Impact of endocrine disruptors on our lives
What impact do endocrine disruptors have on our lives?
What are they?
Endocrine disruptors are chemical or natural substances that can cause hormonal imbalances and various diseases in humans and animals.
Examples of diseases caused by endocrine disruptors are:
- Various types of cancer (chemical deodorants have been shown to be a major contributor to breast cancer)
- Endometriosis
- Respiratory diseases
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Infertility
- …
And this is not exclusive to women , it affects men too.
Where do we find endocrine disruptors in our lives?
As a recommendation, we would tell you to always read the labels of all the products you buy, but here is a general selection of the most commonly used ones:
- Bisphenols are found in food packaging, canned goods, and non-reusable water bottles.
- In food and cosmetic packaging, Phthalates
- Pesticides and insecticides are present in fruit and vegetables.
- In water, we find heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium…)
- Perfluorinated compounds are found in laminated papers, kitchen utensils, upholstery, etc.
- In cosmetics, you should discard those that contain the word "perfume" or "fragrant".
As you can see, they are everywhere: in personal care products, in household cleaning products, in what we eat…
It has been shown that the air in our homes is between 2 and 10 times more polluted than the air outside, and you might wonder why. Well, among other things, it's due to the cleaning products we buy to disinfect, which are made up of chemicals, perfumes, and plastics; the air fresheners we use; the shampoos, gels, and creams we use; and the packaged and processed (and ultra-processed) food we eat.
Here we'll give you ideas for cleaning and disinfecting your home with natural products to protect your health.
Presented in a biodegradable and recyclable box, 36 strips divisible into two made with natural and biodegradable ingredients.
Simply drop a strip into the mop bucket, wait for it to dissolve, and you're done. It works on wood, marble, and more.
It also doesn't weigh much and takes up little space.
It contains no phosphates, parabens, or colorants .
2.- NATULIM washing machine detergent
Like the floor detergent, it comes in 36 wash strips that can be divided in two, made with natural and biodegradable ingredients .
You only need to use half a strip and put it in the drum, you don't need to use fabric softener (so you save money) and they come in 3 varieties: unscented, lavender or floral (their aromas come from essential oils).
You can use it as an all-purpose cleaner, as a stain remover, or as a fabric softener.
It is made with natural and biodegradable ingredients , the packaging is 70% recycled and recyclable cardboard and it is vegan.
In another post I'll tell you about the Mulieres family and all their products.
If you want to use it as an all-purpose cleaner, you have to dilute one part vinegar in one part water; it works very well for cleaning surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom, furniture, etc.
If you spray it on your clothes, it makes ironing easier.
As a stain remover for clothes, pretreat the stain by applying vinegar to the area and letting it soak. Then, wash in the washing machine as usual.
As a fabric softener, it leaves clothes softer and colors brighter.
It should not be used on marble or metals because vinegar is an acid.
4.- Marseille soap
This soap is hypoallergenic, with 100% natural ingredients, biodegradable , vegan, and cruelty-free.
Free of plastics, palm oil, essential oils, perfumes, colorants, preservatives or petroleum derivatives.
It has many uses:
- In flakes, as detergent for the washing machine or dishwasher, or to prepare liquid detergent
- In bucket or stick form for hand, face and body hygiene, as dish soap, for pretreating tough stains, for household surfaces, as an insecticide…
It is a mild, natural abrasive product that, when combined with cleaning vinegar, increases its descaling power. It is biodegradable and plastic-free, does not pollute water, is vegan, and cruelty-free.
It can be used as a powdered detergent for the washing machine, for the dishwasher, as a surface cleaner in the kitchen and bathroom, as a pipe unblocker, to clean induction hobs, ceramic hobs or the stove, it prevents bad odors in garbage bins, footwear, sportswear, mattresses, it gives shine to metal objects, to pretreat tough stains.
6. And let's not forget biodegradable cloths, loofah or copper scouring pads, vegetable brushes…
The cloths, the loofah and the bristles of some of the brushes are compostable, they do not contain plastics (in industrial ones, with use, microplastics are released that reach the sea through our drains).
I recommend always letting it air dry and disinfecting it in water every so often to eliminate any possible germs.
What did you think of this content? Did we help you understand what endocrine disruptors are, how they affect our health, and how to change the way you clean your house to take care of yourself and your family?
