Before we get started, I just want to throw this out there, I am not an expert when it comes to natural living. However, I have learned a lot and I am passionate about sharing that knowledge with other people.
The chemicals and ingredients that are in products today are so bad for our bodies and our health. The majority of people don’t know this and that’s why I think it’s so important to spread that information and help inform others.
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Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and don’t claim to be one. The statements on this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The author does not in any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message. Always consult your personal physician for specific medical advice.
What is Natural Living?
Natural living isa broad term but to sum it up it is using products that don’t contain sulfates, parabens, dyes, fragrances, or other harsh chemicals. It is using products that are beneficial to your body instead of harmful.
There are so many products out there today that claim they are natural but if you read the ingredient list, they are anything but natural, this is called greenwashing. This is another reason why spreading information about true natural living is important.
RELATED: Greenwashing: What is it?
Why use Natural Products?
Many of the products you can buy in the store today are filled with toxic chemicals. They are filled with sulfates, paragons, dyes and fragrances.
These things are known to be skin irritants, hormone disruptors, reproductive issues, and so much more. They are man made products and can have many negative effects on our bodies. This is why it’s best to steer clear of them if possible. This is where natural living products come in.
How to get started with living a Natural lifestyle
Some people think that in order to get started you have to throw out all of your products at once and just start fresh, this isn’t true. We have switched out our products slowly.
Once we used something up then we switched it out for something more natural and with less harsh chemicals. I know a lot of people like to switch out one area or room at a time, here are some suggestions if you want to go that route.
1 . Kitchen
You can start by switching out your dish and hand soaps for something without sulfates, fragrances and dyes. If have found it difficult to find a dish soap in the stores without all of those things.
We use Young Living’s Thieves Dish Soap. Young Living also makes hand soap that we use at our kitchen sink. You can also DIY hand soap with the following recipe.
DIY Hand Soap Recipe:
Take an empty foam soap container. Fill it 1/4 of the way with Castile soap. Add in about 20 drops of the essential oils of your choice. Then fill the rest with water. Easy as can be!
2 . Laundry
Here I would focus on switching out your laundry detergent for something without sulfates, dyes or fragrances. We use Young Living’s Thieves Laundry Detergent and love it.
It comes in a small bottle but it’s super concentrated so we dilute it to get three bottles out of it.
I would also suggest switching out dryer sheets for dryer balls with essential oils. There are so many harsh chemicals in dryer sheets so we definitely want to get rid of those.
You can find dryer balls on Amazon. You can use them with or without essential oils. They will help get rid of wrinkles and static.
3 . Bathroom
There are so many products in our bathrooms that we use on a daily basis. You could start with bath products such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash and shaving cream.
We use Young Living shampoo, conditioner and body wash and we use their bar soap as shaving cream.
You can also use baking soda as shampoo and apple cider vinegar as conditioner but you would need to research how to do it effectively.
Another thing in your bathroom to switch out is toothpaste. Make sure you get one without sulfates and artificial flavors.
There are so many products in your home to switch out but if you do it slow and steady you won’t get overwhelmed and it will give you time to research products that will work the best for you and your family.
Tips for Success in Natural Living
Take it slow: Don’t try to switch out everything all at once. Do it gradually and there will be less frustration and overwhelm.
Use EWG.org and Think Dirty: EWG.org has a program called Skin Deep where they rank products and ingredients. It’s a good thing to look at but make sure you pay attention because sometimes it ranks ingredients that aren’t bad as bad. Think Dirty is an app that you can use to check products also.
Common Questions/FAQ About Natural Living
1 . There are so many products to choose from, how do I know which is best?
I agree, there are so many products on the market that say “natural” or “green” but you have to do some digging to find really good products. Like I said above, use the Think Dirty app and EWG to find truly good and clean products. There are plenty of great options and you kind of just have to find the products that work best for you.
If you want to learn more about some of our favorite products check out 25 Natural Personal Care Products.
2 . Why are natural products so much more expensive?
It is easier for companies to make products that contain harsh chemicals because they are cheap and readily available. It takes more time and money to make natural products so therefore they cost more.
At first the cost can be off-putting but in the grand scheme of things it’s not that bad. Would you rather pay a little bit more for natural and clean products now or pay more for hospital bills later because you continued to use harsh chemicals that harm your body? It’s all about perspective and seeing it as an investment in your own health.
3 . What products do you personally recommend?
The majority of the products in our home are Young Living. We also use a good amount of Earthley products.
We started using Young Living and have loved all the products and they work great for us so that is what we are sticking with.
We also use tinctures and creams from Earthly, mainly things that Young Living doesn’t have. I love this company because they use natural ingredients and it’s also owned by a wife and her husband and I’ve seen their heart for informing others about natural living.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Natural Living
The main thing guys is just don’t make it too complicated. Use Think Dirty and EWG to help you, you don’t have to do all the research on your own. Start slow and just change out one room at a time and try not to get overwhelmed.
Have you made the switch to natural living yet? I would love to know some of your favorite natural products and about how you made the switch.
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