5 Toxins in your home that cause you to gain weight

– First is Cigarette Smoke

This goes for first and secondhand smoke

– Although secondhand smoke exposure has decreased by more than half over the past 20 years, an estimated 40% of nonsmoking Americans still have nicotine by-products in their blood.

Second-hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which can cause cancer and over two and a half million non-smokers have died from secondhand smoke.

There is NO RISK-FREE level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Of course, it has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, and can cause coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer but to add to the list tobacco smoke (recognized as a highly complex mixture of chemicals), has been shown to lead to weight gain.

Solutions to Avoid Smoke

• Don’t go to places where people may be smoking such as bars if they still allow that.
• See my full blog here on quitting and getting the nutrients you need when smoking – https://theartofunity.com/quit-smoking-nutrient-replacements-now/
• To stop – Get the book “the easy way to quit smoking – https://www.theeasywaytostopsmoking.com/

Sources:

• https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/health_effects/index.htm
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40572-014-0026-8

– Bisphenol A (BPA)

This is a synthetic compound in the lining of some canned foods, water and other plastic bottles, shower curtains, and in cash register receipts. It’s also in baby bottles, and plastic food containers.

Multiple studies have associated BPA exposure with weight gain and obesity, in both lab animals and humans. Countries such as Canada and Denmark find the evidence concerning enough that they’ve set laws to reduce the amount of BPA in consumer products.

Most people know not to leave their bottle of water in a hot car, but most bottled water has been in transit for months before getting to you, which could have been in a hot truck or warehouse, but even without that, there is BPA in drinks in plastic bottles as well as many other chemicals. (See my blog on safe drinking water here)

This is why I suggest using spring water only in a glass bottle, which can be expensive, so a filter and a stainless steel water bottle is often the best option. My favorite is the zero water filter.

https://amzn.to/34U5bYb

Other ways to avoid this is to avoid canned foods but if you must eat foods from a can be absolutely sure there is no dent in the can as the BPA is released especially in broken or dented cans.

BPA exposure has also been linked to insulin resistance, heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, thyroid dysfunction, cancer, genital malformations, and more.

Avoiding these chemicals completely may be impossible because they are everywhere but for this reason, we should do all that we can to avoid our exposure to them where we can.

Solutions to avoid BPA:

• Avoid any foods and drinks that have been stored in plastic containers (especially water bottles).
• Avoid microwaving any foods or drinks
• Use high-quality stainless steel or glass water bottles (with filtered or spring water.
• Use glass bottles to feed a baby instead of plastic
• Don’t eat canned foods and if you do, be sure there are no dents in the can.
• Don’t use register or credit card receipts as these have been shown to have large amounts of BPA on them that gets into our blood through pores in our skin.
• Get a bamboo toothbrush instead of plastic
• Notice everywhere you use plastic, especially regarding food and change this to non-plastic
• Get a natural fiber shower curtain like cotton or hemp.

– Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics soft and flexible. These are found in food containers, pharmaceuticals, toys, car interiors, personal care & beauty products, vinyl clothing, vinyl flooring, vinyl wallpaper, paint, and vinyl shower curtains.

These chemicals can easily leach out of plastics and contaminate foods, the water supply, and even the very air we breathe. In one 2010 study, Kurunthachalam Kannan, a professor of environmental sciences at the University at Albany, documented organotins in designer handbags, wallpaper, vinyl blinds, tile, and vacuum cleaner dust collected from homes. Phthalates, plasticizers that also have been related to obesity in humans, occur in many PVC items as well as in scented items such as air fresheners, laundry products, and personal care products.

A Swedish study found that children can absorb airborne phthalates from plastic floor material through the skin and respiratory tract. In a study by the CDC, most Americans tested positive for phthalate metabolites in their urine.

Like BPA, phthalates are endocrine disruptors, affecting the hormonal balance in your body contributing to increased susceptibility to weight gain. Pregnant women should especially avoid this as Studies show that phthalate exposure in the womb leads to male genital malformations, undescended testicles, and low testosterone levels.

Solutions:

• Avoid plastic whenever possible especially in all the mentioned products.
• Go for non-toxic cleaning products
• Get a hemp or cotton shower curtain.
• Avoid air fresheners, using an essential oil diffuser instead.
• Drink spring water from a glass bottle or use a zero water filter and transport water in a glass or stainless steel bottle.
• Don’t use a plastic straw or a plastic stirrer in your drinks

– PFOA

Still another widespread obesogen is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This is used in nonstick cookware, found in microwave popcorn, Gore-Tex™ waterproof clothing, Scotchgard™ stain repellent on carpeting, mattresses, and microwavable food items. Water and food can also be contaminated with PFOA from soil contaminated by it. Avoid this by using filtered water and buying high-quality organic food, using ceramic cookware, and not using the microwave for anything including heating water.

“Pretty much everyone in the U.S. has it in their blood (as it’s found in 98% of Americans). Kids have higher levels than adults, probably because of their habits. They crawl on carpets, on furniture, and put things in their mouth more often,” explains NIEHS biologist Suzanne Fenton.

In addition to weight gain, it has been associated with various diseases in humans, including thyroid disorders, low birth weight, and chronic kidney disease. In one study in mice, exposure to PFOAs during development led to increased insulin, leptin, and body weight during mid-life

Solutions

• Instead of non-stick cookware, use 100% ceramic, titanium or at the very least stainless steel.
• Use organic, natural cosmetics.
• Avoid Scotchgard and other stain repellents.
• Avoid mattresses, toys, and other products with PFOAs.
• Avoid using the microwave.

– Atrazine

Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides in the US. It’s been banned in Europe for over a decade because of groundwater contamination. Atrazine is also an endocrine disruptor and several studies show that exposure correlates with birth defects in humans. In the US, there is an overlap between the areas that use the most atrazine and the prevalence of obesity. It has been shown to damage mitochondria in rats, decreasing the metabolic rate and increasing abdominal obesity.

Solution:

• The best way to avoid this is by only purchasing and consuming organic foods.

Maybe this is Not Affecting You ???

One of the most important things to understand about obesogens is that it affects pregnant women, small children, and adolescents the MOST. Know that small changes make a big difference.

But if you are still thinking, oh, “I’ve been using these for years and they have not caused a problem, and so do all of my friends.” Well… How happy are you with your body, your energy level, mental clarity, level of anxiety or depression? How often do you get sick, feel achy, have headaches, feel run down? And then ask the same question for all of your friends. How is your level of PMS? While PMS is common, it is NOT NORMAL. Our exposure to these man-made chemicals is why PMS and hormone dysfunction, including infertility, are at an all-time high. Then realize the more these are in your life the more they will weigh on you.

Overall Solutions to all Obesogens

• Always choose organic
• Avoid canned foods but especially dented cans.
• Take your shoes off before walking into your house. Yes, it’s actually been proven to be one of the biggest exposures. I highly recommend a no-shoe rule in the house especially if you have children often playing or crawling on the floor.
• Be aware of air pollution from both indoor and outdoor exposure. These are big exposures, and simple ways to improve them are to not burn conventional candles in the house, and open windows to allow clean air in when possible and reduce indoor pollutants. Always use your kitchen exhaust fan when cooking and especially frying. Check out our affordable way to help clean your indoor air and create a HEPA filter in my videos here –  https://theartofunity.com/candles-are-toxic/
• To check your indoor air see this link – https://www.wikihow.com/Test-the-Air-Quality-in-Your-Home
• You can check the outdoor air quality score online with your zip code here – (https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main),
• Avoid taking receipts: Minimize exposure to carbonless paper, and thermal paper (e.g., cash register receipts) and do not use recycled paper or plastic products in contact with food.
• Switch to glass and stainless steel containers. Minimize the use of all forms of plastic, particularly for food storage and preparation. For more ideas on plastic-free living see my blog here – https://theartofunity.com/zero-waste-lifestyle/
• Choose non-toxic cosmetics and household cleaners. The exposure from these is high, so slowly replace one product at a time to get this exposure out of your life.
• Clean your home regularly, especially vacuuming & dusting. It’s best to get a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. When dusting use a damp rag since a dry rag pushes dust into the air making it easier to be inhaled.
• Wash your hands. Always wash your hands before eating or preparing food.
• Read your clothing labels. Clothes are often sprayed with flame retardants that are known endocrine disruptors, but they are also often made with polyester. Instead, use cotton and other untreated natural fibers. See my full blog on this here. If you are an environmentalist in any way, this is important.
• Use organic cotton feminine products (or better use a diva cup https://theartofunity.com/dangers-of-tampons-and-pads/

Other Toxins

Another toxin that can cause weight gain is heavy metals. The biggest contributors are dental fillings, fish (especially tuna), cigarette smoke (including secondhand), metal, aluminum or iron cookware, and commercial deodorant. A good detox for this can be found here.

Other things that may be causing this is sitting too long at your desk, a parasite or fungus that may be within you (and 95% of people have them and don’t know it), and too high stress in your life.

Other All-Natural Beauty Care Links You Will Like:

• For more healthy skin tips see my blog here on the 17 best tips for healthy skin
• For shaving see my blog here on all natural way to shave
• How to make an all natural deodorant that works great
• To remove make-up naturally see my post here
• For the Best All Natural Soaps click here
• All Natural Shampoo 
• Is your Shower Curtain Making you sick? 
• All Natural soaps and ingredients to avoid
• How to make your own toothpaste
• All natural tooth-whitener

What Else Can Be Done?

If you feel that you have tried everything and still can’t lose weight, Clean Body & Weight Loss Seminar can provide many answers for you my clients have had a lot of success with understanding your body, how it works, how to get it to do what you want, how to achieve more energy and mental clarity and how to lose weight for people who feel they can’t or that it’s just, “in their genetics.”

Of course, eating healthy, exercising, getting quality sleep and avoiding stress are still the most important factors when it comes to your health.

For Basic everyday Detox:

• Have a daily bowel movement
• Eat leafy greens and vegetables
• Avoid or limit alcohol as it taxes the liver significantly
• Eat fermented foods

Food Obesigens to Avoid :

These are foods to especially avoid that make you gain weight. For a complete list you can get the complete eliminate foods list

• High-Fructose Corn Syrup – HFCS is a sweetener made from corn starch. The average American eats a pound a week because it is in most all packaged food products. Check your labels

• Genistein – Found in a number of plants, but soybeans and soy products like tofu and textured vegetable protein are the primary food source.

• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – Used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer, especially popular in Asian food, soups, gravy, and frozen meals.

For a complete list of All the foods that should be eliminated from your diet and my webinar on that click here