7 Simple Tips to Reduce Toxins in Daily Life
In collaboration with Ceres Organics, we put together 7 easy, affordable, and actionable tips to help reduce your toxic load in today’s modern world.
These small, mindful habits are designed to seamlessly fit into your daily routine, making it simple to create a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.
Why it matters: No matter how small, each step you take contributes to a healthier you—and a healthier planet. Together, we’ll show that big changes come from little actions done consistently over time.
Tip 1: Small Swaps, Big Impact
Organic living doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Start small by focusing on easy, affordable swaps that make a difference over time.
Challenge: Next time you're at the supermarket, try swapping out a few of your everyday pantry staples for organic options like;
- Canned fruit & vegetables
- Canned beans & legumes
- Rolled Oats, Rice & Pasta
Tip 2: Remove Hidden Toxins With Easy Swaps
Even if you eat a healthy diet, hidden toxins can sneak in through store-bought dressings, sauces, and condiments. A little jam at breakfast, dressing on your salad at lunch, and BBQ sauce or ketchup at dinner can quickly add up to surprising amounts of added sugar, salt, preservatives, artificial flavours, and hydrogenated oils—often without you even realising it.
The good news? Making your own versions is simpler than you think! We've gathered some of our favourite recipes for vinaigrettes, dressings, BBQ sauce, and chia jam—each one takes just minutes to prepare.
Challenge: Today, we challenge you to swap out at least one store-bought sauce and start making your own.
Why it matters: By doing so you will significantly reduce your exposure to hidden additives and toxins, as well as reduce packaging waste. If you can't make your own, always check the ingredients and choose organic where you can. Ceres Organics have many great products in this category, and at little bird kitchen we have a small selection of house-made sauces and dressings available to purchase.
Tip 3: Mindful Eating, A Simple Habit
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to eat on autopilot—rushing through meals, distracted by screens, eating in cars—resulting in us barely tasting our food and having no connection with where it came from.
Challenge: Try a “mindful meal” today. Choose one meal and enjoy it with no screens, no distractions—just you and your food. Pay attention to every bite: the colours, the aromas, the textures and where the ingredients came from.
Why it matters: Mindful eating can transform not just how you eat, but how you feel. By slowing down and fully engaging with your meals you can; improve digestion and reduce bloating, prevent overeating by recognising when you're truly full and deepen your connection with food, fostering healthier habits over time.
This simple shift often fosters a greater sense of appreciation and gratitude—not only for the origins of the ingredients but also for the effort that went into preparing the meal, whether by someone else or yourself. Cultivating gratitude, both for others and yourself, has been consistently shown to have profound and positive effects on overall health and well-being.
Tip 4: Clear the Air, Literally
Did you know that many fragrances and cleaning products release harmful chemicals into the air? These pollutants can contribute to respiratory problems, asthma, eczema, migraines, headaches, and allergies. It's not just the fragrance—other chemicals in cleaning products also play a role, and they can emit hazardous air pollutants.
Challenge: Start small, and simply swap out your air freshener for our easy natural DIY recipe:
- 100ml spray bottle
- 50ml organic witch hazel
- 20 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 50ml filtered water
Why it matters: The air in your home should be a safe space for you and your loved ones. Making small changes, like switching to a natural alternative, helps reduce toxic exposure and creates a healthier environment for everyone.
Looking to do more? Check out Nourished & Vibrant for simple at-home cleaning recipes or try eco-friendly cleaning products from Sonett.
Tip 5: Ditch The Plastic
Plastic may seem convenient, but when exposed to sudden changes in temperature—like being left in the sun, a warm car, the microwave, or even the freezer—it contracts and expands. This process causes plastic to break down at a molecular level, releasing harmful chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates into your food and drinks.
These chemicals are known endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with hormone function, impacting metabolism, reproductive health, and even increasing the risk of certain cancers. Over time, these micro-exposures add up, creating long-term health concerns.
Challenge: Start small, and swap your on-the-go water bottle for a stainless steel alternative and re-purpose a glass jar for office salads and soups.
Why it matters: By switching to glass and stainless steel, you not only eliminate harmful chemical exposure but also reduce your contribution to plastic waste, helping protect both your health and the planet.
Tip 6: Upgrade Your Cooking Oils
Refined oils like canola and soybean are often used in processed foods and cooking, but it’s important to note that the issue isn’t necessarily with the plant oils themselves—it’s how they are processed.
What’s the problem with refined oils?
During hydrogenation, oils undergo a chemical process to make them more stable and extend their shelf life. Unfortunately, this creates harmful trans fats, which are linked to increased inflammation, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses.
Not all plant oils are created equal though! For example, an organic and minimally processed sunflower oil retains its natural nutrients and should not be put in the same category as a highly refined canola oil.
Challenge: Ditch highly processed, hydrogenated oils and swap them for healthier, nutrient-rich alternatives.
Why it matters: Switching to organic, cold-pressed oils means you’ll benefit from antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats that support your heart, reduce inflammation, and boost energy levels.
Healthier oils to swap in:
- Coconut Oil: Rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) for energy and naturally antifungal and antibacterial. Great for baking and high-heat cooking.
- Olive Oil: Packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, especially when extra virgin and cold-pressed. Perfect for dressings, drizzling, or sautéing at lower temperatures.
- Avocado Oil: A high smoke point makes it ideal for grilling, stir-frying, and sautéing. It’s rich in monounsaturated fats and vitamins E and K, supporting skin health and nutrient absorption.
This simple change can dramatically improve your health by reducing inflammation, protecting your heart, and fueling your body with nourishing fats.
Tip 7: Prioritise Organic Where It Counts
Can’t afford to buy all organic produce? That’s okay! A simple strategy is to prioritise organic for the “Dirty Dozen”—fruits and vegetables most likely to have pesticide residue—and buy the “Clean 15” conventionally grown to save money without compromising your health.
What’s the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15?
The Dirty Dozen includes fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticide residue, even after washing. By choosing organic for these, you can significantly reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.
The Clean 15, on the other hand, includes produce with the lowest pesticide levels, making them safer to buy conventionally.
Clean 15 (Safest to Buy Conventional): Avocados, Sweetcorn, Pineapples, Onions, Eggplant, Peas, Asparagus, Melon, Kiwifruit, Cabbage, Mushrooms, Mangoes, Watermelon, Grapefruit and Kumara.
Why it matters: Pesticides can build up in your body over time, leading to potential health issues such as hormone disruption and increased risk of chronic diseases. By focusing on organic where it counts, you’re making a big difference for your health and the environment—without straining your budget.
LAST CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF FIVE $500 Pantry Refreshes!
This is it—your final opportunity to win one of five $500 Pantry Refreshes packed with premium organic staples from Ceres Organics and little bird organics
It’s the ultimate way to kick-start your journey toward a healthier, low-toxic lifestyle. Quick, enter now for your chance to win!