10 Things to Throw Away for Better Health

Via Mercola Natural Health Articles by communities@mercola.com (Dr. Joseph Mercola)

By Dr. Mercola

Each and every day, you come into contact with a large number of items—many of which have health
risks that can accumulate over time. Many chemicals appear safe yet aren’t, and are not likely to be
suspected when your health starts failing.

But other items that are part of the “standard” of contemporary living—such as electronics and even your
office chair—can also do more harm than good in the long run.

The list of offending items can certainly be made exceedingly long, but here I will list 10 everyday items
that you’d be better off without. A recent article in Time Magazine1 lists even more items you should
throw away for better health.

#1: Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose ( Splenda) trick your body into storing fat and raise
your risk of diabetes, so if you’re looking for health benefits, you’d be better off throwing those colorful
little packets in the trash.

The same goes for any food or beverage containing artificial sweeteners, such as diet soda. Besides
worsening insulin sensitivity and promoting weight gain, artificial sweeteners also promote other more
serious health problems, including heart attacks, stroke2,3,4 and Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the mechanisms by which artificial sweeteners promote obesity and disease is by disrupting your
intestinal microflora.5,6,7,8 Specifically, artificial sweeteners alter metabolic pathways associated with
metabolic function.

Decreased function has been observed in pathways associated with the transport of sugar in your body,
for example. Artificial sweeteners have also been found to induce gut dysbiosis and glucose intolerance
in otherwise healthy people.

#2: Plastic Food Containers and Bottles

Tossing your plastic food containers and plastic bottles is a basic step to reducing your exposure to
endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol-A (BPA), bisphenol-S (BPS), and phthalates.

Your endocrine system as a whole is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue
function, metabolism, as well as sexual function and reproductive processes, and endocrine-disrupting
chemicals have been linked to a wide number of adverse effects, including:

Reproductive health problems

Hypertension: According to one randomized, controlled trial, 9 BPA from cans or plastic bottles can
raise your blood pressure within just a few hours of ingestion
Reduced IQ in children 10,11
Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning
Cancer of the breast, prostate, and thyroid 12

Heat, along with wear and tear through multiple washings can increase the amount of chemicals being
leached from containers and bottles, so holding on to old containers is not a good idea.
 While I used to support switching to BPA-free containers, it’s now been revealed that even “ BPA-free”
plastics can leach endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are just as bad as BPA.

Your best bet is to avoid plastic containers altogether, and replace them with glass bottles and
containers. Also opt for glass baby bottles if you have young children. Make the switch to glass, and you
won’t have to struggle figuring out which plastic might be safer than another, only to later find out it wasn’t
such a great trade after all...

#3: Non-Stick Cookware

To further clean up your kitchen act, toss non-stick pots and pans and replace them with ceramic or glass
cookware. The non-stick coating is made with a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which
has been labeled a “likely” carcinogen by an independent scientific review panel that advises the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Although PFOA is a long complex name, it is essentially a complex chemical and relies on fluoride for its
non-stick properties. The problem is that once you heat the pot or pan, the fluoride vaporizes into the air
where it can kill small birds and harm you and your family. You can easily bypass this unnecessary
health risk by switching to ceramic or glass cookware that do not emit toxic fluoride.

#4: Air Fresheners

Room deodorizers frequently contain 2, 5-dichlorophenol (2, 5-DCP), a metabolite of 1,4-
13
dichlorobenzene, which has been linked to precocious puberty and other health problems, including
cancer. Endocrine-disrupting phthalates are also commonly found in air fresheners and room
deodorizers.

If you’re having issues with unpleasant smells, you’d be wise to address the root causes rather than
masking them with chemical sprays.

Opening your windows and doors from time to time can help, and will also improve the general air quality
in your home or office. If you want a scent, opt for high-quality pure essential oils, which can actually
support your health and wellbeing.

#5: Antibacterial Soaps and Detergents

Routinely disinfecting your body and surroundings may actually cause far more harm than good in the
long run. Not only does it promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria, but antibacterial
compounds such as triclosan have also been linked to a number or harmful health effects, especially in
young children.

For example, research has shown that triclosan can alter hormone regulation and may interfere with fetal
development in pregnant women. This antibacterial ingredient has also been linked to:

Allergies
Thyroid dysfunction
Endocrine disruption
Weight gain
Inflammatory responses

Warm water and a mild soap is really all you need to safely eliminate disease-causing microbes Even the
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that "there is currently no evidence that [antibacterial
soaps] are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water."

Besides hand soaps and products specifically marketed as antibacterial, triclosan can also be found in a
 number of other household and personal care products, including cutting boards, toys, acne cream, and
Colgate Total toothpaste—all of which are also best avoided.

One all-purpose disinfectant that works great for kitchen counters, cutting boards, and bathrooms—all
places where germs like to grow—is 3% hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Simply put each liquid into a
separate spray bottle, then spray the surface with one, followed by the other. In tests run at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, pairing the two mists killed virtually all Salmonella, Shigella,
and E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces when used in this fashion, making this
spray combination more effective at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any
commercially available kitchen cleaner.

#6: Commercial Cleaning Products

You can avoid quite a few hazardous chemicals simply by tossing those commercial cleaning products in
the dustbin. Every single one of them can be replaced with a short list of basic ingredients. Here's a
simple starter list of what you need to make your own natural cleaning products:

White
Baking soda Lemon juice
vinegar
Hydrogen Liquid Organic essential oils (optional). Certain ones, including lavender and tea
peroxide castile soap tree oil, have anti-bacterial qualities
Spray
Mixing bowls Microfiber cloths
bottles

For a great video on how to use these ingredients and other tips for cleaning your home without
hazardous chemicals, please review the article “How to Keep Your Home Clean Naturally .” For example,
lemon juice is a natural whitener, vinegar and water makes an excellent window cleaner, and vinegar
combined with hydrogen peroxide works exceptionally well as both a disinfectant and sanitizer. Baking
soda is also great for scrubbing your bath and kitchen.

#7: Personal Care Products

Chemicals are very effectively absorbed via your skin, so cleaning out your bathroom cabinet can go a
long way toward reducing your toxic load. This is particularly true for women, who tend to use several
different products on a daily basis. Makeup is also a hidden source of heavy metals. In the report Heavy
Metal Hazard: The Health Risks of Hidden Heavy Metals in Face Makeup,14 Environmental Defense
tested 49 different makeup items, including foundations, concealers, powders, blushes, mascaras, eye
liners, eye shadows, lipsticks and lip glosses. Their testing revealed serious heavy metal contamination in
virtually all of the products:

96 percent contained lead

90 percent contained beryllium
61 percent contained thallium
51 percent contained cadmium
20 percent contained arsenic

If you use conventional makeup on a daily basis, you can absorb almost five pounds of chemicals into
your body each year15 -- and that's without adding in body lotion, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, and
other personal care products! To address this health-defeating cycle, switch to organic brands of toiletries
and cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group has a great database16 to help you find personal care
products that are free of potentially dangerous chemicals. Better yet, simplify your routine and make your
own products. A slew of lotions, potions, and hair treatments can be eliminated with a jar of coconut oil,
 for example, to which you can add a high quality essential oil for scent.

Embed this infographic on your website:

<img src="http://media.mercola.com/assets/images/infographic/personal-care-products.jpg" alt="personal

care products" border="0" style="max-width:100%; min-width:300px; margin: 0 auto 20px auto;
display:block;" /><p style="max-width:800px; min-width:300px; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;">Your
skin is your largest organ, and anything you put on it should contain only the best and safest ingredients
from nature. So before slathering lotion or body wash on your skin, take a look at this infographic on toxic
chemicals found in <a href="http://www.mercola.com/infographics/personal-care-products.htm">
<strong>personal care products</strong></a>. Discover these common yet deadly chemicals and how
they can potentially sabotage your health and well-being. </p> <pre style="max-width:800px; min-
width:300px; margin: 20px auto 0 auto; padding:10px; border:solid 1px #999999; background: #ffffff;
white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap:break-word;"><code><img
src="http://media.mercola.com/assets/images/infographic/personal-care-products.jpg" alt="personal care
products" border="0" style="max-width:100%; min-width:300px; margin: 0 auto 20px auto;
display:block;"><p style="max-width:800px; min-width:300px; margin:0 auto; text-align:center;">Your skin
is your largest organ, and anything you put on it should contain only the best and safest ingredients from
nature. So before slathering lotion or body wash on your skin, take a look at this infographic on toxic
chemicals found in <a href="http://www.mercola.com/infographics/personal-care-products.htm">
<strong>personal care products</strong></a>. Discover these common yet deadly chemicals and how
they can potentially sabotage your health and well-being. </p></code></pre>

Click on the code area and press CTRL + C (for Windows) / CMD + C (for Macintosh) to copy the code.

#8: Stale Spices

Herbs and cooking spices contain a wide variety of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, and help
maximize the nutrient density of your meals. On a per gram fresh weight basis, herbs rank even higher in
antioxidant activity than fruits and vegetables. Many studies have also shown that most spices tend to
have unique medicinal qualities. Four spices that are particularly effective at quelling inflammation are:17

1. Cloves
2. Ginger
3. Rosemary
4. Thyme

Freshness matters, however, so if your pantry is filled to the hilt with old spice bottles, it may be time to
refresh your stock. Expired, stale spices also will not provide you with much flavor, so if your attempts at
spicing up your meals have left you unimpressed, they may simply have gone stale.
# 9: Electronic Devices
While few would consider getting rid of their smart phones or computers, you would be wise to
reconsider how you use all of your devices, and just how many you surround yourself with at any given
point of the day. Some kids, especially teenagers, tend to be surrounded by multiple electronic gadgets
for hours at a stretch. I feel the evidence of long-term harm of EMF and wireless radiation is very clear,
necessitating a prudent approach.

On May 31, 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO)/International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) issued a report admitting cell phones might indeed cause cancer, classifying radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Class 2B).18 The classification came in part
in response to research showing wireless telephones increase the risk for brain cancer. To reduce
exposure, avoid continuously carrying your smart phone on your body.

Tucking it into your bra or pocket may be convenient now, but it’s an open invitation for health problems
down the road, and that may be more than just a little inconvenient! It's important to realize that as long
as your cell phone is on, it emits radiation intermittently, even when you are not actually making a call.
So wearing a cell phone on your hip for 15 hours a day is giving that area of your body nearly continuous
radiation exposure. For more tips on how to reduce exposure, please see my previous article “Heavy Cell
Phone Use Can Quadruple Your Risk of Deadly Brain Cancer.” Also consider unplugging from your
digital life from time to time to “smell the roses” as it were. As noted by Time Magazine: 19

“Mounting research indicates that information overload—what happens when you use
smart devices constantly—is linked to depression and anxiety. Recent studies suggest that
this is particularly true for people who are overly attached to their smartphones and tablets,
and for those who use multiple devices at once (which experts call media multitasking).
Power down and stow your devices in a drawer at least a few times per week to give your
brain a break‚ ideally on a set schedule (for example, weekdays after 9 p.m. or weekend
mornings before noon).”

#10: Your Chair

While I placed this last, mounting research clearly reveals that your chair may actually be one of the most
dangerous items to have around for your health. Prolonged sitting has repeatedly been shown to be an
independent risk factor for chronic disease and early demise, even if you exercise regularly and are very
fit. That’s right; exercise cannot undo the damage caused by hours of daily sitting, just like it cannot undo
the harm done by smoking.

Along with obesity, sitting is the new smoking, increasing your risk for lung cancer by more 50 percent. 20

Who would have guessed that sitting is far more dangerous than second hand smoke? Sitting has been
found to increase your risk of death from virtually all health problems, 21,22 from type 2 diabetes and
cardiovascular disease to cancer and all-cause mortality. And, the less you exercise, the more
pronounced the detrimental effects of sitting.

What’s the solution?

Stand up as much as possible. A standing desk is one option. Barring that, make sure you stand up at
regular intervals during work hours. For a number of other tips and tricks, see my previous article, “Tips
for Staying Active in the Office.” As a general rule, if you’ve been sitting for one hour, you’ve sat too long.
At bare minimum, avoid sitting for more than 50 minutes out of every hour. If you don't already have a
fitness tracker, it may be money well spent to get one. I recommend aiming for 7,000 to 10,000 steps per
day, over and above any exercise regimen you may have. I was probably doing 2,000 steps a day prior
to using a fitness tracker, and now I am up to about 15,000 steps a day or about eight miles.
 For many, simply getting and staying out of your chair is a first step that can bring you closer to a
healthier lifestyle. As you become more used to low level, non-exercise activity, you’re more likely to get
motivated enough to start exercising more vigorously.

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Eliminate Known Risk Factors That Prevent Optimal Health

We live in an extremely toxic world; that’s an unfortunate reality. Your diet plays a significant role, but
you’re also exposed to a great amount of chemicals from all the products you use, and your skin serves
as a very efficient delivery system, straight into your blood stream, bypassing many of your body’s innate
filtering systems. Taking some time to go through and reassess the products you use is a positive step
that can help to significantly reduce your toxic burden, and that will have nothing but positive
ramifications for your health.

Environmental pollution is a massive problem, but for most there aren’t many immediate solutions to
address it. Your time is far better spent focusing on your immediate environment; your home, and all the
products you come in contact with on a daily basis. Addressing habits like sitting and your use of
electronics will also help you optimize your health, and reduce your chances of chronic disease.

Related Articles:

10 Dangerous Everyday Things in Your Home

Sugar Substitutes—What's Safe and What's Not

Best-Selling Toothpaste Contains Hazardous Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical

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