How To Reduce Cancer-Causing Toxins in Your Home
Thanks to advancements in medicine, infectious diseases are no longer the mass killers they once were. Unfortunately, cancer has stepped up to the plate with it being estimated that as many as 1,735,350 new cases of the illness will be diagnosed in the USA this year alone. Cancer in younger patients is becoming increasingly prevalent, forcing us to take a closer look at the link between environmental and dietary factors that can increase the cancer risk.
While quality medical care is imperative when it comes to fighting diseases like cancer, certain preventative measures can help avert several medical conditions before they begin. The first place that such preventative measures must be implemented is in our own homes that often conceal a number of cancer-causing toxins. By following these simple guidelines you can significantly limit your exposure to harmful toxins within your home.
Ditch your harmful cleaning products
Most modern-day homes are flooded with toxic cleaning products that not only destroy our immune systems by overwhelming our environments with disinfectants, but expose our bodies to cancer-causing toxins as well. While bleach-based products are the most successful at killing germs, their fumes are especially dangerous to us while ammonia offers greater health risks than cleaning potential.
Air fresheners are another common household product that contains a substantial amount of potentially harmful ingredients such as Acetaldehyde and Benzaldehyde, both of which are known carcinogens. Although there are a number of organic cleaning products available on the market soap and water always remains a good choice. You can also make use of natural cleaning agents such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice to keep your house clean without being detrimental to your health.
Use glass
Polystyrene and plastic are both big culprits when it comes to containing harmful chemicals. Syrene, which is used in manufacturing polystyrene, is a known carcinogen that can leak into your coffee, soup and other hot foods. Avoid using polystyrene containers to hold any hot food and liquids, opting for recycled cardboard and paper instead. When it comes to plastic, Bisphenol (also known as BPA) is often found in inflexible toys, storage and drinking containers (including baby bottles) and the lining of certain canned products. BPA has been linked to both developmental as well as cancer risks and products containing it should best be avoided.
According to Dr Sumi Dina, a professor at Oakland University School of Health Sciences, a seemingly healthier alternative to BPA known as BPS, has exhibited similar behavior to BPA in terms of multiplying cancer cells, rendering it useless as a substitute. To avoid possible exposure, buy toys that are labeled as BPA free and make use of glass when it comes to drinking and storing food products.
While we want to rid our homes of potentially dangerous germs and bacteria it is important to note that we are harming our immune systems by aiming to live in a sterile environment. We need to be exposed to germs to a certain extent to keep our immune responses in an optimal working condition. It really is only food prep facilities and medical institutions such as hospitals that require sterile environments. By removing the greatest risks from our homes and allowing the predominantly innocuous germs to roam fairly freely, we will not only reduce the risk of illness but give our bodies the best possible chance to fight the diseases too.
Editor’s Note: For information about lead in homes, how to identify it, and different methods of dealing with it, please take a look at the article: Lead in Your Home: How to Safely Identify Issues and Avoid Exposure.
