To start the year off right, there’s nothing like making a little list of simple things to replace with healthy, zero-waste options to make 2018 an eco-friendly year, without endocrine disruptors.
To use the definition: endocrine disruptors (EDs) are “chemical substances of natural or artificial origin foreign to the organism which can interfere with the functioning of the endocrine system and thus induce deleterious effects on this organism or on its descendants”.
Basically, these substances will create major hormonal problems in adults and pregnant women (reduced fertility, cancers, affected fetal nervous system, etc.) but also in children who are also heavily exposed to them (precocious puberty, allergies, etc.). What is really worrying is the cocktail effect and mixtures of these toxic substances.
(a very good article here will allow you to see more clearly the scientific aspect of the subject)
But let’s move on to the positive side: there are great zero waste solutions!
Not only are these options healthier and less toxic, they are also more economical. We are doing good for our bodies, our wallets and the planet.
1- WATER IN PLASTIC BOTTLES
Surely one of the products where we do not imagine finding endocrine disruptors. And yet the water is contained in plastic bottles filled with BPA. In the end, by thinking we are drinking “healthy” water because it is bottled, we end up drinking a broth that is not very clean.
The ZD solution : drink tap water, with, if necessary, ceramic beads from Les Verts Moutons or an activated carbon stick to filter out limescale and other small particles . Before drinking your tap water, however, I advise you to take a look here to check that it is safe to drink.
2- FOOD
I’m not going to tell you anything new, but anything that comes close to an ultra-industrially processed product is not a good sign for your health. Between the pesticides used during cultivation, the plastic packaging or the plastic boxes filled with BPA… Not great!
The ZD solution : buy raw foods, in bulk if possible, and cook. No need to make feasts, simple and healthy things are better than a ready-made dish with a catchy name that will ruin your health!
3- CHEWING GUM
In addition to giving you gas from swallowing air while chewing, gum is loaded with BHT and BHA. Yuck.
The ZD solution : a small container filled with anise seeds, bought in bulk, to chew after a meal loaded with garlic!
4- HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
Surely our worst enemies in everyday life in terms of endocrine disruptors. We put them in our shower, on our windows, on our floors, in our fridges, on the toilet bowl, on our dishes, to clean the car… We are in permanent contact with these toxic substances without even realizing it. All we remember is this beautiful chemical smell of “Landes Fir after the rain” or “Provençal lavender on a June day”!!
The ZD solution : make your own all-purpose cleaner here and use 3 natural and healthy ingredients that will clean your entire house: black soap, white vinegar and baking soda.
5- LAUNDRY
Same story as for the next point, especially since we will be carrying these substances all day long in contact with our body and especially our private parts.
The ZD solution : make your own laundry detergent here , fast, efficient, ecological and super economical.
6- PERFUME AND EAU DE TOILETTE
What a weird idea when you think about it to put a fake scent on yourself. I did it for years and today it seems crazy to me. We hide our natural scent and destroy our sense of smell and our sensitivity to pheromones, love hormones.
The ZD solution : either stop using anything, or opt for natural fragrances like a few drops of essential oil or a few sprays of floral water.
7- DEODORANT
In direct contact with our female or male mammary glands, there is nothing like, especially in women, to develop breast cancer than using a deodorant full of aluminum among other things.
The ZD solution : either make your own homemade deodorant here , or buy your super natural and organic deodorant from these brands to name a few: CoZie, Lamazuna, Pachamamaï, Clémence et Vivien, Schmidt’s…
8- LABELLO
In addition to being made from animal fat (1, 2, 3 I’m going to throw up), Labello lip balms are full of junk. Knowing that we put this on our mouths, we must not ignore the fact that we always swallow a little without paying attention.
The ZD solution : make your own homemade balm here , very simple and ultra effective.
9- SHOWER GEL AND SHAMPOO
It goes on our body, on our head, it goes through the pores of the skin to go inside… I’m not going to draw you a picture but it sucks when you use something of poor quality. And it also works for all the products used for babies.
The ZD solution : good old Marseille soap (the real one with 72% olive oil) and good quality solid shampoo. Find my comparison of solid shampoos here .
10- TOOTHPASTE
Same as above, it goes on our body, in our mouth and we swallow it every time. For the moment almost all standard commercial toothpastes have been tested positive for endocrine disruptors by UFC Que Choisir.
The ZD solution : make your own toothpaste here , use Marseille soap or go for brands such as Lamazuna, Pachamamai, Clémence et Vivien and maybe soon CoZie 😉
If you want to know more and see the full list of products concerned and be able to sort them at home, it’s here or here .
