Identifying Environmental Toxins—Without the Stress

Stress itself is a toxin. When I guide clients, I remind them that stress can be more damaging than the actual exposures we're trying to avoid. For instance, microwaving food in plastic does release nanoparticles, but it’s not helpful to stress over every piece of plastic in your life. Balance is key. I’ve witnessed people with identical toxin exposures have vastly different health outcomes due to their stress levels. One person stays calm, while another experiences high stress—and their physical responses are very different.

This is why reducing stress is a top priority. If you’re working to eliminate toxins, try not to let the process overwhelm you. This mindset shift—prioritizing peace over perfection—can be life-changing.

To help clients focus on toxin reduction without feeling overwhelmed, I guide them through The Essential Six—a comprehensive look at six primary areas where toxins commonly impact our well-being. Addressing these categories can provide a foundation for a healthier home environment, one small step at a time.

1. Food Additives and Preservatives
Processed foods, pesticides, and preservatives are often hidden in our diets. Avoiding heavily processed foods and choosing organic or pesticide-free options when possible can greatly reduce unwanted exposures.

2. Water Quality
From heavy metals to contaminants like chlorine and fluoride, our drinking water deserves careful consideration. Filtration systems can help, but starting with even a simple water filter can make a difference.

3. Indoor Air Quality
Airborne pollutants, household cleaning products, and synthetic fragrances all affect our indoor air. Opting for natural cleaning solutions and minimizing artificial fragrances can improve the air you breathe daily.

4. Safe Cookware and Food Storage
Non-stick pans, plastic containers, and disposable food packaging can introduce chemicals into your food. Stainless steel or glass options for cooking and storage offer safer alternatives.

5. Chemicals in Fabrics
Many fabrics and clothing materials are treated with flame retardants, dyes, or other chemicals. Natural fibers and organic options can reduce exposure to these chemicals over time.

6. Stress: The Invisible Toxin
Stress, often overlooked, acts as a powerful toxin on the body. Even if you reduce all other environmental exposures, unmanaged stress can erode your health. Developing stress-management practices can be transformative, especially when paired with other toxin-reducing actions.

By addressing these six key areas, we create a strong foundation for a healthier lifestyle. Reducing exposure to toxins is empowering, but the goal is progress, not perfection.

Reducing toxins is a solid step, but I’ve found that real transformation comes through self-awareness practices. Take my mornings, for instance—I start by journaling for just a few minutes, jotting down any thoughts, intentions, or things I’m grateful for. This sets a calm tone for my day. Then, in the middle of a hectic afternoon, when I feel stress piling up, I’ll take three minutes to do some block therapy or stretch my body to release tension.

Sometimes, if I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’ll step outside for a quick break, breathing in fresh air and grounding myself. These small, intentional practices help me reset, and over time, I’ve noticed that symptoms like bloating or headaches have faded. It’s incredible how these small actions build resilience and bring balance, supporting my health in ways I never imagined.

For my clients, tracking their experiences for one week can be revealing. This isn’t just about listing activities; it’s about noting how they feel before, during, and after them. This week of tracking becomes a tool for self-awareness, helping them tune into how their choices affect their well-being.

Letting Go of Perfection for Progress

When I started health coaching, I saw clients overwhelmed with the need to be perfect. They’d feel anxious about details like eliminating every chemical cleaner, only to feel defeated when visiting a friend’s home that used them. Over time, I realized that the stress of perfectionism was counterproductive. Now, I encourage focusing on manageable changes, like swapping out one household product at a time for a non-toxic alternative. This builds confidence and makes health improvements feel achievable, not daunting.

It’s not about doing it all at once; it’s about creating a sustainable, stress-free path forward.

With clients, accountability is key, and I usually encourage setting one small, achievable goal per week to maintain focus and build confidence. I often use the “2% rule”—taking one small step at a time—and ask, “What’s one thing you can do to move forward?”

These small changes, like swapping out a plastic water bottle for a reusable glass one, build momentum without feeling overwhelming. Habit-stacking is another powerful tool: adding a small action to something you already do—like taking a few minutes to open a window after making your morning coffee to improve air quality—helps build toxin-reducing habits naturally and seamlessly into your day.