By Edeza Rodriguez
Introduction
A couple of years ago, I decided to start making smarter choices about what I was ingesting into my body and putting on my body. For several years I never paid attention to the ingredients and chemicals in many of our drinks, foods, hygiene, cleaning, and beauty products. America is the number one country that utilizes food additives that are detrimental to our health. According to New York Post, “the proportion of ultra-processed foods with additives in Americans’ shopping carts increased significantly from 3.7 in 2001 to 4.5 in 2019” (Kato, 2023). There are also chemicals in countless facial cleansers, soaps, and all-purpose cleaners. Although people might think since you’re not ingesting it, it doesn’t matter. No, that is not the matter at hand. When anything touches your skin, it goes straight into your bloodstream. Did it ever occur to you why some sunscreens and facial moisturizers make us break out in hives? It is most likely because of parabens, phthalates, and petrolatum. Our body will reject what is not for proper consumption. In addition, our water is also full of lead, mercury, and arsenic. Yes, we want minerals, but the good ones like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. It can be hard to accept that, as a society, we fall short of making the best choices for our health. But fear no more because I will share ways that help me live a more organic lifestyle.
Water
Water is vital for our health, but we have to make sure we stay away from water that carries heavy metals. The best w
ay to do so is to buy water filters or recycle plastic gallons and refill them at your local water stations, just make sure the station uses reverse osmosis filtration and that the gallons stay away from the heat. Plastic and heat are a no-go! You can also buy your water filter if that makes it easier. Finally, make sure to buy water filters for your shower and kitchen sink! They sell affordable filters on Amazon.
Avoid the “Dirty Dozen” & save money with the “Clean Fifteen”
Fruits and vegetables will always carry pesticides, glyphosate, and chemicals. Utilizing baking soda to clean fruits and vegetables will help but will not eliminate what is already inside the produce. The dirty dozen consists of spinach, strawberries, apples, grapes, kale, tomatoes, etc. It is always safe to stick to products that contain lower amounts of pesticides. The clean fifteen are usually avocados, kiwi, bananas, cantaloupe, papaya, pineapples, mangoes, corn, etc.
Cook
Meal prepping for a few days is a great way to save time and money. Less money is spent on eating fast food and junk food. You are also aware of what ingredients are going into your food. Many restaurants use bad oils like canola oil, peanut oil, or sunflower o
il because it’s cheap and affordable, but it is harming our well-being. Stick to coconut oil, avocado oil, and cold-press olive oil. Buy as organic as possible and look up simple recipes online and start cooking! Also, ensure to store hot food in glass containers.
Stick to organic beauty products
Less is more, and when it comes to skincare it is easy to overwhelm yourself with layers of products on your face. Many hygiene products contain high amounts of chemicals that you want to stay away from. Choose beauty products with fewer ingredients and buy sunscreens with zinc instead of oxybenzone. I prefer wearing a bucket hat if I want to stay clear from the sun, but if not I use zinc-based sunscreens. Use products free of GMOs and that are not tested on animals to also protect the environment.
Living Organic doesn’t have to be expensive
People hear organic and freak out because they cannot afford it. It is possible if you shop the deals, grow your own, or go to a local farmers market. When I shop I look for the organic products that are on sale! There is always a sale going on somewhere so shop around and don’t buy in just one store. If I had land I would grow my produce from scratch free of pesticides, and that is an option for people with a house and some land. I also shop at the local farmers market in my area. They are cheaper than Publix, Whole Foods, or Sprouts. The best farmers market is located in St. Pete!
Keep Radiation to a minimum
Our cell phones, laptops, iPad, microwaves, etc, run off radiation. The more time we spend on these electronic devices, the more radiation our bodies take in. When you go to bed, try putting your phone on airplane mode because I know we al
l sleep with our phones nearby. When using a laptop, put a book on your lap first. Avoid the microwave if you can, but if not, use glass to heat anything in the microwave.
Move your body
As humans, we were made to move, and once we stop moving, we become lazy. It is in our organic blueprint to exercise and get 15 to 20 minutes of sun! Spending time outside and in nature boosts our happy hormones like serotonin and endorphins. It is vital to care for our mental health because it is a big part of our overall wellness.
Conclusion
Our health lies in our hands, and we are in control. No doctor, medication, or supplement can cure the damage that has already been done. It is up to us to take these steps. It is not a quick fix or diet. It’s LIFESTYLE! The safest way to heal ourselves is through whole foods, clean water, and exercise. Let’s say no to the standard American diet, to avoid the American hospitals, medical insurance, and pharmacy. Taking care of yourself can be easy, fun, and affordable if you enjoy the journey!
References
Kato, B. (2023b) Most foods purchased by Americans contain ‘concerning’ additives: Study, New York Post. https://nypost.com/2023/03/14/most-foods-purchased-by-americans-contain-concerning-additives-study/
EWG, E.W. (2023) Clean Fifteen conventional produce with the least pesticides, EWG’s 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Clean Fifteen. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php
EWG, E.W. (2023) Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides, EWG’s 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Dirty Dozen. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
