Safe Swaps for Toxin-Free Living

As a skincare company that focuses on clean beauty products, we are confident in Avapure's line for most beauty and personal care needs, but we’re always on the lookout for other products that meet our toxin-free standards for other areas of life. We’ve compiled a list of Safe Swaps that will continue to grow and change as we learn about new products or as companies change ingredients.

This unique, tried and true list can be found in my wellness community by searching for ‘safe swaps’. These products are among many I have tried and love and meet my high standards of ingredients. Here’s a sneak peak at what types of swaps you can find.

Make-up

Face wash/ Skincare

Lip Balm

Face Moisturizer

Soap/Bodywash

Deodorant

Hair Spray

Daily wear sunscreen

Insect Repellent

Plastic Bags

Plastic Zipper Bags

Detergent

Dryer Sheets

Find More Safe Swaps in our Group!

Join our closed group here for detailed ingredient and product info, as well as regular drawings and giveaways (and lots of reminders for self-care):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/avapurebb/

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Part 2

This is part two in a two-part series on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). Read Part 1

What are EDCs

The name “EDC” encompasses broad range of chemicals that interact with the endocrine system of humans and animals and produce a range of adverse effects.

Much of our bodies’ long term health relies on hormones for normal function. These include mood, growth, metabolism, and sexual development and reproduction.

There is a class of chemical EDCs that mimic our own hormones and interfere with the function of those hormones by binding to the same sites and cells where our naturally-occurring hormones would normally bind. This creates havoc in our bodies.

EDC synthetic chemicals that sneak into our body through our nose, mouth, and skin trick our endocrine system into thinking they are real hormones.

This disruption has a range of downstream consequences: the intestines take in more calories, the pancreas secretes more insulin, the ovaries and testicles are sensitive to disruption… the imposters completely throw off our naturally-occurring hormones.

These chemicals have not had any careful testing for their potential effects on human health, including potential adverse effects on children. These chemicals are known to cause birth defects, infertility, learning disabilities, and even cancer.

EDCs are not required to be labeled (which is infuriating because they are proven mutants to our DNA).

How To Avoid EDCs

After reading gobs of professional journals, blog posts, forums on EDCs and compiling all this information, my thought is this: stay aware and begin making small changes.

• Transition to plastic-free products. Plastic is hard to avoid altogether, but start making small changes. Choose glass or stainless steel for cups and food storage, and when you must use plastic as a product container, choose BPA free and avoid containers with a 3 or a 6.

• Clean up your personal care products – avoid anything with 'fragrance' on the label unless you know what components make up that fragrance (essential oil, etc.) and start re-thinking your cosmetics.

• Wash your hands often, avoiding soaps that are antibacterial or fragranced (triclosan is an EDC).

• Dust and vacuum often – this will help clean up the particles from the common household items with any flame retardants on them

• Cook with cast iron and stainless steel (non-stick products often hide EDCs) and eat organic when possible (many pesticides contain EDCs)

• Drink filtered water

• Clean smarter with non-toxic products (including laundry detergent which is often full of EDCs)

• Most of all, keep learning, speak out, share the information, and remember small changes ARE changes worth making. Every little bit helps!

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Avapure products are crafted with only the highest quality ingredients that have been minimally processed. This retains their naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that healthy skin requires. We encourage you to make the switch to natural products created with nutritious plant based ingredients.

Join our closed group here for detailed ingredient and product info, as well as regular drawings and giveaways (and lots of reminders for self-care):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/avapurebb/

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Part 1

Understanding this component of the human body will help you understand my explanation on WHY EDCs are so toxic to our systems and overall health.

This is part one of a two-part series on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs).

To fully understand how our bodies are impacted by EDCs, we need to first understand the Endocrine System.

The endocrine system uses chemical messengers (hormones) to send information to many different cells. The endocrine system helps to maintain longer cycles in the body like growth, reproduction and development – cycles which often last for years. Therefore, the endocrine cycles depend on the cooperation and action of many different cells in many different areas of the body.

The major endocrine glands include Pineal, Pituitary, Thyroid, Thymus, Adrenal, Pancreas, Ovary, and Testis. However, recent research has even discovered that in addition to these glands, most organs in the body secrete hormones as well.

• The hypothalamus gland is the control center for the ENTIRE endocrine system, constantly monitoring hormone production and utilization from the other glands.

• The pituitary gland is responsible for growth, skin pigmentation, absorption of water into the blood, and for stimulating and balancing the other glands; particularly important to thyroid balance.

• The thyroid manages growth and development, protein synthesis, and is responsible for mood stabilization, and metabolic function such as body weight, breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and the central nervous system.

• The adrenal glands manage cortisol and epinephrine production (the stress hormones).

• The ovaries produce estrogen, and balance testosterone and progesterone.

• The parathyroid glands balance calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones.

• The pineal gland produces melatonin, a sleep hormone.

• The pancreas regulates blood sugar and insulin production.

How do EDCs affect these functions?

Our hormones attract to very specific cells operating in a delicate balance of hormone production, release, and removal. These hormones trigger signals for proper major organ function such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and nervous systems. The proper function of these organs is vital for life! EDCs block, distort, and destroy the production of the hormones that are essential for these signals to be appropriately sent and received throughout the body.

In part two, we’ll take a closer look at what EDCs are, how to identify them in products, and how to protect yourself – stay tuned!

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Avapure products are crafted with only the highest quality ingredients that have been minimally processed. This retains their naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that healthy skin requires. We encourage you to make the switch to natural products created with nutritious plant based ingredients.

Join our closed group here for detailed ingredient and product info, as well as regular drawings and giveaways (and lots of reminders for self-care):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/avapurebb/

Go Green

With Earth Day being tomorrow, I challenge you to reflect on your habits routines and make at least one simple change.  The choices are unlimited.  However, just one simple adjustment in your routine will make a difference for you and possibly open the door to other "greener" options.

Listed below are 20 suggestions, some simple and others a little more challenging and time consuming.  However, just try to make one change...it may lead to more.

• Start a compost pile.

• Make your own cleaning products or purchase earth friendly ones.

• Swap out some OTC medications for herbal remedies.

• Find a green shampoo/conditioner/body wash.

• Purchase more organic products.

• Plant something-flowers, garden, tree...

• Join a co-op for fresh local produce or meats.

• Take shorter showers.

• Turn off the lights and open up the windows.

• Take a bicycle, walk or carpool when possible.

• Bring your own grocery bags when shopping.

• Pick up trash in your neighborhood or at a local park.

• Make nature crafts such as bird feeders or bird houses.

• Use BPA-free reusable water bottles.

• Get off junk mail lists.  GreenDimes can get you started.  They'll even plant a tree for you!

• Landscape with native plants. Check out the article on the  EPA website.

• Switch to fair trade coffee.

• Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to "cold."

• Teach your kids about the environment.

• Buy in season.

Many of these things I do or they are on my list for this years changes.  If you need more information on any of these things or a specific how to, feel free to ask.  

Earth Day Coupon Code for www.avapurebb.com  

EARTHDAY