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10 Benefits of Reducing Your Toxin Build Up With a Toxin-Free Lifestyle

A toxin-free lifestyle has so many amazing perks! By reducing your toxin build up, you’ll also lessen the negative effects toxins have on your overall health and wellbeing.

Here are 10 benefits of reducing your exposure to toxins that I’m sure you’ll want to take advantage of:

1. Balanced hormones (i.e. less PMS symptoms)
2. Reduced inflammation
3. Less risk of disease, such as cancer
4. Increased immunity
5. Better digestion
6. Less bloating
7. Weight loss
8. Better sleep and mood
9. Increased energy levels
10. Reduced allergy and asthma symptoms
11. BONUS: Reduced carbon footprint by using less single-use plastic

👉 And that’s not all! For even more perks of going clean with a low-tox life, check out: 21 Clean Living Benefits You’ll Actually Notice in Real Life.

Who couldn’t use at least a few of these health improvements? I have personally seen most of those benefits myself since starting my clean living journey.

By reducing your toxic load, you’re going to feel so much better! That’s really what it comes down to—feeling better and also living longer with a better quality of life.

5 Easy Ways to Start Reducing Your Toxin Load

Have you been wanting to reduce your toxin build up to improve your health but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? 

When you dive in, you may be shocked by the amount of toxic items in your home. And figuring out where to start eliminating them can have you screaming into a pillow. 😖

Don’t stress! I’ve gotchu, boo. We’re going to keep it simple by focusing on 5 key toxic areas in your life.

And you don’t have to do all 5 at once. Start with just 1 of the 5 options below, and go from there. 

It just takes 1 thing to get started! Then you can add to your toxin-banishing mission by gradually incorporating the rest.

1. Plastic

Plastic is a great place to start when it comes to lightening your toxic load. Most plastics are petroleum-based and leach plastic additives along with hormone disrupting chemicals like phthalates, even BPA-free ones.

Petroleum-based chemical products have mutagenic and carcinogenic properties [1], are endocrine disruptors [2], and can cause cancer, birth defects, hormonal disorders, and damage to the brain, nerves, and liver [3].

When you start to look around, you’ll realize plastic is EVERYWHERE – from the packaging for food to coffee makers and single-serve coffee pods to sneaky places you wouldn’t think of like dishwasher pods.

It’s pretty much impossible to eliminate all plastic from your life. But you can significantly reduce the amount of plastic you use by focusing on one key area in your home: your kitchen.

You’ll find the majority of plastic products living in your kitchen where they come in contact with your food. Ew! This is where you want to start tossing as much plastic as possible.

Non-Toxic Swaps for Plastic to Reduce Your Toxin Build Up

There are several different non-toxic alternatives for plastic that you can switch to including glass, stainless steel, silicone, and bamboo.

Focus on cooking tools and food storage containers, basically the items that come in direct contact with your food, beverages, and mouth.

Here are some examples:

THIS	➞	THAT
Plastic Water Bottles	➞	Reusable Stainless Steel Bottles or Glass Bottles
Plastic Wrap	➞	Reusable Stretch Silicone Lids
Ziplock Bags	➞	Reusable Platinum Silicone Bags free of PVC and BPA
Tupperware	➞	Glass Containers with BPA-Free Lids
Plastic Cooking Utensils	➞	Silicone Cooking Utensils
Plastic Measuring Cups	➞	Glass Measuring Cups
Plastic Measuring Spoons	➞	Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
Plastic Cutting Boards	➞	Bamboo Cutting Boards
Plastic Dishwasher Pods	➞	Non-Toxic, Plastic-Free Dishwasher Tablets
Plastic Produce Bags	➞	Reusable Organic Cotton Produce Bags

👉 For even more non-toxic kitchen and household swaps, check out: Non-Toxic Swaps: How to Replace Toxic Items and Start Clean Living (Beginner Guide)

2. Fragrance

Eliminating fragrance will make a significant impact in reducing your toxin build up! Artificial fragrances are cocktails of toxic, carcinogenic chemicals including phthalates and formaldehyde.

Phthalates are carcinogenic [4] endocrine disrupting chemicals [5] that cause reproductive issues [6] including infertility [7] as well as increased risk of miscarriage [8] and gestational diabetes [9].

They have also been linked to birth defects [10], risk of preterm birth [11], developmental issues [12], autism spectral disorder [13], childhood behavioral problems [14], asthma [15], diabetes [16], breast cancer [17], and a higher incidence of childhood cancers [18].

What’s even worse is the fact that companies don’t have to disclose all the toxic ingredients in their fragrances because they’re considered proprietary.

You’ll find artificial fragrances listed on ingredient labels as “fragrance,” “perfume,” and “parfum.” So be sure to avoid all of those!

You’ll also want to avoid “unscented” products. They can contain masking agents to cover up scents with other toxic chemicals. Instead, try to get “fragrance-free” products.

Breaking up with fragrances can be rough at first. You might go into withdrawals and miss them initially. But like a bad relationship, as much as you may love fragrances, they’re not good for you. 

And once you eliminate them, not only will you not miss them, you’ll become keenly aware of how overpowering and obnoxious they are. 

Eventually, you won’t be able to stand them anymore. You’ll even find yourself gagging as you walk by the cleaning aisle at the grocery store. 

That just goes to show that even though they’re in bottles, they’re seeping out into the air you’re breathing.

So you’ll want to get rid of candles, air fresheners, perfume, dryer sheets, and any other scented items like garbage bags (that includes pet waste bags too).

Another note about candles is that beyond the artificial fragrances used with them, traditional candles also use paraffin wax.

Paraffin wax is another toxic ingredient that’s petroleum-based and has been found to contain known carcinogens like benzene.

But if you love burning candles, don’t shed a tear just yet! There are other healthier, non-toxic wax options below.

👉 You may also like: 21 Clean Living Benefits You’ll Actually Notice in Real Life

Non-Toxic Swaps for Fragrances to Reduce Your Toxin Build Up

Just because you’re ditching artificial fragrances doesn’t mean you have to go completely scentless in life. Essential oils are a non-toxic alternative to add some smell-good vibes. 

Just make sure they’re 100% pure essential oil and not mixed with any other solvents. If you can, go organic to avoid pesticides too.

For candles, choose beeswax, soy wax, or coconut wax with a cotton or wood wick. You’ll just want to confirm they’re not blended with any other waxes.

And keep in mind, most soybeans are genetically modified. So if you can find non-GMO soy wax candles, even better!

Wondering how to have safe scents in your life? Check out these options:

THIS	➞	THAT
Candles	➞	Primally Pure Beeswax + Coconut Wax Candles Beeswax Candle Soy Wax Candle Coconut Wax Candle
Air Fresheners	➞	Diffuser with pure Essential Oils
Perfume	➞	Essential Oil Deodorant Spray (I sometimes use this as a body spray)
Dryer Sheets	➞	Wool Dryer Balls (you can add a few drops of pure Essential Oil to the balls if you want to add scent to your laundry)
Scented Garbage Bags	➞	Unscented Garbage Bags
Scented Pet Waste Bags	➞	Unscented Compostable Pet Waste Bags

3. Household Cleaners

Have you ever read the warning labels on your household cleaners? Scary, right?! Switching from toxic chemical cleaners to natural cleaning products will be a huge step to reduce toxins in your body.

Research shows that regular exposure to conventional cleaning products can have the same negative effect on lung function as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day [19]. 😱

Here are just a few of the toxic ingredients that can be in your household cleaners:

Chlorine Bleach – fumes from bleach can cause DNA damage, cancer, asthma, and a variety of other illnesses.

Fragrance – refer back to the Fragrance section above.

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) – chemicals released into the air as hazardous gasses (benzene, formaldehyde, chloroform, etc.) that have been linked to autoimmune diseases and cause a variety of health issues, such as liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage as well as cancer [20].

Petrochemicals – petroleum-based chemical products that have mutagenic and carcinogenic properties [21], are endocrine disruptors [22], and can cause cancer, birth defects, hormonal disorders, and damage to the brain, nerves, and liver [23].

Phenoxyethanol – often claimed to be a “safe” preservative, but it’s actually a neurotoxic [24] chemical linked to liver and kidney damage [25], central nervous system depression [25], reproductive [26] and developmental toxicity [27], skin irritation [28], and allergic reactions [29].

Luckily, the dozens of toxic cleaning products you’ve probably been using can easily be replaced. 

Non-Toxic Swaps for Household Cleaners to Reduce Your Toxin Build Up

Instead of the standard toxin-laden cleaners, use a natural solution free of toxic chemicals and fragrance like vinegar and baking soda or my favorite non-toxic cleaner, Branch Basics!

With just one bottle of the all-natural, non-toxic, plant and mineral-based Concentrate cleaning solution by Branch Basics, you can make (and refill) all the household cleaners you’ll need!

I use it to clean my bathrooms, toilets, laundry, kitchens, dishes, retainers, even my dog, and more! With Branch Basics, you can simplify and detoxify your life in one easy step.

When you’re ready to swap out your toxic household cleaners, get 15% off your first Branch Basics purchase with my code “WLM15“ and #tossthetoxins!

Here are some of the many ways to use Branch Basics along with a few other helpful non-toxic cleaning products you may want to try:

THIS	➞	THAT
Dishwashing Soap	➞	Branch Basics Foaming Bottle with the Concentrate Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (for greasier dishes) ATTITUDE Dish Soap, Unscented (EWG VERIFIED™)
Dishwasher Pods	➞	Blueland Dishwasher Tablets Branch Basics Dishwasher Tablets
Laundry Detergent	➞	Branch Basics Laundry Bottle with the Concentrate Branch Basics Laundry Detergent
Stain Remover	➞	Branch Basics All Purpose Cleaner Bottle with the Concentrate + Oxygen Boost
Fabric Softener	➞	Vinegar (believe it or not, you can use vinegar to soften fabrics)
All Purpose Cleaner	➞	Branch Basics All Purpose Cleaner Bottle with the Concentrate
Bathroom Cleaner	➞	Branch Basics Bathroom Cleaner Bottle with the Concentrate
Toilet Bowl Cleaner	➞	Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner Branch Basics Bathroom Cleaner Bottle with the Concentrate + Oxygen Boost
Grout Cleaner	➞	Branch Basics Bathroom Cleaner Bottle with the Concentrate + Oxygen Boost
Glass Cleaner	➞	Branch Basics Streak-Free Bottle with the Concentrate

👉 You may also like: 15 Ways to Save Money on Non-Toxic Items for Healthy Clean Living

4. Personal Care Items

Choosing non-toxic personal care products will pay off big time if you want to limit your toxin exposure and reduce toxins in your body.

There are a multitude of toxins found in personal care products like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, toothpaste, even feminine hygiene items, toilet paper, and more. 

These are items you’re using directly on your skin, in your mouth, and even around your lady parts!

Remember artificial fragrances and phthalates from the fragrance section above? You’ll find those in most personal care items along with other toxic culprits like parabens.

Parabens are endocrine disrupting artificial preservatives with genotoxic [30] and cytotoxic [31] effects that harm reproductive health [32], can cause infertility [33], and increase the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer [34].

All of these toxic ingredients in personal care products add to your toxic load and can result in some major health issues.

And let’s not forget about chlorine bleach, which is often found in feminine care products and even toilet paper, along with other toxic chemicals like BPA and more.

Get 10% OFF every Primally Pure order with discount code “WLM” (save this code – it can be used every time you order)!

Non-Toxic Swaps for Personal Care Items to Reduce Your Toxin Build Up

When it comes to reducing your toxin build up with personal care items, body lotion is a good place to start. That’s because it covers the most area of your body. 

Lotion is also one of the cheapest swaps to make because you can replace it with unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil!

I don’t recommend using coconut oil on your face though since it’s comedogenic, meaning it can clog your pores. 

For your facial moisturizer, cleanser, and other skincare, I recommend switching to all-natural skincare like Primally Pure (my obsession). BTW… you can get 10% off every PP purchase with code “WLM” + get cash back with Rakuten!

Then move on to shampoo and conditioner, oral hygiene products, cosmetics, feminine products, toilet paper, etc. Here are some options to get you started:

THIS	➞	THAT
Shampoo & Conditioner	➞	100% PURE Carina Organics Avalon Organics (EWG VERIFIED™)
Leave-In Conditioner	➞	Pipette Leave-In Hair Detangler (EWG VERIFIED™) Carina Organics Leave-In Conditioner
Dry Shampoo	➞	Primally Pure Dry Shampoo ACURE Dry Shampoo
Hair Spray	➞	Nature’s Brands Organic Hair Spray Carina Organics Fast Drying Hair Spray
Body Lotion	➞	Coconut Oil (unrefined and cold-pressed)
Body Wash	➞	Dr. Bronner’s Organic Sugar Soap Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance-Free 2-in-1 Shampoo & Wash (EWG VERIFIED™)
Antibacterial Hand Soap	➞	Branch Basics Foaming Wash ATTITUDE Hand Soap, Unscented (EWG VERIFIED™) Dr. Bronner’s Travel-Size Castile Soap for public restrooms (keep in purse)
Toothpaste	➞	Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Whitening Toothpaste Dr. Bronner’s All-One Toothpaste
Mouthwash	➞	Nature’s Answer Periobrite Natural Mouthwash
Cosmetics	➞	Well People (EWG VERIFIED™ options) Honest Beauty 100% PURE ILIA Beauty
Feminine Products	➞	Silicone Menstrual Cup Organic Cotton Pads (free of plastic, fragrance, and chlorine) Organic Cotton Tampons (free of plastic, fragrance, and chlorine)
Toilet Paper	➞	365 by Whole Foods Market, Sustainably Soft Bath Tissue WHOLEROLL Organic Bamboo Toilet Paper Bamboo Story 100% Unbleached Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper

👉 For even more non-toxic personal care swaps, check out: Non-Toxic Personal Care Swaps: 15 Simple Low-Tox Upgrades for Your Daily Routine

5. Organic Food

Last but not least for how to reduce toxins in your body is food. If “we are what we eat,” do we really want to be eating pesticides and other toxic ingredients?

Choosing healthier options for food is a fantastic way to reduce toxic load.

Fruits and veggies that aren’t organic have several issues. The main problem is obviously pesticides. But there’s also the issue with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). 

The glyphosate-based herbicide “Roundup” is used on GMO foods and is a carcinogen [35] and endocrine disruptor [36] that causes stomach inflammation [37] as well as chromosomal and DNA damage [38].

Luckily, organic foods are not only grown without the use of synthetic chemical pesticides, they’re also non-GMO. So they’re a win-win!

Once in a while you’ll get lucky and find an organic version of a food item that’s the same cost or just slightly more than the non-organic version. But let’s be honest, organic food is generally more expensive.

So rather than buy everything organic and feel like your bank account is going to have a nervous breakdown, start by purchasing organic for the fruits and veggies on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list. 

These are the 12 produce items that are the most contaminated with the highest levels of pesticides. And according to the EWG’s 2023 Dirty Dozen Testing for the highest levels of pesticide residue found on produce: 

“The neurotoxic organophosphate insecticide acephate, prohibited from use on green beans in 2011, was detected on six percent of green bean samples.” 

Isn’t that scary?! You can see why the Dirty Dozen are the ones you should definitely go organic with.

Alternatively, there’s also a Clean 15 list of fruits and vegetables with the lowest amounts of pesticide residues currently. These would be your best bet for non-organic.

👉 You may also like: How to Lose Weight Naturally (Without Diets, Drama, or Soul-Sucking Workouts)

Non-Toxic Swaps for Food to Reduce Your Toxin Build Up

The first place to focus on with food is going organic with the Dirty Dozen fruits and veggies. That goes for fresh, frozen, and canned versions. 

Fresh is best, but frozen is usually cheaper than fresh. And frozen or dry (i.e. beans) are better than canned because cans are lined with BPA or other chemical-based linings.

Once you’re in the habit of buying organic versions of the Dirty Dozen, you can gradually start incorporating more organic foods into your grocery haul. 

If you can’t afford organic beyond produce items, you can still make healthier food choices. Focus on ingredient labels. Buy the best quality you can afford, and avoid anything artificial. 

If you see any artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, or artificial sweeteners, put that item back on the shelf, and run!

Looking for examples of healthier alternatives for foods? Here you go:

THIS	➞	THAT
Refined Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners	➞	Natural Sweeteners like Raw Honey, Pure Maple Syrup, Coconut Sugar, or Monk Fruit Extract (example: sweeten plain Greek yogurt with honey)
Vegetable Oils (i.e. Canola Oil)	➞	Cold-Pressed, Unrefined Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, or Coconut Oil (since avocados are the number one produce item on the Clean 15, non-organic avocado oil, that would be your best bet for non-organic)
Canned Food	➞	Fresh, Frozen, or Dry (i.e. beans)
Margarine	➞	Real Butter (organic is best, organic and grass-fed is even better)
Coffee Creamer	➞	Half & Half with liquid Monk Fruit Extract or Stevia Homemade: 13.5 oz can full fat (not “light”) Coconut Milk + 1 tbs Pure Maple Syrup + 1 tsp Vanilla Extract (or non-alcoholic Vanilla)
Soda	➞	Kombucha
Candy	➞	Dried Fruit (I eat these medjool dates like they’re candy!) Healthy Homemade Candied Walnuts (no refined sugar) Homemade Energy Bites Homemade Granola
Chips	➞	Veggies with Hummus or homemade Greek Yogurt Ranch
Meat Stick	➞	Paleovalley 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks

Wrapping Up 5 Easy Ways to Start Reducing Your Toxin Build Up

By now, you have seen that there are small changes you can make to reduce toxins in your body. From eating organic to switching to natural beauty products and household cleaners, you can take action. 

Ultimately, it’s up to us to take charge of our health and wellbeing. As Zadie Smith said, “take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” If we make an effort to reduce our toxins, the results will be powerful.

By taking small steps and being mindful of the products you use and the food you eat, you can experience life-changing health improvements. 

As with any lifestyle changes, the effects won’t be seen and felt overnight. Reducing toxins in your body is an ongoing process that will become an unconscious habit. 

With consistency and dedication, you can take better control of your health and start on the path to a life of wellbeing. Making the effort to reduce your toxin exposure is the first step to getting and staying healthy.

So start the journey to reducing your toxin build up today, and free your body from toxins! Be sure to grab your Free 5-Day Clean Living Kickstart to help you get started!

Have any questions or other tips for how to reduce toxins in your body? Drop a comment below!

References

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2. Demeneix BA. How fossil fuel-derived pesticides and plastics harm health, biodiversity, and the climate. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020 Jun;8(6):462-464. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30116-9. PMID: 32445732; PMCID: PMC7239621. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7239621/)
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19. Svanes Ø, Bertelsen RJ, Lygre SHL, Carsin AE, Antó JM, Forsberg B, García-García JM, Gullón JA, Heinrich J, Holm M, Kogevinas M, Urrutia I, Leynaert B, Moratalla JM, Le Moual N, Lytras T, Norbäck D, Nowak D, Olivieri M, Pin I, Probst-Hensch N, Schlünssen V, Sigsgaard T, Skorge TD, Villani S, Jarvis D, Zock JP, Svanes C. Cleaning at Home and at Work in Relation to Lung Function Decline and Airway Obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2018 May 1;197(9):1157-1163. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201706-1311OC. PMID: 29451393. (https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/rccm.201706-1311oc, https://www.uib.no/en/news/115228/household-cleaning-can-be-bad-smoking-lung-function)
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