The dirty truth about our cleaning and personal care products and how you can help detox your body and home

We view our homes as our sanctuaries, our sacred spaces in which we take pride. We like to keep them clean, organized, and decorated to our liking. What we don’t realize is that within that sacred space hides, on average, 62 different toxic chemicals. The products we use to wipe our countertops and clean our toilet bowls fill the air in our homes with toxins, irritants, and carcinogens that could be contributing to many of our health issues.

We do the same with our own bodies—from the pans we use to cook our food to soap and deodorant. It is said that the average woman uses 12 different personal care products per day and the average man uses 6 per day; in the 12 products that women use hide 168 different chemicals (85 in the men’s products). What’s even more alarming is that 80 percent of these chemicals aren’t even tested before they hit shelves.

These chemicals and pollutants are inhaled and/or absorbed through the skin and, once inside the body, they can alter hormones, causing a slew of health issues including early puberty in children, fertility issues in women, thyroid dysfunction, and weight gain—and even potentially contributing to the development of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers.

The good news? You can start limiting your exposure and detoxing the body by incorporating a few different practices and foods. Switch to nontoxic cleaning products and cosmetics or make your own; swap aluminum foil for parchment paper; switch to cast iron, stainless steel, or 100% ceramic cookware with no aluminum core; switch from plastic to glass or stainless-steel reusable water bottles.

You can also add indoor air purifiers to reduce pollutants like dust, pollen, bacteria, and mold in your home, and invest in a quality water purifier that will remove harmful levels of fluoride, viruses, bacteria, lead, arsenic, mercury, chlorine, heavy metals, and pesticides from your drinking water. Maybe go for a spa day, too: infrared saunas can help release toxins from the liver, intestines, and kidneys, and lymphatic drainage massages aid the body in its natural detoxification process.

1 lb. grass-fed organic beef (New York strip, skirt steak, or any cut of your choice)

1 minced or grated garlic clove

1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar + 1/8 tsp. or drop of honey, whisked together

Greens and stems from beets

Pat steak dry and rub with olive oil, minced garlic, and salt and pepper. Using a grill or grill pan over medium high heat, grill steak for 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut beet greens and stems from beets and wash thoroughly using a salad spinner. Under cold water, brush beets gently with a brush. Place whole beets on a parchment-lined stainless-steel baking sheet. Drizzle beets with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of sea salt then bake for 45 minutes. Allow beets to cool for 15 minutes before gently rubbing the skin off; cube beets and toss with balsamic vinegar and honey. Set aside.

In a cast iron pan, heat olive oil over high to medium heat. Add in chopped beet greens and sauté for 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 2 additional minutes. Finish with lemon juice.

Arrange everything on a large platter, beginning with a bed of watercress, beet greens, and cubed beets. Slice steak and add to platter. Garnish with fresh parsley and cilantro.

Stir all ingredients together and serve in a glass garnished with a slice of lemon.

The cleaning products we use daily in our homes contain numerous chemicals that pollute the air we breathe and the surfaces with which we come into contact. In fact, it is said that indoor air quality can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside—and considering the average person spends 90% of their time indoors, this is a huge cause for concern. From window and counter spray to oven cleaner and shower scrub, the average household contains as many as 60 toxic chemicals.

Below, find my simple and completely toxin-free yet very effective cleaning products:

*Distilled vinegar is derived from corn, which is frequently genetically modified and heavily sprayed with pesticides, so to limit exposure, choose organic when possible.

Combine in a glass spray bottle. Shake before use. 

Combine in a glass spray bottle. 

Combine in a glass spray bottle. 

Combine in a glass spray bottle.

Combine ingredients in a bowl to form a paste. Apply a thin layer to all inside surfaces of oven and let sit for 20 minutes. Scrub with sponge or steel wool to remove stuck-on bits. Wipe clean with a dry towel.

Combine ingredients in a glass spray bottle. Spray mixture on surface and let sit for one hour. Rinse and let air dry.

Combine into a paste and apply to surfaces. Scrub with scrub brush.