DETOX FOR LIFE

A 10-Step guide to breaking up with

toxic chemicals for good!
 Hooray! I am so excited to share this guide with you and have you as a new
reader!

Thank you for signing up for The Eco Hub’s newsletter.

Let’s get you going on your own personal green path to
happiness, shall we?

It’s all about discovering how simple it is to take control of

the various corners of your life, and how rewarding it
feels to open your eyes to an eco-conscious lifestyle.

The Detox For Life Guide is packed with information you

need to kick toxic chemicals to the curb...because
detoxes aren’t just made for you and I. The truth is that your home (and
body) is playing house with more toxins, chemicals, and waste than you
think. My tried and tested practical tips will help you nourish your body
and help you build a happy, healthy home.

Wishing you love, peace and harmony,

 Introduction:
It’s Impossible To Be 100% Toxin Free!
Our society is just simply not set up that way. I also don’t want you to
stress about it. Change takes time. My mission is to help make you, me
and the planet a healthier one, by being aware of the things we are
exposed to everyday and making informed decisions.

Before we are even born, our bodies are already fighting more than 200 man-
made chemicals. Researchers have tested umbilical cords and have found
mothers are passing toxins to their babies in the womb. And by the time we are
born and grow up, that number will grow into the hundreds.

Chemicals by the numbers:

80,000 used in home products like tv’s, furniture and bedding;

10,500 industrial chemicals found in personal care products;

Some of which have never been studied for safety! These include carcinogens,
pesticides, reproductive toxics, endocrine disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers
and surfactants.

You’re probably asking yourself how can these end up in the products I use
every day? Well, loopholes in Canada’s cosmetic labeling requirements mean
manufacturers don’t have to disclose specific ingredients. They get away with
this by using the terms perfume, perfume or fragrance. These terms represent
an unknown mixture of dozens of harmful chemicals that we are using every
single day. The only way to protect yourself is to be an educated, informed
consumer. And the same goes for household products like cleaners, pots &
pans and more.
 THE 10-STEP GUIDE
#1 Get rid of the clutter
Clutter, it takes up so much of our time
and energy and if we want peace of
mind we need to get rid of the clutter.

This starts with an electromagnetic

frequency (EMF) free zone. These
vibrations affect our sympathetic
nervous systems and create stress in
the body. Did you know that your smartphone actually warns us about this in
the terms and conditions (which no-one ever reads, right?)

EMF free zones start in the bedroom! Use a digital

alarm clock instead of your phone and keep your
phone away from your bed. This is much harder
than it sounds, but I promise you, you will feel the
difference if you do this. Try it!
BONUS TIPS: 

- Install a breaker switch that allows you to turn off the electric currents in a
given room;

- Unplug electronics that are not in use, like your cell phone charger (which
costs you about $60 a year simply by being plugged in);

- Hide plugs and other digital stuff from sight by using smart storage ideas.

#2 Know where your food comes from

Reducing your exposure to herbicides and pesticides is so important. Follow
this easy guide. Buy foods that are natural and unprocessed and avoid
processed foods at all costs. They are packed with man-made chemicals.
 #3 Focus on your furnace
Indoor air pollution is a major issue in many homes thanks to VOC’s (Volatile
Organic Compounds).

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that are
found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. From the
furniture we sit on to the carpets and cleaning products.

Obviously, we can’t throw away ALL these items, but we can make a
difference by using a Micro Allergen Reduction Filter and change it at least
every three months. These filters do a really good job at preventing a buildup
of dust, mold, pollen and VOCs. There’s an added benefit, a clean filter with
also improve the function of your furnace, reducing heating bills and saving
you money!

Sources of VOCs: 

·         Paint, varnishes, caulks, adhesives

·         Carpet, vinyl flooring

·         Composite wood products

·         Upholstery and foam

·         Air fresheners, cleaning products

·         Cosmetics

·         Fuel oil, gasoline

·         Smoking

·         Dry cleaning, photocopiers

 #4 Plastic 101
Honestly, just avoid it where you
can! I don’t have any plastic in my
home. I use glass jars and mason
jars for all my food storage. A lot
of plastic contains Bisphenol A
(BPA) which is highly toxic and
been linked to endocrine and
developmental problems. If you
have plastic containers at home,
find out if you can recycle them (every municipality is different) and get rid of
them. If you can’t part with them, never heat them in the microwave ever! Stay
away from plastic containers marked with a “3”, these contain PVC (polyvinyl
chloride).

Exposure to PVC often includes exposure to phthalates, which are used to

soften PVC and may have adverse health effects; your shower curtain is a
good example. Buy PEVA or Hemp.
 #5 Reduce exposure to toxic cleaners and personal
care products

This is a must in any green home. Check

out my Smart Swaps, a series where I give
you tried and tested alternatives to
common store-bought items. I promise
you all of these items are just as effective
as the ones you are accustomed to using,
only better and healthier!

I've broken these up into three categories, Family, Home and Beauty
Essentials. Learn about regulations, the kind of toxins you are exposed to and
what you can do about it!

And if you are thinking of transitioning to clean beauty products, I hope you
are after reading this guide, then check out my INSIDER’S GUIDE TO
SWITCHING TO NATURAL COSMETICS. I’d love it if you would give DIY a try.
 Here are some of my effective, HEALTHY, easy
alternatives.

HOMEMADE ALL- ALL-NATURAL BLEACH

PURPOSE CLEANER, ALTERNATIVE, THAT WORKS
WITH A CITRUS TWIST

DIY ALL-PURPOSE KITCHEN DIY ALL- PURPOSE

SCOURING SCRUB & BATHROOM SCRUB AND

CLEANSER CLEANSER
 #6 Stay away from Stain Guard
You love your new couch and don’t want the kid or cat to dirty it up, but that
stain resistant guard is made up of  Perfluorochemicals (PFCs), a group of
chemicals used to keep food from sticking to cookware, to make sofas and
carpets resistant to stains, to make clothes and mattresses more waterproof,
and may also be used in some food packaging.  There is concern over how
these chems affect our health and there is a ton of evidence that shows that
they build up in the environment. Wildlife found in many rivers and lakes have
both PFOA and PFOS, byproducts of other commercial products, meaning
they are released into the environment when other products are made, used,
or discarded.

BONUS TIPS:
-Avoid flame retardant children’s clothing and sleepwear

-When purchasing new furnishings and bedding, choose wool or cotton fill
over polyester and foam products, they are much more durable and easier to
clean 

-Reduce dust levels by using damp cleaning methods
 #7 Leave your shoes at the door

Leave shoes at the door and

keep out 80 percent of the
nastiness they track in, like
road sealant, pesticides,
lead, and dust. A study done
by the University of Arizona
found an average of 421,000
different bacteria on shoes.
Coliforms, a bacterial
indicator of the level of
sanitation of foods and water (and universally present in feces), were detected
on the bottoms of 96% of shoes. 

In addition, E. coli was detected on 27% of the shoes, along with seven other
kinds of bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, which can cause urinary
tract infection, and Serratia ficaria, which can cause respiratory infections. 

A University of Houston study found that 39% of shoes contained bacteria C.
diff (Clostridium difficile), which is a public health threat resistant to a number
of antibiotics. This bacteria can cause multiple health conditions, including
diarrhea. 

 #8 Say YES to Microfiber cloths
I’m obsessed with these and have been using them for longer than I can
remember! I have one dedicated to each room in the house (so I don’t cross
contaminate). There’s an actual science to these cloths, the weave grabs dirt
and holds onto it instead of moving it around, so surfaces stay cleaner longer
and you also don’t need to use as much cleaning product. Not to mention all
the trees you are saving by ditching the wasteful paper towel habit!

#9 Ditch the dryer sheets

These un-handy little suckers are coated with chemicals like quaternary
ammonium compounds, which cause major health issues and affect the
environment. They don’t break down in the landfill and in fact, lead to soil and
water pollution. Try using wool dryer balls instead!
 #10 Plant good seeds 
Keep indoor plants in every room in your home, they help reduce indoor air pollution by pulling
VOCs from the air! Nasa conducted an in-depth analysis of how plants help to reduce indoor air
pollution. Here are 3 houseplants that are great at improving indoor air quality.

Peace Lilly:

Top of the list to remove: xylene, toluene, benzene,

formaldehyde & trichloroethylene. Also combats
ammonia

• thrives in low light conditions

• likes full sun to semi-shade
• fertilize often
• keep soil moist
• avoid standing water
• toxic to cats and dogs

Snake Plant:

Filters out: trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene,

benzene & formaldehyde.

• Give off oxygen at night

• Perfect for bedrooms and bathrooms
• Likes moderate to bright light
• Low to moderate watering
• do not eat

Aloe Vera:

Filters out: benzene & formaldehyde

• heals cuts and wounds from the gel

• likes the sun
• use a wide planter rather than a deep one
• for older plants, let water dry between waterings
 DISCLAIMER

The information in this document is for informational use only. It’s not intended
to be used as medical advice. All of the information and DIY recipes on
candicebatista.com are ones I have used in my home and are based on my
own personal experience. I am not a chemist or health practitioner. My recipes
have not been tested in a lab or evaluated by Health Canada (or Food and
Drug Administration in the U.S). None of the advice found on the website or
this guide is meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Please consult
your health care provider if you are unsure and use your own discretion when
making at home products.

The author and any person or business associated with candicebatista.com

does not assume any liability for the misuse of the information contained in
this document and will not be held accountable for any adverse effects or
consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions described in this
document, whether it be direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or
other damages.

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