The Beginner’s Guide to Nontoxic Living (Without Getting Overwhelmed)
Let’s be real: trying to live a healthier, more natural lifestyle in today’s world can feel straight-up impossible. From a food system filled with processed junk to everyday products packed with chemicals and artificial fragrances, it’s no wonder so many of us are struggling with our health.
I didn’t always care about living naturally. Growing up, I was the queen of convenience food—mini pizzas, toaster strudels, fruit punch, and candy were my go-tos. I rarely drank water, dealt with chronic anxiety, and had constant energy crashes. College didn’t help either—I was partying, living off diet soda, and feeling worse than ever.
Eventually, I knew something had to change.
Transitioning to a nontoxic lifestyle wasn’t instant or easy, but it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done for my body and mind. If you’re just getting started, I get it—it can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. These are 5 simple swaps that helped me begin my journey to healthier, more natural living.
[DISCLAIMER]: Keep in mind I am not a doctor and this is NOT medical advice. This post may contain affiliate links meaning I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. I only recommend products I love and trust. To see our full disclosure, click here.
1. Start with Better Water
Hydration matters more than most people realize. Clean, high-quality water helps your body detox, improves energy, and supports every system in your body.
I recommend drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily. But just as important as how much water you drink is what kind. Tap water can contain microplastics, heavy metals, and chemicals—and boiling doesn’t remove them.
My favorite switch: a hydrogen water ionization machine. It's been one of the best health investments I’ve made—giving me antioxidant-rich drinking water and water I can use for cleaning, skincare, and more. [Learn how I use my hydrogen water machine here!]
Tip: Need to break the soda habit? Try a 30-day challenge where you only drink water, black coffee, or unsweet tea. That simple change helped reset my taste buds and ditch the sugary drinks for good.
2. Ditch Artificial Fragrances
Fragrance is everywhere—and it’s one of the sneakiest sources of hormone disruptors, allergens, and toxins. If “fragrance” or “parfum” is on the label, it’s likely hiding a cocktail of harmful chemicals.
Here are a few easy fragrance swaps to start with:
Laundry Detergent: I use Rosey brand from Thrive Market. [Get 40% Off Your First Order on Thrive Market]
Dryer Sheets: Swap for wool dryer balls with a few drops of essential oil.
Perfume: I love Dime Beauty’s natural scents—“Core Memory” is my favorite. [Shop Dime Beauty Perfume on Amazon Here- My Favorite Perfume!]
3. Clean Up Your Deodorant
Traditional deodorants often contain aluminum, fragrance, and other questionable ingredients. The good news? There are better options now.
If you’re new to natural deodorant, I recommend starting with one that’s aluminum-free and EWG-verified. I love the Attitude brand—it's safe, effective, and smells great. My husband is a handyman by trade and he wears this deodorant and he doesn’t stink! [Shop 10% Off Your Deodorant Here]
Truth Bomb: YOU ARE GOING TO STINK WHEN YOU SWITCH! It sucks, but it is true. You're going to be smelling ripe. It's your body's way of detoxifying. It'll subside after a few weeks.
4. Cut Back on Plastic
We’re surrounded by plastic—from our water bottles to food containers, clothing, and even coffee pods. Heating plastic (like in microwaved meals or K-cup coffee) increases microplastic exposure—and that stuff ends up in our bodies.
While you can’t eliminate plastic entirely, you can reduce your exposure by:
Drinking from a stainless steel or glass bottle
Using glass or stainless steel food containers
Swapping plastic cooking utensils for bamboo or stainless steel
Ditching K-cups for a French press or stainless steel pour-over
Read my blog post about WHY you should avoid plastics and what I use instead! [How to Avoid Microplastics Blog Post]
5. Rethink Your Cleaners
Most household cleaners are filled with harsh chemicals and fragrances. Even worse, most of us are using them wrong—many require full surface saturation for several minutes to actually disinfect!
Instead, I switched to Force of Nature, a simple system that turns salt, water, and vinegar into a safe, effective cleaning solution. No toxins, no synthetic fragrance—just powerful, family-safe clean. [Get Your Force of Nature Starter Kit here!]
Final Thoughts: Small Steps = Big Change
Making the switch to a nontoxic lifestyle doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Start small. Pick one area—water, fragrance, or plastic—and go from there. Each swap makes a difference, and your body will thank you for it.
Need help along the way? I’ve got your back. Browse more of my nontoxic product guides below:
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