What is low-tox living?

For those who didn’t see our previous post on low-tox living and what it is below is a quick summary (we'd also recommend reading the article). For those of you already in the know, scroll down to skip the recap.

“In short, low-tox living is a lifestyle choice focused on reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins. These toxins and chemicals are commonly found in your home, food, personal care products, and the environment.”

A simple beginners guide to low-tox living

Here are the things we’d focus on when starting to make small changes towards a low-tox lifestyle:

1. Your food

• Prioritise whole foods: Fruits, veggies, meats, nuts, grains, less packaged, more real.
• Choose organic starting with the "Dirty Dozen" (a list of the most pesticide heavy foods, like strawberries and spinach).
• Cook at home more: You control the ingredients and cut down on hidden additives.

2. Cleaning products

• Replace one product at a time there’s no need to throw away everything today.
• Look for brands with fewer ingredients and no harmful artificial fragrances.
• Or DIY: Vinegar + baking soda + lemon can clean almost anything!

3. Personal care items

• Check your basics first: body wash, shampoo, deodorant.
• Look for labels that say things like "paraben-free," "fragrance-free," and "phthalate-free."
• Opt for home fragrance that is clean and free from common toxins (like our candles).

4. Plastic exposure

• Store food in glass, stainless steel, or silicone containers.
• Avoid heating food in plastic (even if it says microwave-safe).
• Get a reusable water bottle (preferably glass or stainless steel).

5. Air and water

• Open your windows daily to let fresh air in.
• Add a few houseplants, they're natural air purifiers!
• Get a basic water filter (like a Brita or a charcoal stick for a start).

Key things to remember:

It’s a process not perfection. Don’t get caught up in trying to do it all at once or freaking out about not having swapped everything. Relax, you’ll get there if you want to and if you’re just looking to improve certain areas or swap a few things then great. Do it over time as you run out of products you already have. Listen to your body, you'll probably notice you feel better over time (more energy, better skin, fewer headaches, that sort of thing).