Low Toxic Living: It's Not Just Chemicals

Low toxic living is a huge topic these days, especially as more research exposes the damage chemicals and pollutants cause not just to our body, but to the planet. For those that are unfamiliar with this idea of low toxic living, it is a movement that encourages people to minimize/eliminate environmental toxins, and become a more conscious consumer. Environmental toxins are, “organic and inorganic pollutants, pesticides and biological agents”, and they can exist in products we use like cleaners, shampoos, make up, and plastic bags, but also in our food, water, and even the air we breathe. Some toxins, especially the inorganic ones, can lead to serious and harmful effects in the body. In a recent talk with Alexa Wright, Low Toxic Living expert, I was shocked to learn how many environmental toxins have averse effects, and even more horrified to learn how little regulation there is in the United States regarding these dangerous little chemicals that get dumped into everyday products.

Living a low toxic life means becoming aware of these pollutants and irritants and choosing alternative products that are better for our health and the environment. This might mean, for example, eating organic foods to avoid consuming the chemicals in pesticide sprays, or purchasing reusable bags instead of plastic, which is often laced with chemicals and doesn’t decompose easily, leaving tons of plastic waste in landfills and the ocean. There are so many ways one can begin cutting out toxins, and if you’re looking for a list of things to do, feel free to follow the links or Google search- there’s A LOT out there. However, as I grow more intentional with my own life, I am learning that living a less toxic life is more than just throwing out the Clorox and buying certain products.

For me, toxicity exists beyond chemicals and pollutants, and I think there needs to be a bigger conversation around what it means for something to be toxic. Anything we consume with the senses, be it mouth, eyes, or ears, has the potential to be toxic. That means the movies and shows we watch, the podcasts we listen to and the books we read have the potential to be toxic. Another possible toxin in life? People. Not all people of course, but a lot of us can find ourselves in toxic relationships.

Setting healthy boundaries, being picky about what you watch, read, and listen to, and being selective about who you spend your time with is also an important aspect of a low toxic lifestyle.

In this blog I want to expand upon on how toxicity finds its way into our life through the media, people, and even through consumerism itself. Let’s start with consumerism as a whole.

Consumerism

What is consumer culture? To put it simply (and bluntly), “Consumer culture is the spending of customers’ money on material goods to attain a good lifestyle in a capitalist society”. When it comes to harming the environment it has been said that, “Climate change is the symptom, Consumer culture is the disease” (Atkins, 2019). According to this same article, in order to live a less toxic lifestyle, “we will have to eat less meat, drink less dairy, waste less food, and generally buy less crap that we don’t need”. However, the marketing world has learned how to deceive the public into “needing” and purchasing so-called “low-toxic” and “waste-free” products. Unfortunately, a lot of the labels on such items are just “environmental performances” that continue to fuel a consumer society. Ultimately, anytime we purchase a product we are creating a greater demand for it, which leads to more production, and inevitably the creation of more toxins into the environment.

The need for more “holistic” and “eco-friendly” products can be just as dangerous to the environment as items deemed toxic. For instance, lavender oil became a trendy holistic remedy, and when combined with lemon and vinegar can make a great alternative as a cleaner. Creating your own cleaner sounds healthier than buying a plastic tube of Clorox wipes, right? Well…maybe, not so much. Because of the high demand for lavender oil, lavender fields are starting to become endangered. Farmers started monocropping the flower to compensate for the over consumption. The strain on supply has stripped the land of nutrients and depleted many natural lavender fields.

This is just one example of how low toxic living isn’t just about changing the products we are buying, but buying less. Period. It’s about becoming aware of consumer culture as a whole. Consumer culture is especially rampant in the United States. Data shows that,

“If everyone lived like western consumers we would need 5 planets to support us.“

Try as we might to terraform Mars, as of right now, all we have got is the one and only earth, and right now, the rate that we are consuming is not sustainable. That being said, I realize that thinking about cutting back on spending on behalf of all of humanity can feel overwhelming at times! I get it. I feel this, too. To help ease the anxiety one might feel trying to save the planet, I’d like to offer two reminders. First, every little step counts. Whether you make a commitment not to spend money on coffee for a month, or start buying from thrift shops, or simply recycle your trash…every little bit counts. It’s important to do what you can, with what you have, where you are. And sometimes the biggest thing you can do is simply become aware. Start to take a closer look at what consumer culture is, and what is your part in it.

Secondly, consumer culture doesn’t just have an adverse affect on the planet’s health. Checking your consumer habits benefits the planet and you. The material mindset that plagues many in this day and age can lead to unhappiness and poor wellbeing. I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying, “money can’t buy happiness”. And it’s true! It really can’t! One psychological study linked an emphasis on material values to lower life satisfaction. Further research shows that insecurity and doubt are what lead most people towards materialism. It’s not surprising that advertisements often speak to people’s insecurities. Marketing culture capitalizes on scarcity mindsets. One article analyzes how “limited quantity” promotions provokes the consumer to buy the product, and creates aggression and tension in the individual. We’ve all seen it: those items on Amazon with the small red lettering alerting you that there are “only two left”. Interestingly, one such product I saw with this labeling just so happened to be an eco-friendly, climate pledge friendly laundry detergent…that still came in a giant plastic bottle.

Now, I’m not encouraging anyone not to buy laundry detergent. Rather, I am inviting people to take a deeper look at how advertisements might be manipulating you into participating in consumer culture, even when you think you’re “choosing better”. Moreover, I think it’s important that we begin to notice how this marketing makes us feel, and in turn really investigate what it is we need and don’t need. The marketing says we need it, says it’s good for the environment, but is it? Again, I’m not trying to stop you from buying your favorite pair of environmentally conscious jeans or knock all those earth loving products for your home (I buy them, too!) I am merely hoping to bring some more awareness to how much we are consuming, how necessary it really is, and how it affects our wellbeing.

Consumer culture is more than just toxic to the environment, it has severe consequences on our mental health. Especially for children. One investigation showed that over exposure to consumer culture and a materialistic focus lowered children’s performance in school and led to poor relationships amongst peers and family. So, it’s not just about saving the planet. Checking your consumer habits is a part of mental health and overall wellbeing. I know it may seem like those little trips to Target and Starbucks support your sanity temporarily, but relying on those quick material dopamine hits can lead to deep dissatisfaction in the long run. Awareness is key. Consumerism is here, and it’s not going away. All we can do it become more conscious of how we participate in it, and find a balance that works for us. Make sure your needs are met, indulge every once in a while, and keep checking in with what is necessary, stay conscious of labels, and do your best to honor your longterm happiness as well as the planet’s health.

Media

Consumer culture isn’t the only aspect of modern society with toxic repercussions. Consumption goes beyond what we buy, eat, and drink. We also consume things with our eyes and ears. Personally, I try to be very picky about the movies I watch and books I read. If it creates stress in my body, if it doesn’t grow me as a person, or bring me joy, or make me think in a more expansive way, then for me it’s toxic. For example, I know a scary movie is going to give me nightmares, so why would I expose myself to that?

Now, I recognize that there might be some podcasts and books that challenge your world view in a good way, and inadvertently create some tension in the body. I’m not proposing we shut down that which makes us uncomfortable. It’s important to be open to new thoughts. However, we live in the digital era, which means we have more access than ever to opinions, thoughts, and stories from other people. Sorting out those that matter from those that don’t can be very difficult. Moreover, an overload of other people’s opinions can pull out the ground from beneath us, leaving us in doubt and dissatisfied. Part of living a low-toxic life, in my opinion, means taking radical control over that which you consume with your eyes and ears; being very selective about what you your watch, read, and listen to. For this category of toxicity, everyone’s list of what is toxic is going to look a little different. There is only one general exception that regardless of who you are can be extremely toxic when over-consumed: the news.

There’s a fine line between staying informed and overindulging. It may seem counterintuitive not to pay attention to what’s going on in the world, however, multiple studies show that the news is toxic to the body. It activates the limbic system, releasing extra cortisol, and often puts us in tense state of flight, fight, or freeze. One article warns people,

“News is bad for your health. It leads to fear and aggression, and hinders your creativity and ability to think deeply. The solution? Stop consuming it altogether.”

This is a little dramatic in my opinion, but I do think there is truth to it, and there are ways to set healthier boundaries around it.

It’s worth examining how much news you are indulging in. Along with having adverse physical affects, the news also dramatically impacts our mental state. This has become especially relevant in Covid-19 times when it seemed very necessary to watch the news. However, Research shows that, “consuming too much of this kind [Covid-19] of news, whether actively or passively, can be very toxic, and what you hear has an impact on your mood.” Respected therapist Annie Miller warns about the “constant exposure to negative information” and how it affects the brain. The truth is, for centuries we never heard much news beyond the neighborhood or village we lived in. Now, in the internet age, we are all easily connected to national and international news and it is over-stimulating to our physical and mental systems. It is important to stay up to date, but it is equally as important to take care of our health by setting boundaries around our news consumption so that it does not become toxic. Start by setting a time limit, avoiding the news first thing in the morning or before bed, and maybe seek out some good news before anything else. For more tips on how to balance your news intake check out this article.

People

This last aspect of low toxic living may be a bit obscure, but I couldn’t write a blog on eliminating toxins and not mention the impact of people in our lives. According to a study by Berkley, our friendships matter more than we realize.

“Friendships can help us find purpose and meaning, stay healthy, and live longer. The intimacy, support, equality, and emotional bonds we have in our friendships are unique.

Who you hangout with has a huge impact on your thoughts. One study suggests that the people that surround you can affect your views, shape your habits, and contribute to your emotional state. So it makes sense that you would want to surround yourself with non-toxic people. But how do you know if someone is toxic? Toxic behavior is often associated with narcissism, but that doesn’t mean someone has to be a narcissist to be toxic. One way to think of toxic people is anyone that leaves you “feeling bad: edgy, guilty, confused, frustrated, overextended.” This may include people who try to control you, or abuse your time and energy. Sometimes, it’s obvious and easy to pinpoint. Other times it can be sneaky, especially when the toxic person is a close family member. It may be difficult to draw boundaries around people you love, but it is a worthy endeavor to identify toxic people. There are many articles one can consult on how to handle such situations. Depending on the situation, it might be helpful to invest some time and energy into therapy to assist you as you navigate “cutting people out”. Despite how hard it might be, one article asserts that

“creating a life free of toxic people is the best thing you can do for your mental and physical well-being.”

In fact, a study by Psychology Today claims that a common attribute among mentally strong individuals is healthy quality relationships. Recognizing the significance of the people in our life and how they make us feel can’t be downplayed. It is essential to discern toxic people, and take the necessary steps to set healthy boundaries around yourself so that you can live a life free of toxicity.

Conclusion

Okay, well, the truth is a life completely free of toxins is probably not possible at this point in our lives. Nonetheless, there are actions we can take toward creating a low toxic life. If changing all your household products is overwhelming, you might start by simply investigating and examining what consumer culture is, how it makes you feel, and how you participate in it. We can’t change anything if at first we don’t understand what we are doing. If this is still a bit too much to take in, bring it to a personal level. Become aware of what you listen to, watch, and read. Be selective in the content you engage with, check in with yourself regularly to see how it affects your nervous system and wellbeing. If it doesn’t serve you-don’t give it your time. Lastly, don’t forget to notice the energy that certain people bring into your life. Maybe you’ve already nailed low toxic living from an earth friendly consumer perspective. Maybe not. Either way, I think we can all be a little more mindful of who we give our energy to, and make sure to surround ourselves with people that support us, encourage us, and help us to live a life that honors our own wellbeing, and the planet’s too.

Article by Bridget Lavin

Nest Health Connections

Nest Health Connections is a corporate wellness company revolutionizing health and happiness in the workplace. We create holistic customized wellness programs for employers and their employees.

Sources:

https://www.lowtoxicliving.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_toxicology#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20sources%20of,harmful%20effects%20on%20living%20organisms.

https://www.ehn.org/plastic-environmental-impact-2501923191.html

https://www.thetot.com/mama/how-to-sustain-a-non-toxic-lifestyle-without-breaking-the-bank/

https://branchbasics.com/blogs/toss-the-toxins/8-tips-for-transitioning-to-non-toxic-living

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/theballisinyourcourt/chapter/consumer-culture-and-the-environment/#:~:text=Over%20the%20past%20century%2C%20consumer,world%20(Atkin%2C%202019).

https://newrepublic.com/article/154147/climate-change-symptom-consumer-culture-disease

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/eco-labelling.html

https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/state-of-the-planet/number-of-consumers/story

https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/essential-oil-sustainability.asp

https://www.greenmatters.com/p/what-is-monocropping

https://www.apa.org/monitor/jun04/discontents

https://www.apa.org/monitor/oct02/doubt

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/710531

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra-P-Ql0uvY

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/12/news-is-bad-rolf-dobelli

https://www.eatthis.com/watching-news-body-effects/

https://www.verywellmind.com/is-watching-the-news-bad-for-mental-health-4802320

https://www.onemedical.com/blog/healthy-living/news-impacting-your-mental-health/

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_your_friends_are_more_important_than_you_think

https://powerofmisfits.com/mind/you-are-who-you-hang-out-with/

https://www.shondaland.com/live/family/a33658961/determining-whether-someone-is-actually-toxic/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201504/5-reasons-studies-say-you-have-choose-your-friends

https://achieveconcierge.com/blog/the-importance-of-cutting-toxic-people-out-of-your-life/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/93521/7-tips-eliminating-toxic-people-your-life