Toxins are found everywhere today and the scary fact is that it is hard to completely eliminate all of them from our lives. However, there are steps we can take to at least reduce the toxic load on our bodies and give ourselves the greatest chance at achieving our best health.

One of the places that you can reduce toxins in your home is in your kitchen. Toxins can present themselves in the form of foods or household cleaners. Let’s take a look at some of the hidden toxins lurking in your kitchen that you can eliminate today. Plus, I will share some healthier and safer swaps to replace these items with.

#1 Damaged Oils: Oils such as canola, corn, and soy can oxidize quickly and be very harmful to your health. Eliminate these oils from your kitchen and use coconut oil for cooking and avocado or olive oil for your dressings or marinades.

#2 Sugar: We all know that sugar isn’t good for us, but the truth is that sugar is found in just about everything. Take a look at the foods in your pantry including tomato sauces, salad dressings, ketchup, and soups and look at the nutritional facts. Take a look at the sugar content. You can also look at the ingredient list and see where sugar is listed. If it is one of the first ingredients on the list then you know the product has quite a bit of sugar in it. Try to cut back on packaged foods and opt for whole foods in their natural state. This will naturally help reduce your sugar consumption. You can also swap cane sugar with pure maple syrup or raw honey instead, but use these in moderation as well.

#3: MSG: MSG stands for monosodium glutamate and is commonly found in Asian style foods, gravy, dressings, and sausage products and is used as a flavor enhancer.  MSG can cause headaches, asthma, and even brain issues. You want to completely eliminate this from your diet. If you have any packaged foods in your pantry, check the label to be sure it does not contain MSG.

#4 Harsh Detergents, Soaps & Cleaning Sprays: If you have cleaning products under your sink, you may want to consider making your own products instead. Many of these products contain chemicals that can be endocrine disruptors, but they can also be very harsh on the skin not to mention the harmful fragrance many of them contain. Try making your own with distilled white vinegar, castile soap, and a few drops of pure essential oils.

Even though it is impossible to avoid 100% of toxins, there are steps we can take to reduce our toxic load. Start by taking a look at what’s in your kitchen. Replace one item at a time until you replace all of your cleaning products with non-toxic items and remove all of the toxic foods from your pantry. Steps like this make a massive impact on your long-term health.