Protect Your Family From Pesticide Exposure

on Feb 17, 2021

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Pesticide exposure is leading to a variety of health issues for children, pregnant moms, and adults as well, Here are some tips for simple, inexpensive ways to reduce your family’s exposure to pesticides.

10 ways to protect your family from pesticides pic

10 Ways to Protect Your Family From Pesticide Exposure

Studies show over 200 chemicals and pesticides were found in the umbilical cord blood of newborns. Children are critically susceptible to pesticides and their effects.

Many of us have held the hand of a sick child as they struggled through the night with a distressing fever and experienced how fragile the health of young child can be. The challenges to the well-being of children are many. However, none is as underestimated as that of environmental chemicals.

Many Conditions are Linked to Toxins from Pesticide Exposure

Pesticides, herbicides, and other toxic repellents have been linked to asthma, hyperactivity, behavioral problems, and learning difficulties. The latest studies show that children are even more susceptible to pesticides than first thought. From conception to the age of seven is the greatest risk.

Identify the Hidden Dangers in Your Family’s Environment

Understanding and taking the necessary steps to protect your home and family from environmental chemicals is an essential part of life. Luckily, doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or stressful.

Pest Control Inside

Explore alternatives to the everyday household chemicals used to keep bugs at bay. There are natural insect repellents on the market or you can make your own. Ants have a particular dislike of hot, soapy water and peppermint oil; cockroaches will feed each other your boric acid and a blob of eucalyptus oil keeps files at bay.

Here is a simple, effective, and frugal homemade ant bait you can make yourself with ingredients you probably have on hand!

A Green Lawn

No one ever thinks that running and playing on the grass would be dangerous for you and your family’s health. Yet research shows the risk of asthma is much higher for children who play on herbicide treated lawns.

There are plenty of alternatives to common sprays and treatments. Seeing the dandelion, which is a first food sources for bees come spring, as a useful flower not a weed can also help.

Know Your Dirty Dozen and Clean 15

Choose organic as often as you can. Learn where you can save with the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15. Some fruits and vegetables are not sprayed so you can save money by buying the Clean 15 conventional list. If you want to eat something from the Dirty Dozen I recommend you buy it organically or grow it yourself. You can also reduce your risk of exposure by peeling fruits and vegetables after using a Veggi Wash solution. This will reduce your exposure to toxic surface pesticides.

Make your own veggie wash with this simple recipe.

Eat Good Food, Exercise and Get Plenty of Sleep to Counter Pesticide Exposure

Never underestimate the importance of everyday healthy living – eating right, taking vitamins, and exercising – in keeping resistant to environmental invaders. Improving your health will always help with any exposure be it environmental or genetic.

Taking probiotics and boosting your immune system with natural methods can also be helpful.

Natural Bug Repellants

Mosquitoes and other bugs like ticks and gnats are more than a painful annoyance due to the risk of illnesses such as Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus. For this reason, some feel it is necessary to spray the yard.

There are other, natural methods you can try, however. Encouraging natural predators like birds and even the dreaded possum can help, as can keeping chickens or guinea birds if you’re able.

Mosquito magnets that eliminate stagnant water have also been shown to be useful. A Mosquito Magnet works by pumping out carbon dioxide, which tempts the bugs into flying into a hidden zapper trap. Be sure to set it up away from your family so they are lured away and not bothering your family evening.

Staying Hydrated with Refillable Bottles

Instead of buying bottled water, use your own container and fill it up at home. Filtering your own water is healthier as bottled water is only tested for a small number of the pesticides and you don’t have to deal with the additional risks of the leaching plastic.

Pregnancy

Pregnant moms need to take extra care. Many studies have shown moms-to-be carry dangerous chemicals in their tissue that are capable of crossing the placental barrier.

This means being extra vigilant about reducing chemicals in your environment; hair dye, makeup, nail polish, foods on the Dirty Dozen, toxin based cleaners and even personal hygiene products. Choosing products your family uses daily like toothpaste and deodorant or even cleaning products will all help in reducing toxin exposure.

No Shoes In the House

10 ways to protect your family from pesticides

Keep your home cleaner and reduce your toxin exposure by taking your shoes off at the door. Not tracking in the dirt, chemicals and bacteria from outside will mean you and your family can breathe easier and clean less.

Head Lice Treatments

Find a safe, non-toxic head lice treatment for that right of passage that everyone dreads and causes your head to itch at the mention of it. There are are natural lice control products that are enzyme based to kill off lice and their eggs without the need for harsh chemical applications.

Practice Regular Home Maintenance

Make pest management an important of your home. Do your research and learn how to identify structure as well as termite or carpenter ant damage to walls and foundations. Know the natural risks in your local neighborhood and try to eliminate the cause of the situation before you need to resort to spraying a toxin. Nematodes are a safe option that will not harm your family, pets or your grass but will kill termites, fleas, ticks, mosquitos, and ants.