While most people want to live healthily, few really do what it takes to do so instead of complaining about it or making excuses for not staying fit. Diet and workout are not the only factors contributing to being healthy; your lifestyle also plays a big role in being healthy. Unknown to most people, many things they use in their everyday lives are unhealthy.
Corporations and big brands do an excellent job of keeping the public from becoming aware of their unhealthy products, but you can easily know which ones are bad if you only do a bit of research. To help you get started, here are five common unhealthy products you might be using daily.
- Cleaning Products
Cleaning products like detergents, cleaning powder, and liquids often use ammonia, heavy metals, phosphates, and other toxic chemicals. These chemicals are not suitable for your skin and, in the long term, can cause skin diseases. In the worst-case scenario, you might end up having skin cancer.
It’s not like there aren’t healthy cleaning products aren’t out there in the market- on the contrary, there are a lot of eco-friendly products that are also healthy. The main problem is that most companies aren’t required to list the ingredients on the container or packaging. So do a little research on cleaning products online to see which ones work for you.
- Air Fresheners
A very unlikely but common culprit, air fresheners are considered indispensable in many offices and homes to make them more welcoming. However, just like cleaning products, air fresheners also contain chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, m,p-xylene, phthalates, and more.
These chemicals can cause significant damage to the human body in enclosed spaces. So if you want to use air fresheners, ensure the room is well-ventilated. Better yet, try using alternatives like incense, which smells just as good without the side effects.
- Smartphones
Whether you’re browsing social media or looking to shop, (even personalized products like glasses online, home appliances, or even a new car), smartphones have become an indispensable part of most people’s lives. But while it can be gratifying to have the world at your fingertips, scientific studies and research has categorized overuse or overdependence on smartphones as a form of addiction as it affects human brain chemistry.
Aside from the psychological side effects, smartphone users can also cause physical problems like eyesight problems, eye strain, neck problems, decreased fertility due to radiation, and cancer. Considering all this information, you might want to tone down your smartphone usage if you rely on it heavily.
- Plastic
The controversies and the well-documented health hazards of plastic are nothing new, but for some reason, people still keep relying on them almost six decades later. Almost all everyday items around us contain plastic in one form or another, contaminating food and water. As a result, many people end up suffering from health problems unique to plastic.
Some of the most common health problems caused by plastic include disrupting immune and endocrine systems, damaging organs, causing inflammation, increasing cancer risk, negative pregnancy outcomes, and sterility. If you can’t avoid using plastic altogether, at least try to ensure that you’re using BPA-free plastic at the very least.
- Cosmetics
Most women consider cosmetics their best friend after diamonds and obsessively collect the latest makeup kits, eyeliners, lipsticks, etc., offered by big brands. But these cosmetics are often very harmful to the skin and other organs and can lead to health problems like frizzled hair, hair loss, skin cancer, rashes, eye infections, and more.
On top of these health issues, many cosmetics contain different metals as part of their formulas which can get absorbed through the skin and enter your bloodstream. This ultimately can lead to internal organ damage or, worst cases, even organ failure.
To prevent such health hazards from affecting you should consider switching to cosmetics that are mineral-based, synthetic-free, and made from natural oils. If you rely on heavy makeup, consider using a minimalistic approach that promotes natural solutions. Considering all the health hazards, it’s a small price to pay for not necessarily appealing to every customer segment.
Take it Slowly
Most of the everyday products in this list have become almost second nature for most people. As such, you will have a hard time switching to healthier alternatives at first. But with a little research and determination, you can easily drop these everyday products from your lifestyle or shopping list and go for better alternatives.
