Spring Clean Your Health: Simple Steps to Reduce Toxins and Feel Your Best
🕒 6-7 min read
"We are used to cleaning the outside house, but the most important house to clean is yourself - your own house - which we never do." – Marina Abramović
As you welcome the first signs of spring, you may begin the tradition of spring cleaning - storing winter clothes, decluttering spaces, and deep cleaning your home. But what about spring cleaning for your body? Just as dust and grime accumulate in your home, toxins build up in your body from everyday exposure to chemicals in your food, water, and household products.
The Hidden Toxins Around You
Environmental toxins are more common than you might think, often hiding in places you wouldn’t expect. While we’re familiar with the dangers of things like lead, mercury, and arsenic, there are other sneaky sources of exposure in everyday items like furniture, plastics, and even the water in your shower.
Here are a few surprising places toxins might be lurking:
Household Items: Carpets, furniture, upholstery, paint, and air fresheners can release chemicals that affect your indoor air quality.
Food & Containers: Non-organic produce, canned foods (unless they’re BPA-free), and plastic containers can release harmful chemicals into your meals and drinks.
Water & Air: Your tap water might contain chlorine and even pharmaceutical residues, while pollutants from car exhaust and industrial waste contribute to the toxins in your air.
Beauty & Cleaning Products: Many everyday beauty products, soaps, detergents, and fabric softeners have chemicals that can disrupt hormones.
Pesticides & Heavy Metals: Each year, over a billion pounds of pesticides are used in the U.S. which end up in your food and beverages. Additionally, some persistent pollutants like DDT linger in soil and food, even decades after they’ve been banned.
Being aware of these hidden toxins is a great first step in taking control of your environment and making healthier choices for you and your family.
The Growing Concern: What Science is Showing Us
We’re learning more and more about how environmental toxins affect our health - and it’s eye-opening.
Heart Health: Long-term exposure to air pollution, heavy metals like lead and cadmium, and chemicals like BPA has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
Microplastics: These tiny particles may be making their way into your food, water, and even your tissues - potentially triggering inflammation and interfering with your metabolism.
Brain Fog & Cognitive Health: Heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium are linked to cognitive decline and conditions like Parkinson’s. If you’ve been feeling mentally foggy, these exposures could be playing a role.
Gut Health: Microplastics and other pollutants can disrupt your gut microbiota, promote inflammation, and increase symptoms like bloating or irregularity.
Hormone Imbalance & Metabolism: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can interfere with your hormones which can impact everything from mood to weight to energy levels.
These toxins might not always cause immediate symptoms, but over time, they can quietly influence how your body feels and functions - especially your digestion, energy, and skin.
Thankfully, awareness is a powerful first step. By learning where toxins might be sneaking in, you can start making simple shifts that support your body, protect your health, and bring more ease into your everyday life.
How Hidden Toxins Might Be Affecting How You Feel
When your body’s natural detox systems are working overtime, toxins can start to build up and the effects can show up in surprising ways. Here are some common signs your body might be asking for support:
Low energy and brain fog
Digestive struggles like bloating, food sensitivities, or IBS
Skin flare-ups like rashes, eczema, or hives
Allergies or asthma symptoms that seem to flare without reason
Autoimmune conditions or chronic inflammation
Hormonal imbalances or stubborn weight gain
Getting sick often or feeling run down more than usual
These symptoms may seem unrelated, but they can all be connected to how well your body is processing and clearing everyday toxins.
The good news is small, mindful shifts in your environment and daily routine can help your body do what it’s built to do, and help you feel more like yourself again.
Simple Ways to Reduce Toxin Exposure
Making a few simple tweaks to your daily routine can significantly reduce your exposure to toxins. Here are some practical steps to get started:
Ditch Plastics: Opt for glass, ceramic or stainless steel containers instead of plastic, and choose BPA-free canned goods when you can.
Filter Your Water: Install a quality water filter to help remove chlorine, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical residues.
Choose Organic Foods: Whenever possible, go for organic produce, meat, and dairy to minimize pesticide exposure.
Upgrade Your Cookware: Swap out non-stick pans for cast iron, ceramic or stainless steel to avoid harmful coatings.
Switch to Green Cleaning & Beauty Products: Pick fragrance-free, natural alternatives for cleaning and personal care items.
Improve Indoor Air Quality: Use HEPA air filters, open windows for ventilation, and bring in plants that help purify the air.
These small changes may seem simple, but they add up over time and can have a big impact on your overall health.
Ready for the Next Step?
Now that you know where toxins are hiding and how to reduce your exposure, Liver Detoxification Explained will take you through how the body detoxifies itself and why supporting your liver is crucial for optimal health.
RESOURCES
Toxicological Profile for DDT, DDE, and DDD. Atlanta (GA): Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (US); 2022 Apr. CHAPTER 5, POTENTIAL FOR HUMAN EXPOSURE. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590076/