Senior Living News

One of the easiest ways to get started is to focus on the products you use most. For example, if you apply lotion or lip balm frequently, then check the ingredients and consider changing to a natural alternative. This simple action can eliminate regular exposure to potential toxins.

To help you get started, here are seven items that commonly have undesirable chemicals.

1. Laundry Detergent

Detergents and fabric softeners leave your laundry soft and clean; however, they often achieve these results with harsh chemicals and perfumes.

Alternatively, there are many nontoxic detergents on the market today, such as Charlie's Soap and Nellie's Laundry Soda, that clean without an overload of chemicals. Baking soda and vinegar can also help soften and disinfect clothes while removing odors naturally.

2. Dryer Sheets

Besides potentially harming your health, the fragrances in dryer sheets actually reduce the absorbency of towels and create damaging residue inside the mechanisms of your appliance.

To fluff clothing and reduce static in the dryer naturally, toss a few dryer balls in the load. Lavender bags and scented sachets can also be added in place of dryer sheets. These reusable products not only reduce your exposure to toxins; they're budget-friendly and introduce less waste to landfills.

3. Household Cleaners

Green products are made from natural solutions, and steam cleaners use the power of boiling water to cut through grime. Both make it easy for you to tackle tough messes without breathing unwanted fumes in your LifeStream at Sun City home.

Many common household items also make effective cleaners, allowing you to skip indoor air pollution caused by bleach, ammonia and chlorine. Vinegar, salt and hydrogen peroxide are good stain fighters and cleaners. For a surface scrubber, baking soda is mildly abrasive and a deodorizer, making it useful when cleaning bathroom and kitchen areas.

4. Personal Care Products

Chemical ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products permeate the skin and can affect your health. While many companies are moving toward healthier products made from natural ingredients with fewer additives, not all brands are created equal.

The FDA doesn't preapprove the safety of these products before they hit store shelves. Although most companies use chemicals believed to be generally safe for use, finding toxins in personal care products can be quite common.

This can make it difficult for seniors to purchase lotions, shampoos and even toothpaste they feel safe using. Online medical sites often list ingredients to avoid, such as parabens, triclosan, formaldehyde and polyethylene glycols, which have been proven to cause health issues.

Comparing the ingredient lists on your favorite brands to alternatives may take some time, but it lets you control what's being put on and absorbed into your body.

5. Processed Foods

Processed foods are simply foods that have been altered to enhance taste or extend shelf life. The combination of increased sugar, fat, preservatives, artificial colors and chemical additives in these foods has been linked to a 31% higher mortality rate compared to unprocessed ones.

The easiest way for seniors to avoid items that contain large amounts of toxins is to scan the food label. Highly processed foods often feature long ingredient lists with chemical-based names.

For example, a can of soda typically features multiple unfamiliar-sounding ingredients and chemicals. On the other hand, a bottle of orange juice may only have orange juice, water and vitamin C listed. When in doubt, try to stick to foods containing ingredients that sound like you'd cook with them at home.

6. Organic Foods

Organic foods are raised without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. With animal products, such as dairy and eggs, the farmers don't use antibiotics and hormones.

Studies are mixed on the benefits of eating organic. Data reveals organic foods do have lower levels of pesticide residue and toxic metals. Some research suggests they're also more nutritious.

Whether or not you choose organic produce, always thoroughly wash and scrub fresh fruits and vegetables. This helps scour away dirt, bacteria and chemical residues. Consider removing the outer leaves of lettuce heads and potentially peeling items that may have been waxed or washed in the store.

7. Air Filters

The American Lung Association rates the air quality in Maricopa County as poor. Sun City seniors may wish to use an air purifier in their garden home to help counter this issue.

True HEPA devices can remove particles 0.3 microns in diameter, preventing them from entering and penetrating the lungs. Some air purifiers include activated carbon and other solutions for cleansing harmful substances, such as radon and tobacco smoke, from the air you breathe.

An ideal location to place the unit is beside your bed to reduce your exposure to pollutants while you sleep. This can help you sleep better and wake up less congested. To find the right air purifier for your space, check the MERV rating, the square footage the unit can cover and the number of air exchanges per hour provided.