Why These Nontoxic Products Are Great for Spring
Spring is finally here, so it’s a perfect opportunity to talk about nontoxic living and some of our favorite nontoxic products. We know if you’re here, then you’re already putting a lot of love into how you care for yourself and your loved ones, and we want to support you in that!
That’s why we’ve put together a list of nontoxic products that are great for springtime. Whether you’re looking for foods to prepare to bring outside for a picnic, how to make sure you’re protected when spending more time outside in nature, or are looking for that next outdoor project to work on, we’ve got you covered with safe choices for the whole family.
Nontoxic Container Options for Fresh Food
This time of year, there is plenty of fresh food to choose from at local farms, but how do we store the food we buy and keep it fresh? Knowing what storage options and containers to choose from can really make a difference when it comes to your health. You may already know that plastic containers can leave endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in your food, but did you know that this increases when you put hot food onto plastic or heat plastic in the microwave? To avoid that and to preserve the integrity of all your fresh food, it’s best to avoid plastic whenever possible, especially when heat is involved. Instead, choose glass or stainless steel containers for storing leftovers and use glass for reheating. That way, all the nutrition will be packed in without the EDCs, and that will benefit you and your little ones. It’s one extra step, but it’s a step in the right direction that goes a long way for your health and your family’s health.
Safer SPF: Mineral vs. Synthetic Sunscreen
When the weather’s beautiful, you want to spend as much time as you can outdoors. There’s an abundance of sunshine in the spring as we approach summer, and it’s a perfect opportunity to explore using mineral or synthetic sunscreen to make sure you’re protected. So, what are the options when it comes to nontoxic SPF? Mineral sunscreens use zinc or titanium oxide to protect against UV rays, while synthetic sunscreens use things like oxybenzone. The FDA is currently expanding on existing data that suggests synthetic sunscreen can cause hormone disruption and other poor health effects. Since the purpose of sunscreen is to protect against sun damage and skin cancer, it’s important to choose what works best for you, your family, and the activities you’ll be doing. For example, on shorter days in the sun you can prioritize the use of mineral sunscreen to balance out using a synthetic option on those longer days spent by the pool. Opting for mineral sunscreen also allows you to take it one step further and choose safer options that have cleaner ingredients. A great source for finding these safer mineral sunscreens is the EWG database.
Wood Furniture Pieces to Look Out For
Some of the best spring days are the ones dedicated to thrifting or perusing the mom groups for second-hand wood furniture that’s perfect for repurposing. Now, nontoxic living and furniture may sound unrelated, but they’re not. Did you know that furniture can off-gas harmful chemicals into your home and pollute your indoor air quality? In fact, chemicals like formaldehyde can continue to off-gas from pieces of furniture for years. So, finding a wood piece of furniture when thrifting that only needs some light sanding or nontoxic paint is on par with finding a gem. That’s the piece you want to go with because having a sturdy piece of furniture or centerpiece is great, but you also want it to protect the health of your home and last for years to come!
Finding safe products that you can trust is a must when you’re looking out for the health of your family.
We hope these nontoxic product options have helped show you that safe and clean options do exist when you know where to look and have sources you can trust.
If you want to be prepared with nontoxic products to use in summer and beyond, we can help with that and more!
