Most of us grew up with chemicals. Everything from the dish soap in our kitchens, to the spray-on leather protectors, to scented body lotions…they all were concoctions of potent synthetic chemical agents. Then the green revolution happened, and we all woke up to the fact that we were unknowingly housing all these bottles and cans that were harmful to our health and environment. I remember feeling overwhelmed, not knowing quite where to start. So I resolved that I would make the transition to clean living a gradual and organic one.
STEP 1: GETTING TO KNOW THE PRODUCTS AT HOME
I started to become aware of what was in my cupboards and countertops. So I traded my aluminum-laden deodorant for a mineral salt-based one. When my laundry detergent ran out, I made sure to pick out a sulfate-free substitute. I stopped wearing synthetic perfume altogether, even though I so loved my Chanel Chance. Dish soap – green. Shampoo – clean. Lipstick. Toothpaste. You all know the drill.
STEP 2: LEARNING ABOUT INGREDIENTS
"Soon I was able to discern what was safe (and what was not) on ingredients lists. I learned to identify the big, bad words: parabens, phenols, petroleum and yes – the all-mysterious parfum."
While I taught myself about the harmful agents, I inadvertently also learned about natural alternatives, such as essential oils instead of synthetic scents, or natural dyes in the place of chemical colouring agents.
STEP 3: STRIKING A BALANCE
Bit by bit, I’ve worked towards creating a chemical-free home, at a pace I feel is right for me. Early on I decided to give myself lots of time and flexibility while I made my home a cleaner space. This decision has made the journey a whole lot more fun: no guilt trips or fanaticism. Making changes here and there, observing and celebrating the positive health effects, and then repeating that process!
Sometimes people ask me about these choices, about whether I can actually see and notice a difference in my life. Yes, I absolutely feel better, and I have the peace of mind of knowing that I am not volunteering myself for cancer by exposing my body to toxic agents at home. But it’s far more complex and exciting: I’ve taught my body to return to its natural sensitivity. Clean living has found its way into all areas of my life – from the food I consume, to the company I keep, to the lifestyle choices I make.
This return to natural intelligence is pretty exciting: I’m always, always amazed by how much my body knows how to heal itself. I just have to create a clean environment for it and voila! I would never have guessed that the secret behind feeling good was so simple.