regular kitchen use. As a washcloth is thinner, it dries quicker than a sponge between uses. This slows down the growth of bacteria. But still be sure to toss it in the washing machine frequently for a good cleaning