30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 1: Before we can fly, it’s important to get grounded Day 2: A “fake smells” stocktake, perfumes and a close look at candles Day 3: Endocrine disrupting chemicals – the rest of them! Day 4: A Low Tox Mind with a meditation led by Katie Kendall Day 5: Low Tox Home Cleaning – Kitchen, bathroom and multipurpose Day 6: Low Tox Laundry Day 7: Low Tox Face – Cosmetics, skincare & men’s face & shaving Day 8: BODY: Scrubs, lotions, sun care and self-tanning Day 9: The Antibacterial Myth – Are we ‘too clean’? Day 10: Personal Hygiene – Pits, time of the month, sexy time Day 11: A Low Tox Mind and meditation with Grant Lyndon Day 12: Detoxing from chemicals Day 13: Low Tox Make UP Day 14: Low Tox Kids Day 15: Low Tox Hair & Nails Day 16: Plastic Free Living – Going LOW plastic in a high plastic world Day 17: Teeth, fluoride and water filtration

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Day 18: Low Tox Mind Series – with Tom Cronin Day 19: Cookware & Bakeware Day 20: Food Storage Day 21: Wastage – food AND packaging Day 22: Low Tox Conversations – The challenge of toxic interactions on your way to the low tox life Day 23: Low Tox Bedroom Day 24: Low Tox Clothes Day 25: A very delicious kind of meditation Day 26: A low tox home – Heavy Metals Day 27: A low tox home – Dust and Mould Day 28: A low tox home – pest repellants – personal, home & garden Day 29: Electromagnetics & WiFi Day 30: Low Tox Wrap – Resources, course book & further reading recommendations

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 1: Before we can fly, it’s important to get grounded

Welcome! Alexx chats to Martin Zucker – Video Transcript

So what is a low tox life? Low tox living means, living more in-line with nature in our daily choices, making time for ourselves to relax, and keeping a low tox mind in terms of more positive thoughts, with less negative ones. When it comes to chemical exposure, we can’t be ‘no tox’ in the modern world. Take one example alone: with 350,000 microbeads of BPA- containing plastic in every tube of cheap face scrub, which floats out into the oceans and rivers then back into us, it just ain’t possible any more. BUT: We can drastically lower our toxic load and over time drastically change human, animal and planet health in doing so. It never fails to spin me out just how much our tiny daily choices impact the bigger picture. Little old you and me can move mountains. On we go as quiet warriors, steadily growing in numbers, effecting big change by simply ‘not buying bad’ once we know what that looks like. Companies who haven’t got our health, nor the planet’s, at the core of their business, should no longer be supported. It simply doesn’t make sense to, as the number of low tox options grows every day. If we continue to grow in numbers by ‘not buying bad’ then they will have to change their formulations or go out of business. There are so many wonderful brands to support these days – small businesses like the wonderful partners you’ll get to know through some of the interviews and product recommendations, or you could hop over to the blog on the side bar and have a browse through their ranges. Change is going to happen by supporting the companies who are ‘making good’ as well as learning to make a few things ourselves that truly aren’t complicated and save us so much money on personal care and on gifts, as well as saving on packaging. No more products with fake promises.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation We have allowed ourselves to be dumbed down so much, that we can be convinced into buying a ‘fresh air system’ that sprays hormone disrupting fake smells throughout our home periodically. Call me old-fashioned, but my fresh air system is to open a window! I wonder how I can have gone through 13 years of school and 4 years of university and not have become a curious thinker about what went into my body and onto my skin. The times tables or that 15,000-word thesis don’t seem to be quite as important when you think of it that way, do they? Do not feel bad if you’re a ‘total newbie’ and you don’t know this stuff. As I write this I have cringe worthy memories of my apartment in my 20s full of scattered fake smelling candles, a pantry with a microwave popcorn sachet, fabric softener, honey ‘scented’ shower gel, a freezer with a bunch of lean cuisine ‘emergency’ meals in there, tinned tomatoes with BPA lined cans… The important thing to know is that if you’ve just started today: you are here. The past is the past. Learn, adapt, move on and be excited. There’s no time for guilt and bitterness. Each time we’re on a ‘product’ oriented topic, there will be DIY suggestions, economy suggestions and luxe / investment suggestions, so no one is left out of making the positive changes. 2 things to get us started… First to introduce you to my favourite app and site for ditching harmful additives from food and chemicals in your home and in beauty products. The app is Chemical Maze. It’s an app available for iPhone and Android, or in physical form. This is an invaluable compilation of almost all the nasties in one place. For a site with loads of details on the nasties, you can head also to Skin Deep, by the EWG.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

! Bill Stratham, the creator of Chemical Maze has been researching the science on chemicals used in products that go in and on us, and makes it very easy and empowering to choose better. I highly encourage you to grab the full paid version of the app (under $10) if you’re new to all this. Get curious and start punching things into the app in the search bar, and you will be given the verdict on whether it’s harmful or not. A scary thought: Every year another 1,000 or so new compounds enter the chemical economy, either as ingredients in finished products, or as intermediate chemicals used to make other chemicals. The total number of synthetics in commerce is probably now somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000, created since the 1940s. The total number of synthetics in the environment is probably far greater than that, because of the byproducts (like dioxins) unintentionally generated during production, and because of the breakdown products that result from the decay of commercial substances. Why aren’t these chemicals tested you might ask? Isn’t stuff supposed to be safe if it’s for sale? Well, the short answer is no, a lot of it isn’t safe, or certainly hasn’t been proven 100% safe with lengthy independent studies. It’s created to provide a ‘use’ or function like making plastic bendy or making fragrances stick, preying on the fact that us humans desire the functionality MORE than caring about what’s in it. There’s the problem.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Our job is to start caring MORE about what’s in it, rather than the convenience / appeal of it. Our job is to change our mindset and redefine appeal together over 30 days. It’s a big job and before we get stuck into it, let’s start by getting grounded – also known as earthing!

EARTHING My mum suffers chronic back pain, but not all the time. When she goes home to Mauritius, she’s barefoot for most of the time. Guess what? No back pain. It’s not that it’s really quiet and there’s nothing to do. The days are full every day with catch-ups, relatives and looking after the house and older family members, not to mention lunches and dinners for 20 every day - it’s about as hectic as Island life gets, to be honest. Back home here in Sydney though: her pain comes back. It’s a very simple example of the positive effects of earthing. It might sound a bit ‘woo woo’ to the uninitiated, but ‘earthing’ basically just means getting in touch with nature and that can manifest many ways for each of us. Have a think for a second about what it feels like to swim in the ocean. Think about being barefoot in the soft grass. Think about running your hands through the sand. They all feel amazing, right? You might be someone who asks themselves: Why don’t I do this more often, it feels so good? As well as the fact that it usually coincides with a weekend or holiday, the essential reason is that the earth and the ocean carry a charge that literally ‘grounds’ us and brings us feelings of well-being, relaxation and peace. With our shoes on and our synthetic paths and varnished floors, carpets and big high rise cities, cars, trains and airplanes, we are removed from that energy that grounds us so well. When you’re ‘grounded’ there’s a transfer of free electrons from the Earth into your body. And these free electrons are super powerful antioxidants. They literally help wipe the ‘badness’ of modern living, artificial environments and frequencies away. These antioxidants are also responsible for the clinical observations from grounding experiments, such as: • Beneficial changes in heart rate • Decreased levels of pain

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Decreased levels of inflammation • Increases sleep quality I’m going to add rapid recovery from jet lag, because I did an experiment in 2013 when I was travelling up in the air for 50 hours in a two week period. It was incredible the difference getting barefoot once I arrived, achieved. If you think about it, it’s literally the opposite of being in the incredibly artificial surrounds of a jet plane 30,000 feet above the ground! You can read my low tox travel tips here. This is a FREE and simple therapy that anyone can implement, starting now. You will be amazed at the benefits and shouldn’t wait a day to get started. Enjoy my chat with Marty Zucker, best-selling co-author of the book: Earthing. The Most Important Health Discovery Ever. What do you say to people asking why you’re ‘earthing’ all of a sudden? It pumps your body with antioxidants and helps with things like back pain and has been scientifically proven to reduce blood pressure and increase sleep. I get barefoot every chance I get now. Make the naysayers join you and see how they feel after 10 minutes! And here’s a great little article on how “Dirt Can Make you Happy” from the Horticulture Magazine. Happy reading! So that’s it – a gentle start to the program to kick us off. Live in an extreme climate or a high rise and want to get the benefits of earthing?

Check this site out and order an earthing mat - of course such a thing exists!

YOUR MISSION FOR LESSON 1 : Go back to nature – get outside, kick the shoes off (unless it’s snowing, and then I don’t recommend doing this right now!), go for a swim in the ocean, or do whatever you can do to get in touch with nature – especially via the feet. Note: Every day there will be a task, mission or focus, so I encourage you to grab a journal and make notes as you go about each day’s lesson.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation BEFORE I GO? I have to make a disclaimer: This program is the basis of my years of research and that of the experts I’ve brought in to be interviewed. This is in no way intended as medical advice. You MUST seek practitioner help for any specific concerns you may have before acting on any suggestions in the program. I can take no responsibility for any health events caused by heeding any of the suggestions in this course. They are merely suggestions based on case studies and people’s anecdotes, including my own. They are not advice equal to that of a personalised appointment with a medical practitioner. Thanks – that’s the boring bit out of the way.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 2: A “fake mells” tocktake, perfumes and a close look at candles

So today is a little less ‘light’ in subject than our first day, because, well, we basically have a lot of work to do. Day 2 is as good a time as any to start – after a little earthing of course!

In learning what we’re going to learn over the next 4 weeks, “lightness” will be redefined. Sure there’s a lightness in the life of ignorant bliss, but once you learn everything and once you change everything you’re about to change over the coming year or two (30 days is a spring board, not a deadline! Your pace. Your way) you will as everyone eventually does, experience a new kind of lightness. The kind of spring in your step that lets you know at a deep, deep level that your choices are informed; that you’re proud of those choices, and that you have a connection to nature and choose to work WITH her, not against her. The rewards pay off for you every day and to nature for millennia to come. It’s pretty powerful stuff to know that we all play a delicious role in the shift.

So our topic today?

Pthalates in the context of fragranced products of all kinds. We’re going to try and get as many of these buggers out of our homes as possible. Why? They are a ‘plasticizer compound’ that make fragrances last longer and they make certain plastics uber bendy / soft / stretchy (think of those kids goopy coloured gels from a

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation toy shop or a cheap puzzle play mat or a PVC raincoat) The problem is, they are hormone disruptors. We’re going to go deep into the whole suite of endocrine disruption tomorrow but for today, we’ll stick to pthalates and ‘smells’ and candles.

The good news about pthalates is that they don’t stay in the body for long like some chemicals. Ditching the ‘fake smells’ out of your home is just about the quickest change you can make and detox you can experience. The damage from pthalates however, is caused by daily, repeated exposure. That damage can mean everything from male sperm count issues, to asthma, to a change in the male babies’ testes, to increased breast cancer incidences.

I had an Organic Acid Test done recently to gauge my body’s toxic load as well as the many other things the test reveals and to my horror I was 2 x the pthalate ‘safe’ range. The pathologist, Martin was shocked too but for a different reason. He said it was the lowest pthalate reading he’d ever seen and that it was common for people to be 20x and 50x normal range these days. We attributes my reading to electronics handling and incidental exposure such as receipts and out and about exposure like public toilet cleaning products. I was somewhat relieved that my reading was ‘so low’ given I live very, very low tox – you’d want to hope so being a low tox course creator!

For those of you who are the ‘nerd out types’ like me, this paper below is a great synopsis on pthalates, the different classes of them and the various studies done to show the many harmful effects of them on embryos, babies, children and adults alike. It’s technical, but it’s very good and thorough.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation The wonderful environmental scientists who authored Slow Death By Rubber Duck have a whole chapter on pthalates, too, if you fancy reading into them some more. It is a wonderful book where they experiment on themselves across a range of chemicals and do readings and tests of before / after. Super approachable style, too.

Girls reaching puberty at 8? It’s not normal. We shouldn’t normalise it nor say ‘back in our day girls were usually around 12′ and shrug. This can be fixed and I’m almost thinking at the recommendation of a professor of environmental sciences that I discussed this subject with recently, of going back to UNI and writing a paper on it.

What’s in the shampoo and bath gel that little girl uses? Or the scratch and sniff paper? Or the princess perfume? Or the air freshener in their home? Why is the link between these things reserved for nerdy science circles and ‘extremist hippy parents’ and not front page news, even if deemed that ‘not enough studies have been done yet’? Isn’t a doubt enough when it comes to health and wellbeing, ESPECIALLY when fertility is brought into question over said chemicals? We are up against big stuff guys but slowly, we become many and consumer demand is the no1 favourite thing of a company who wants big profits. So, if we change the demand by demanding pthalate free products, we effectively change the world.

So, to start getting these daily chemicals out of our lives, your job today is to write down everything you have in your home right now that might have a fake smell. You know how the commercial says “Ocean Fresh Breeze” scent? Those products are NOT what the ocean smells like, am I right? Lavender fresh? How did they con us so easily?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Write them all down. Feel free to share on facebook in today’s thread, what you collect on your list and see if there are dubious ones you’re not sure of. From washing liquids (even the so called ‘green’ ones) to perfumes, to shampoos, deodorants, cleansers, toners, scrubs, bath oils, hand creams, shave gels, wax, hair products, surface spray, washing powders, fabric softeners, air fresheners to scented candles and the rest… get them all on a list so you can see just how much of this hormone altering chemical is lurking around your home, that you’re exposed to on a daily basis either in breathing or via skin.

Pro tip for personal care even though we’re a few days off that module: If a product says ‘fragrance’ on its ingredient list, but doesn’t asterix “from natural essential oil” then it is fake! There are very, very few exceptions, in fact I’ve come across only 2 in a few years of enquiring and looking at tubes. Usually if a natural company doesn’t disclose fragrance ingredients but IS natural, it will state “proprietry blend from essential oils”.

Next? Commit to phasing them out and just gently, mentally prepare yourself for each of those things to no longer be in your home. It doesn’t all need to happen today. It’s not ‘1 day to a low tox life’. Relax and if one change this week is all you can make, then it’s still a change.

Start to see these products for what they really are. Choose what’s deliciously real, not what’s fabricated with things that fiddle with our bodies’ processes

Desperate to make *something* already? Check out my air freshener recipe if you want to have your first go. It’s so, so easy and inexpensive!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation One of the biggest ‘fake smells’ markets out there is scented candles. Sadly, pthalates aren’t the only thing that’s wrong with the average scented candle.

Candles. Ah, the romance, the calm, the unwind, the MINEFIELD OF SYNTHETIC INGREDIENTS DAMAGING TO US AND THE PLANET.

WHAT? Yep, candles have just as much grey area as anything else it turns out, and we’re going to go a bit deeper and look at what the deal is and how to perfume our homes – and ourselves – naturally!

Picking a candle, scented or unscented for that matter, requires a little research and investigation before lighting our wicks to unwind.

Here’s what’s in the majority of candles out there

• Pthalates in the synthetic fragrances – You watch what happens when you cleanse your home of them and then go to someone else’s home a few weeks later where they’re burning. It will be SO obvious you won’t believe you never realised.

• Many scented candles contain lead in the wick. Mm, just love the smell of lead in the air, don’t you? Best is to buy from a local-to-you candle maker that you can ask rather than a pack-of-100 tea lights, type of vibe. Most of the lead coated wicks come from Asia, where there isn’t any law against the use of it.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Paraffin is basically a waste product from the petroleum industry. Most candles are made with paraffin. Lots of yucky gasses go up into your indoor space with the burning of paraffin. It’s basically like a teeny tiny diesel engine burning inside your home. Isn’t that gross?

• Soy, is often GM derived (genetically modified soy – the no1 deforestation cause in the Amazon at the moment and chiefly responsible for ruining soil biodiversity due to the heavy pesticide use in GM agriculture. It’s a 30 day course of its own, trust me!). While ‘better for us’ than petroleum derived paraffin, it’s sadly supporting GM agriculture to buy soy candles (unless they state that they’re organic or Non GMO project verified. The other problem with soy is the heavy processing and need for super strong fragrance (hello pthalates!) to mask the smell of unpleasant soybean oil, which because it’s hydrogenated has a super low melt point, thus always being in ‘pots’ Thanks Cate from Queen B for that fact!

How do I navigate candles and choose better!?

• Don’t buy el cheapo candles from a $2 shop or supermarket.

• If you do burn cheap candles, do it with windows open to at least circulate a little fresh air and minimise indoor pollution from the paraffin.

• Don’t buy supermarket air freshener candles. “Arctic fresh” and similarly named Air freshener candles are definitely doing you more harm than good!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Check the wicks for metal by pinching two fingers around the wick and seeing if there’s any hiding in there. Most probably lead if there is. Move on!

• Choose unscented candles, unless you can be sure they’re scented with pure essential oils.

• Choose Pure Beeswax candles. These are without a doubt the best option available. Some manufacturers mix beeswax with paraffin, so definitely watch for 100% beeswax.

CREATIVE IDEAS FOR PERFUMING YOUR HOME

Why not dip a whole bunch of wood BBQ skewers in your favourite essential oil blend and pop it by an open window to breeze through into the house?

Grab a nice oil burner and some beeswax tea light candles, and burn your favourite natural scents. Rosemary and Rose Geranium is a favourite of mine, or a little grapefruit and mint in the morning. Have a play!

Pop a little water in a saucepan and do a 5 minute simmer of your favourite essential oils and rosemary or citrus peels – The house will smell amazing in minutes!

Add a few drops of your favourite oils to your shower while the hot water steams up before you turn on the cold and get in. It’s like stepping into a delicious aromatherapy treatment. Eucalytpus or tea tree oil are wonderful natural disinfectors and amazing if you’re changing seasons or feel like a cold might be on the way!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Winter air freshener: fill the bottom of a jar with baking soda and add a few drops of essential oils (bergamot and cinnamon for example) then arrange the cinnamon sticks in the jar for a sweet smelling play on snow covered branches. The best part? No chemicals, and you can easily freshen up the scent by stirring the baking soda with the cinnamon sticks!

Bathroom tip: Drop some essential oils on the inside of the toilet roll cardboard… It’ll smell great in there for a fraction of the environmental or monetary cost of a fake airfreshener.

Think for a minute how ridiculous the air freshener market is… Freshmatic? Colours of nature? Ocean Crisp? Seriously?

So how am I shaping a better world and a healthier me by changing my candles again?

• By saying no to petroleum products by not choosing paraffin.

• By saying no to GM farming when not going with soy candles that aren’t certified organic.

• By minimising petroleum pollution.

• By stopping indoor pollution and low level lead poisoning from possible lead wicks in cheap candles.

• By saying no to pthalates, which are hormone disrupting chemicals found in fake fragrances, used to scent the majority of candles.

• So where do I get real candles from?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation I’d recommend BIOME eco stores, for the fact that their range is the largest and safest I’ve come across. Tracey is a pioneer in the green living space, starting her shop over 10 years ago - We’ll be hearing from her soon in the program. The candles are particularly good. You will be amazed at how slow the burn is on a tea light candle. They seem to last twice as long, so I justify the extra price that way. Plus, our health and the environment are protected. It’s a no brainer, a win-win and a great little gift!

A vegan option… Biome also stocks a soy alternative— given the issues with soy, genetic modification and deforestation, they have chosen iKOU candles which use Non-GMO soy grown in USA (North America) soy plantations certified by the WWF. Perfect for vegans too, being non beeswax. See why I chose this store as my go to?

DIY candles?

There are a number of options. You could make an olive oil candle or a nifty twist on the basic olive oil candle is this one made out of a half orange - and it works!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

There are also plenty of DIY Beeswax candle making kits on line.

Can I burn incense?

If you absolutely LOVE it then a little every now and then is fine. Keep a window open and seek out natural brands like this one.

Keep in mind that it is, essentially burning fumes, and even natural ones aren’t ideal too much of the time. When I think of my closed door room as a teen burning naga champa around the clock and chronic cough I had around that time. I wonder… So, for incense: Windows open and not too often and I’d suggest that asthmatics, little ones and pregnant people should consider skipping it altogether.

Tip for improving indoor air quality for incense loving people:

A Salt Lamp. It’s what we call a ‘negative ioniser’ and the way they work is this: They remove hazardous particles from the air. Once negative ions are released into the air,

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation they quickly attract such particles, which are positively charged. As the negative ions and positive particulates cluster together, they become heavy, ultimately falling to surfaces where they can be vacuumed or dusted away rather than inhaled. If a salt lamp is of interest you can head here. They say on their site that it neutralises EMF (electro magnetic radiation) I believe this to be an inconclusive claim, but their lamps are beautiful and definitely of benefit to read by the light of one to wind down at the end of the day.

Personal Perfumes

This is a minefield. Most ‘prestige’ perfume is full of fake stuff. No good. A couple of more traditional houses like Guerlain produce fragrances using essential oils for their classic perfumes, but it is extremely rare and most are synthetic, thus pthalates most often hide in there. If you’re unsure, ask the company.

I use Black Chicken Balm of Ages and love its fragrance as well as its healing powers – I swear if we did a scientific study on its effects, it would be shown to reduce cortisol levels (stress).

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

I’ve worn natural fragrance for about 5 years now and honestly can’t believe how strongly people smell with the fake ones and how they can breathe. It’s amazing how quickly you realise synthetics smell really wrong, where once I was a young perfume counter girl at Downtown Duty Free, dousing myself and others in the stuff all day! Did I mention the twice a week migraines that I never made the connection with until I left cosmetics and the migraines disappeared?

Other natural fragrance ideas

Seek out natural brands and try a few out over the next few months. These IME perfumes are great on Nourished Life. You can get a set of minis to explore at a not too expensive price point. The Vanessa Megan one is gorgeous too.

Make your own fragrance with oils – Essential oils weren’t created equal and it’s an industry teaming with short cut takers and impurities. Twenty8 8, Young Living and DoTerra oils are all very good quality. If you need help with Young Living, they're my

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation oils of choice. They have an obsession with transparency and production excellence, are passionately fair trade and are the best value with it being easy and very low commitment to access wholesale pricing (around $80 per year worth of oils commitment). I have an essential oils guru Naomi who's shared with us their benefits

HERE.

This recipe once you scroll down, is great and done the right way to make it last on your skin and maintain the integrity of the oils. Men can do this too with more masculine combinations. Pop into a health food store and have a smell of the essential oil testers and create your own that appeals just to you!

You can simply surround a big beeswax candle with coffee beans and some vanilla bean powder and the aroma is incredible through the house as it burns!

So whether you have a big or small budget, the area of candles and fragrance is an easy swap after a bit of discovery of new brands and what you might like! Make your

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation own, buy a treat. Make a gift list for your upcoming birthday! The choice is yours and the best part is, all the choices are now natural.

Remember this is a 30 day journey and that the journey is not the end, it’s actually the beginning as you will soon discover.

DON’T STRESS. CELEBRATE YOUR WINS – EVERY SINGLE TINY WIN. EXPLAIN THINGS TO YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS KINDLY, BE THE CHANGE AND SHARE IN A WAY THAT HAS YOU “WITH” THEM, NOT AGAINST THEM AS YOU DISCOVER WHAT GOVERNMENTS AND COMPANIES HAVE DECIDED IS ‘SAFE’ ON OUR BEHALF.

Day 3: Endocrine disrupting chemicals – the est of them!

Before we launch into today’s material, I want to share a wonderful: Don’t Freak out, PHASE out – shared by Keira Smith on Facebook yesterday. Love it. How’s that for a Low Tox Life course mantra? This is exactly what this course is about. Sure, finding out this stuff is and can be scary BUT we’re changing things and that is absolutely the most important thing to focus on. Plan for what you will use next time as the topics and 100s of suggestions unfold and celebrate all the little wins along the way. My goal is not to spoon feed you what to buy from day 1, but to spend a few initial days really ensuring you get to know some of the chemicals that have made it into our day to day lives and where to spot them. This way you become a great detective out there as your skills build. I encourage you to contact companies, ask questions and report back in our Facebook group. As Maya Angelou says “what you learn, teach”. Today, we’re exploring the endocrine disrupting topic a little more to see what else are the major concerns. This is, to me, the most important aspect to lowering our toxic load for the simple fact that having chemicals mimicking our real hormones through the body can have disastrous effects on our health and be incredibly difficult to heal – Cue autoimmune diseases appearing by the bucket load today around the world!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation I have a wonderful quick 13 minute video to share with you on BPA with Dr Peter Dingle, PHD in Environmental Sciences. With what can be a doom filled topic, Peter shares my passion in making this information available to people without panic and with simple actions to take. It should feel good, doing good and changing things for the better! https://youtu.be/A6kAw-Rp1l8 If you live remotely and have shaky internet connectivity –Here’s a sound cloud file. This is perfect to take yourself off for a quick walk too! Transcript

What are hormones, exactly? Hormones are chemical messengers that travel throughout the body coordinating complex processes like growth, metabolism, and fertility. They can influence the function of the immune system, and even alter behavior…In response to a signal from the brain, hormones are secreted directly into the blood by the glands that produce and store them. These glands make up what is known as the endocrine system. Chemicals that interfere with the function of hormones are therefore known as endocrine disruptors. It’s terrifying to me that the minute we knew that these chemicals had such effects, that governments around the world didn’t simply say: Right, get those out of products by the end of next year! Don’t you feel angry about the fact that they make statements such as “It isn’t conclusive yet, so we’re going to hold off”. The effect of phthalates, especially on male reproductive development, has been observed since the 1940s – How much longer do we need? The obesogenic effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals has been known for decades. You can read more on this issue here. Why are these chemicals still allowed? The activist in me says that it’s fear of the ginormous chemical industry. I will let you ponder for yourself. This is why it’s essential that we grow the niche of concerned citizens about this stuff. Several of you have thanked me for making this course affordable. I’m not interested in this being a hippy niche for people who can afford luxury organics. There

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation are price levels and free options for a lot of the stuff that we need to swap. The worst thing possible for me, would be the barrier to entry on the KNOWLEDGE that then allows you to make your own informed choice based on your needs. That’s why the low price. All I ask is that you help me grow the niche by sharing it with your friends when enrolments open next time so we can keep getting people on the bandwagon! PTHALATES So, back to the topic du jour! We’ve talked about phthalates in fake / synthetic fragrances, but here are few other common places they lie: • Raincoats (PVC) – (We use umbrellas and Aussie Drizabone coats. Just buy massive for little ones and let them grow into them over 3-4 years) • Cheap kids toys that are stretchy and bendy. Quality kids toys will say ‘phthalate free’ these days and if in doubt, call the company and ask. • Cheap kids foamy puzzle fitting mats like this one (sorry!) – Some brands now coming out say ‘phthalate free’ but ask yourself: Do your kids need a plastic mat at all?

• Plastic IV tubing (I’m not saying avoid medical procedures. Medicine can and so often does. This is just to illustrate their prevalence.) • Most Nail Polish • Most yoga mats • Perfumes and scented candles • Some Insect Repellent

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • All pesticides in agriculture • Wire coating and tubing in modern houses (green options are available now!) • Vinyl floors and synthetic carpet (seek out natural options when you renovate) • And that ‘new car smell’? You’re smelling phthalates. Dashboard, steering wheel… The fragrance used… Buying second hand cars is good for your pocket, better for the environment AND better for your health. • Many lipstick brands • Food: Milk (from tubes in dairy feeding) Tell me there’s some good news on phthalates, I hear you say? How do I reduce exposure? Yes. There are easy ways to avoid them in the above sorts of products! Try and choose organic food where possible as the pesticides are what the phthalates can be found in. Here in Sydney for example, we have a great farmer in Picton, NSW, Rita, who isn’t certified but allows people to visit and see how they farm. Their produce is all ‘spray free’ and at Double Bay, Marrickville, Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach markets. The produce is really amazing value – cheaper than supermarket conventional, often. It’s the Asian family if you’re wondering which stall, Sydney siders! Lovely people. You will find these people in your city or town with a bit of digging around! So if you can’t stretch to organic certified, people like Rita exist everywhere! Reduce your plastics – especially codes 3 and 7 (in the little triangle under the packaging) Say a polite no thank you to plastic hand me down toys. Little people chew on toys and while since 2009 a number of phthalates have been banned from children’s toys (not the mats I mentioned though they’re still in there!), it means anything prior will possibly and probably contain phthalates. Ask manufacturers questions. You might need to pay more for organic / eco versions of things but think what you are saving on future health complications from exposure – generationally! It’s a big one and we must think big picture. Go natural in the products department. While we will be covering everything in great detail, I know some people out there just can’t wait so here are a few… I use

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation this insect repellent and love it. I use this nail polish and it’s awesome. I use this stainless lunch box for portable food needs, instead of dodgy kid’s plastic ones. Sometimes a fraction more expensive but honestly? For my health and the family? I don’t care! I make it work, I buy less stuff’ in general these days and buy good stuff that we actually need and that will last years – This will be a common theme over the course, curing ourselves of ‘cheap’ stuff. Skip getting a ‘play mat’ – The grass!!! There’s an idea for a play mat. Or for indoors, laying down a coloured sheet or wool rug or cotton towel and cutting out fishy shapes and make an ocean play mat… or a snakes the next day! Get creative, ditch the weirdo plastics, SAVE money and SAVE plastics in the environment thereafter. It’s all pointing to a win, win, win, win scenario. We simply don’t need to buy all this ‘stuff’! Now the remaining hormone disrupting chemicals to watch out for: BPA The primary source of exposure to BPA for most people is through the diet. While air, dust, and water are other possible sources of exposure, BPA in food and beverages accounts for the majority of daily human exposure. Bisphenol A can leach into food from the protective internal epoxy resin coatings of canned foods and from consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles, and baby bottles. The degree to which BPA leaches from polycarbonate bottles into liquid may depend more on the temperature of the liquid or bottle, than the age of the container. BPA can also be found in breast milk. Read more here if you want to go deeper into it. Where you’ll find it? • Sorry guys, you’re going to have to stop drinking cask wine! • Thermal receipts – Say ‘no thank you’ to receipts you don’t actually need to keep and don’t get the ATM receipt when you get money out! • Canned foods – Important to seek out non BPA lined tins and for tomatoes, being acidic, to not get tins at all (aluminium and acid aren’t friends and we don’t want aluminium leaching into the tomatoes!) and moving to a glass jar “passata” or fresh tomatoes in the summer time, for cooking with tomatoes. • Some plastics still. 3, 6 and 7 are the best categories of plastic to steer clear of.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Coffee cup lids – Say ‘NO LID THANKS’ if you’re at a cafe OR better still, get a JOCO. I absolutely love mine and love that the liquid is in contact with glass, not a coated cup or a plastic reusable.

My teaching style ain’t ‘fear, fear, fear’ as you will get to know, but endocrine disruption is real and when there are so many beautiful alternatives these days, there’s not a reason in the world to keep using these things. What about BPA FREE plastics? Unfortunately it’s becoming apparent that some BPA free plastics are worse than their BPA counterparts in terms of oestrogen mimicking and obesogenic properties. Given that oestrogen is crucial to many of the body’s processes and too much or too little can send us into sub health, it’s so important to reduce plastics wherever we can. This Mother Jones article is worth a read with links to many studies done to write this piece. Parabens Here is a concise explanation of parabens, thanks to the David Suzuki foundation (total guru. Check his work out when you get time) Parabens can mimic – and here it is again – oestrogen, the primary female sex hormone. They have been detected in human breast cancer tissues, suggesting a possible association between parabens in cosmetics and cancer, although studies

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation haven’t been conclusive. Parabens may also interfere with male reproductive functions. In addition, studies indicate that methylparaben applied on the skin reacts with UVB leading to increased skin ageing and DNA damage. Denmark has banned certain parabens altogether for children’s products. That means a company like Johnson & Johnson will use parabens around the world, but a different formulation for Denmark – Why not make the same formulation for everyone – the safer one! Parabens are found in personal care and make up predominantly. They’re therefore easy to see on labels in ingredient lists, and easy to phase out of your day to day as we start working through our new options over the month. Phenoxyethanol Another one found in personal care and make up. Some environmental bodies say it is safe in low %, but I say if it’s disrupting hormones in any studies, that’s enough for me to be cautious and avoid – Especially when there are wonderful options in our midst these days! “Low level” effects are not often tested long term or inter-generationally, but many scientists are pushing for this work to be done. According to the Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, phenoxyethanol affected the brain and nervous system in animals at moderate doses. In 1990 Journal of the American College of Toxicology reported that phenoxyethanol also acts as an endocrine disruptor that also caused damage to bladder and acute pulmonary oedema in animals. Early 1980s studies also suggest that phenoxyethanol can cause DNA mutations – again, only in animals, as it was not tested on humans BUT at the end of the day we are animals too and while we’re much bigger than the poor rats tested on for science, is there really a safe dose of hormone disruption? I’m no scientist but the literature is very much starting to say no. Phenoxyethanol is a scientifically proven irritant to human skin and eyes (Comparison of objective and sensory skin irritations of several cosmetic preservatives. Lee E, An S, Choi D, Moon S, Chang I. Contact Dermatitis. 2007 Mar;56(3):131-6.) and it is classified as irritant in European Union. Phenoxyethanol is also restricted for use in Japan. Phenoxyethanol pops up in MANY, MANY ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ products so it’s one to keep a sharp eye out for. No thank you!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation So there you have the major endocrine disruptors. You started your stock take with the ‘fake smells’ and no doubt many of you jumped ahead to start identifying these ingredients above also. DAY 3 TASK 1. Write down the top 3 short term benefits to you – psychologically, physically, of removing these things from your day to day. I’m talking the benefits YOU’RE excited by, not ‘factual benefits’. We have to identify our motivators for the tough days so we have something to come back to! This could be about your health, your kids, feeling like your home is ‘clear’… Whatever is motivating to YOU. 2. Make a list of the things you’re getting rid of and decide on any that you actually don’t need to replace by buying something new. Could that thing just not be necessary at all? 3. Make a list of the things you want to replace at this stage: Short term and longer term for anything out of reach right now either time wise or financially. Manifesting that you really want something in the future, might just open up a few mental doors as to how to get it happening a little sooner than you thought possible! Further watching this weekend if you fancy? A gripping news report on Phthalates from 60 minutes in the US. Click here. And the No 1 talk you should see about oestrogen mimicking and the prevalence of these chemicals in pesticides… Tyrone Hayes + Penelope Jagessar Chaffer: The toxic baby. Do not watch this alone if you have a partner or kids over 8. Watch this WITH them, so you are not a lone crusader in your family, but you are all in making these changes together.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 4: A Low Tox Mind with a meditation led by Katie Kendall

Sunday’s lessons are all about a fostering low tox mind! We’ll be meditating and taking the time to think about some ways of doing that might be counterproductive to the low tox journey. Toxic thoughts and stress contribute every bit as much as bad food, toxins and bad environments to our overall health picture. That is because our feelings, while they might come from ‘within our minds’, have an effect our body in a big way – have you ever heard the notion that our gut is our second brain and responsible for the ‘gut feel’ we get on things? We have a parasympathetic nervous system, a sympathetic nervous system and an enteric nervous system. All together, they are the ANS. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates the functions of our internal organs, such as the heart, stomach and intestines. The ANS is part of the peripheral nervous system and it also controls some of the muscles within the body. We are often unaware of the ANS because it functions involuntary and reflexively. For example, we do not notice when blood vessels change size or when our heart beats a little faster. People can be trained to control some functions of the ANS such as heart rate or blood pressure and what we’re talking about today helps enormously. The problem with the sympathetic nervous system is that our psychology and physiology doesn’t know how to distinguish “I must run from this lion or die” from “Sh*t – I’m going to be 5 minutes late for a meeting” or “Quick! overtake that bus so we don’t miss the light”. Our body reacts the SAME WAY whether we’re running from a lion or running to a meeting – Crucial to understand as we work to develop a low tox mind. The other ‘system’ within the ANS is the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the one that says ‘chill, eat, enjoy, relax, sleep deeply and don’t rush waking up… take all the time digesting you need… Nothing to see here. Life’s good!” Check out the difference between both the sympathetic ‘fight or flight’ system and the parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ system, in terms of our bodily functions. Our physical state has a massive impact on so many of our body’s processes.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

pic credit: Neuroscience for kids It’s also astounding how much we allow little things to stress us out. We have to learn how to stop because if your body is constantly thinking it’s in the mode of ‘Run or die’ then pretty soon you’re not going to be feeling as awesome as you should without enough ‘rest and digest’ time. Think for a minute about life when you’re on holidays. Is there a difference how you feel on holidays compared to when you’re back home? A lot of people report that on holidays everything from food intolerances, to back pain, to weight gain dramatically improve and / or reverse. My naturopath has a client who for years couldn’t lose weight, doing ‘everything’ right. The final cure? Long service leave from the law firm she worked at, followed by an industry change. 70 hour weeks were a thing of the past and the weight literally dropped off! Stress is toxic. Negative repeated thoughts are toxic. Both at any regular occurrence are going to mean that your body is quite literally, impaired. Here are 5 little tips from me to detox your mind, relax a little more, get happier and make your mind and body work more efficiently as a result. 1. Stop eating fast or on the go. Your digestion cops a beating if you stress and eat at the same time. Same goes for chomping on popcorn during a thriller – It’s going to

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation stick there for days! Make eating an intentional practice and please, please, please teach your kids the same. We don’t eat half way up play equipment, we don’t eat running to a meeting. We stop, we eat, we chew at least 25 times per bite to activate the saliva enzymes and start sending messages to our tummies to get gastric juices and bile going. MINI TASK: Make time to stop to eat and chew each bite 25+ times. If offering food to a child ensure they sit down to eat to enjoy it and focus on it. 2. Stop multitasking so much. Multitasking being a good trait for women is actually a myth – It’s terrible for you! If you’re wondering whether you’re experiencing the long term psychic fall out of too many years of multi-tasking, ask yourself this: Do you find it hard to concentrate on just one thing, to be present, to not reach for the phone while at the computer, with 10 tabs open, which on the phone, while feeding a child? Hmmm. MINI TASK: Leave your phone at home when you go to the shops. Shut every window bar one on your computer right now. Sit to read a book and leave your phone OFF while you do it. Consciously note that you’re doing multiple things, and narrow down to a single pointed focus. 3. Start amplifying the amount of time you spend with happy, positive people. Seek them out. Initiate more contact. They say you are the character sum of the 5 people you spend the most time around. Make it a good 5 that lift you up. Everyone has a hard day or the odd tragedy but generally, life is awesome: Live it like it is! MINI TASK: Make a list of 5 people who you always feel like you don’t see enough and who’s energy you love. Get the emails and phone calls going and schedule coffees, BBQs, lunches and whatever else works, but book to see them before Christmas. Note how this exercise makes you feel and how proactively seeking positive, happy energy feels. You will be amazed! 4. Stop telling yourself you’re not enough. You are. MINI TASK: Every time you give yourself a serving of negative self talk, force yourself to add double the positive talk. “My butt looks massive in this” is followed by “So glad I’ve started yoga again” and “Really looking forward to a super fresh veggies and steak dins. Love the way healthy food makes me feel” and even “My smile lights up my face. Here’s to smiling more!” Trust me. This works. Where the mind goes the energy flows!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation We’re human beings not human doings… So, every day, take the time to be. Think of all of those beautiful comments people have been making about the success you’ve felt with making earthing a priority (minus the odd bindi report! That’s Australian for ‘spiky needle grass’ for the US / UK peeps). There’s been so much positive feedback on those few minutes getting in touch with nature so let’s increase the impact of that by adding getting in touch with the mind. Enjoy my chat with Katie Kendall and the blissful meditation. She is co founder of Flow Athletic and wonderful yoga teacher. If you want to connect with Kate’s work remotely, she is an instructor on My Yoga Online too.

And a major task? Make you’re STOP DOING list. To make space for the want to do, we have to let go of lots of the useless things we do repeatedly and the things we know in our guts we don’t want to say yes to. Fact. Get making that list and change your life.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 5: Low Tox Home Cleaning – Ktchen, bathroom and multipurpose

A note on overwhelm… It is SO normal to feel overwhelm if this is the first time you’ve ever woken up to what you’ve have around you in terms of how it’s made or where it’s from or what it’s doing to us or the planet. It’s frightening how we can be smart people and go through 13 years of school, give or take, and maybe even tertiary education and masters and long carriers making important decisions, yet never once question what goes ON or IN us, where it comes from and how it’s made. Mind blowing really, isn’t it? So, we have two choices when we hit that overwhelm phase. To stay in it and let it start eating us up inside, or to adopt a single pointed focus on the day’s topic of the course, a particular object, or new purchasing decision you might want to make around it, and an action plan. Whatever your current budget or frame of mind allows IS ENOUGH. You’ll have the end of course pdf forever with EVERYTHING from the course in it except the vids / audios. I still get people feeding back to me from last October about their latest swap over as things ran out, or needed replacing. It is a journey of a good year or two, so while I hear you on the frustration of not being able to change everything in one day – that would of course be nice – I offer up this little thought to those who need it: Focus. Pick something. Be proud of that little change you’ve made today. Be proud of the plans you’re laying out for further changes as time, circumstance and energy permit. It’s not a race. Everyone’s up to a different stage in their journeys to more mindful, low tox living. You haven’t failed by being where you are now. You’ve succeeded. You clicked BUY NOW. You changes that day and clicked that button because you thought ‘Hey, I want to see what I can do to live better – for me, for the planet.’ As for the concerns around ‘dumping plastic’ into landfill. Again, let’s think about it some more! There are so many other things you can do with your containers – Sell them to people who don’t care and won’t ever, use them to organise kids craft, sewing kits and buttons, keep them for picnics in the park, organise shed nails, screws, make up, essential oil bottles, tea lights… Landfill isn’t necessarily the answer

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation and the focus is that when you replace stuff, it’s more sustainable, which we’ll be covering in depth on plastic free living day. If you don’t deserve a huge pat on the back for that, then I don’t know who does. This had to be said before kicking into today’s module… Alexx x

Time to clean the house! It may or may not interest you to know, that I was a well-known cocktail bartender once upon a time. I’m not telling you this to feel special. More, to share the dark side of 7 years bartending: The cleaning. The amount of hours I used cheap, super fake smelling ‘spray and wipe’ type products, harsh stainless cleaners, degreasers and glass washing chemicals, are hours I’d prefer forgetting. I tell every hospitality professional I know now to use gloves and wear a mask if their boss won’t change their cleaning products, or simply to bring their own. I had years of chronic back pain in my years of hospitality. I also developed horrible digestion, which led to being diagnosed gluten intolerant. I also didn’t get a period for 2 years. I also put on a huge amount of weight, in a job where you are happy and active and running around 7 hours a day. Not exactly normal! I later learnt about ‘obesogenic compounds’ which were chemicals in the endocrine disruptive family like phthalates, BPA, parabens… Oh dear! Why keep wondering what these chemicals are doing? I’ve read countless stories now of people’s symptom reversal from the first time we ran the course – successful 1st trimester reached after years of miscarriage (3 low tox babies on the way!!!), migraines gone, weight loss, even tumour growth reversal – from cutting these chemicals out and I’m so excited about this part of your journey and to see how people start to feel. It’s not a promise of these changes or effects for everyone, as there are a number of complex variables from person to person, BUT it’s certainly incredible that lowering our toxic load can have a range the health benefits we saw from the first course. So before we ditch, let’s do the work to know exactly what we’re letting go of.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

What’s in the average cleaning products? It might shock you to know that there is no required testing, data submission or labelling on cleaning products before bringing them to market. I’ve listed the major ones here, but there are of course many more. Don’t concern yourselves with what every chemical on a label does. You’ll be there all day. You will find the simpler, natural options and brands you can trust over time. I’ve shared mine below too, and some super easy DIY recipes for people who prefer DIY / need a super budget friendly option. It’s not normal to be able to dissolve chunks of food in seconds. It may well be a convenience, but we have to ask ourselves: What price are we paying for that convenience? The price of super harsh chemicals just doesn’t seem to exactly be a great swap does it?

Phthalates (Diethyl phthalate) Found in: They’re in all air fresheners, many scented candles, house hold furnishing and food packaging like cling film and freezer bags, some of which we’ve already discussed. Health Risk: You guys are old hats at phthalates by now. Hormone disrupting to varying degrees, and trials show skeletal disruption also (and there it is: back pain!). These are commonly found in almost every cleaning product, listed, or not listed at all, as ‘fragrance’. Triclosan Found in: Petroleum derived, triclosan is often the bad boy behind the word ‘antibacterial’ on your cleaning products, hand soap, deodorant, antibacterial face washes and toothpaste. Health Risks: Stay away, as it is often contaminated with chloroform and can cause skin, eye and lung irritation. It can disrupt the immune system and accumulate in the environment, it is toxic to algae and it fiddles with the growing habits of some fish. O.M.G is right! How is this allowed?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

2-BUTOXYETHANOL Found in: Window, kitchen and multipurpose cleaners. Health Risks: 2-butoxyethanol is the key ingredient in many window cleaners and gives them their characteristic sweet smell. It belongs in the category of “glycol ethers,” a set of powerful solvents that don’t mess around. Law does not require 2- butoxyethanol to be listed on a product’s label. According to the EPA’s Web site, in addition to causing sore throats when inhaled, at high levels glycol ethers can also contribute to narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage. Although the EPA sets a standard on 2-butoxyethanol for workplace safety, Sutton warns, “If you’re cleaning at home in a confined area, like an unventilated bathroom, you can actually end up getting 2-butoxyethanol in the air at levels that are higher than workplace safety standards.” AMMONIA Found in: Polishing agents for bathroom fixtures, sinks and jewelry; also in glass cleaner. Health Risks: Because ammonia evaporates and doesn’t leave streaks, it’s another common ingredient in commercial window cleaners. That sparkle has a price. “Ammonia is a powerful irritant,” says Donna Kasuska, chemical engineer and president of ChemConscious, Inc., a risk-management consulting company. “It’s going to affect you right away. The people who will be really affected are those who have asthma, and elderly people with lung issues and breathing problems. It’s almost always inhaled. People who get a lot of ammonia exposure, like housekeepers, will often develop chronic bronchitis and asthma.” Ammonia can also create a poisonous gas if it’s mixed with bleach. Healthier Choice: Vodka. “It will produce a reflective shine on any metal or mirrored surface”. So pour a vodka soda and do some window cleaning. Doesn’t sound all that bad now, does it? CHLORINE Found in: Scouring powders, toilet bowl cleaners, mildew removers, laundry whiteners, household tap water.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Health Risks: You’re getting exposed through fumes and possibly through skin when you clean with it, but because it’s also in city water to get rid of bacteria, you’re also getting exposed when you take a shower or bath. The health risks from chlorine can be acute, and they can be chronic; it’s a respiratory irritant at an acute level. But the chronic effects are what people don’t realize: It may be a serious thyroid disruptor. SODIUM HYDROXIDE Found in: Oven cleaners and drain openers. Health Risks: Otherwise known as lye, sodium hydroxide is extremely corrosive: If it touches your skin or gets in your eyes, it can cause severe burns. Routes of exposure are skin contact and inhalation. Inhaling sodium hydroxide can cause a sore throat that lasts for days. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant, detergent, and emulsifier used in thousands of cosmetic products, as well as in industrial cleaners. It is present in nearly all main stream shampoos, scalp treatments, hair color and bleaching agents, toothpastes, body washes and cleansers, make-up foundations, liquid hand soaps, laundry detergents, and bath oils/bath salts. It can be panufactured from coconuts, but more damaging to the environment is when it’s manufactured from unsustainable palm oil or petroleum – the two most common! A real problem with SLES/SLS is that the manufacturing process (ethoxylation) results in SLES/SLS being contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogenic by-product. Health Risks: SLS is the sodium salt of lauryl sulfate, and is classified by the EWG Cosmetics Database as a “denaturant, surfactant cleansing agent, emulsifier and foamer,” rated as a “moderate hazard.” Similar to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is sodium laureth sulfate (short for sodium lauryl ether sulfate, or SLES), a yellow detergent with higher foaming ability. SLES is considered to be slightly less irritating than SLS. Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) is another surfactant variation commonly put into cosmetics and cleansers to make them foam. ALS is similar to SLS, with similar risks. It goes by other names as well including Sodium dodecyl sulfate, Sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, sodium salt, Sodium salt sulfuric acid and Monododecyl ester sodium salt sulfuric acid. Fun! The learning on SLS: Relax! Foaming doesn’t mean it’s going to be cleaner. You simply need to do this: Get used to less foam and let go of that connection between

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation cleanliness and foaminess being mutually exclusive. Especially when it comes to shampoo, but we’re covering that in a couple of days so more on that later.

I feel the need to chime in here and say: Remember, don’t feel guilty for yesterday’s choices. Feel excited for what you will change today!

SO WHAT CAN WE USE, THEN? So here’s what I use – my DIY recipes as well as my favourite, natural brand options. If you have a cleaner or a house keeper, don’t think it doesn’t matter – think of them and think of the fact that it’s all over your home surfaces, so while you might not be using harmful cleaners, you’ll still be surrounded by them and affected to a lesser extent, regardless. My favourite products – to buy Not everyone’s into DIY and I appreciate that. There are 3 products I don’t DIY either for the simple performance factor and here they are: 1. ReSparkle. I’m excited to introduce Pearl Chan, creator of ReSparkle. You’ll see the interview I did with her down the bottom and she’s helping out with some of the questions on the Facebook group, thanks to her extensive knowledge. I had just

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation started my blog and Pearl had just started her household products business, ReSparkle back in 2012. She sent me a sample of her new Kitchen / Surface cleaner and it was fabulous. It appeals not only on the 100% natural and NASAA certified front, but also on the refillable front, so there’s far less plastic used and you’re not paying for 70% of the product to be carted around the country that is actually just water, in the total weight – a genius way to make low tox cleaning affordable. Finally, on the I’m too busy for elbow grease front, she got me there too. It’s a mega effective, cost effective product range thanks to the refillable concept, and I can’t recommend it enough. For those of you with little people, there’s a toy and nursery cleaner in the range too which is great! We’ll be giving away 2 full ranges tonight in the Facebook group, so stay tuned!

2. Dr Bronner Castille Soap Range. I use a little in my floor cleaner DIY recipe below. We dilute for hand wash with our own essential oils added and we use for spot cleaning clothes that have stains before putting on a wash. They’re awesome. They’re completely non toxic and they’re not expensive, lasting a very long time. You can get more ideas on that range here. And find them easily online or at your local health shop, no doubt. PRO TIP: You can use these to wash the car, the pets, yourself… Having a bottle or two at hand is just about the handiest low tox cleaning pal you can have! 3. Ecostore dishwashing detergent and dishwasher powder. Both are fantastic, and definitely low tox. Both extensively available in supermarkets and online. For cleaning tools, we use the microfibre cloth range from BIOME as well as the amazing floor mop for the kitchen. Please be wary of ‘antibacterial cloths’ for

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation cleaning, advertised as ‘killing germs’. If you’ve cut raw meat or someone has an infectious illness in the house and want to wipe and kill, you might want to revise the microfibre cloth option as a ‘sole’ use, and add some low tox cleaner, bough or DIY made. Eucalyptus, melaleuca and tea tree essential oils (6 drops to the cup of liquid cleaner you’ve made) are all wonderful oils to use for killing nasties. For scrubbing brushes and sponges we use the beautiful Full Circle Range. So sturdy. Twice as sturdy as cheap plastic equivalents and so far, I believe last twice as long and the brush heads are refillable, so again, less waste and ecofriendly fibres – Win Win! If every household in Australia tossed one plastic brush per year in the bin, that would be 8 million plastic brushes going to landfill. Isn’t that nuts? Time for a change!

Lastly, for scourers and body scrub buffers, the coconut fibre ‘Saffix’ range is awesome. What could be more natural and only $3.50 each! I’ve still got the first one I bought last year and just dump the body one in a vinegar / water solution with a few drops of eucalyptus oil to disinfect every month or so.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

I’ve listed them all from Biome here as I love the work Tracey and her team do with total absence of those ‘green wash’ brands that often lurk on natural sites to throw a spanner in the wors and confuse us, plus because it’s all available there, so you’ll save on postage if you need multiple items! You can of course buy all your eco products and not make any. There is actually a lot of choice these days. Here are just some brands that are safe to use as well as effective. Sonett Ecostore (cleaning products, NOT skincare. I still believe we can do better than the skincare range in terms of simplicity of ingredients) Ecover Kin Kin Abode Eco Logic Bosistos Enviroclean You might know of more and I encourage you to share them in your alumni group as they come up IF THEY DEFINITELY CHECK OUT – You might need to check with the company. I like to stop searching once I’ve found something that works and that I trust and you now know what I use! Please, if you share further brands I ask that you

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation know you’ve researched their fragrance status and petrochemical status, as well as they chemicals listed above. For US and UK people doing the course – I’m headed over in July on a research trip to meet with some TRULY green companies to add to the list of options. I will be updating my master lists at that time and sharing with all past course participants so I’ll be finding us even more options in a few months. Can’t wait! Do not be GREENWASHED! I wrote a piece on GREENWASHING a couple of years ago. You can check it out here. Here are two examples of ‘greenwashing’ I found online in the US. http:// simplegreen.com/products/all-purpose-cleaner-rtu/ – This product contains artificial fragrance, harsh preservative and SLS x 3 ways, with 3 different names. And the other one http://www.ecos.com/Dishmate_Almond.html – Phenoxyethanol, a harsh preservative and SLS with 3 different names. What passes off as ‘all natural’ these days is often a crock – pardon the French. We have to demand product disclosure and get smart to be able to scan products and know if they’re a great option or not and this is a skill you develop over time. NOW, For the DIY Options You’ll be using white vinegar from distilled, fermented spirit – if it doesn’t specify that it’s been made from distilled spirit, then it’s most probably petroleum derived, manufactured acetic acid – yep, even white vinegar can be ‘high tox’. Home brand supermarket ones are generally the nasty version, not very environmentally friendly at all, really, so Cornwell’s White vinegar is the one I use, available at the supermarket also. We’ll also be using bi carb soda (for bulk head to BLANTS in Australia), essential oils, olive oil, sea salt, lemon and water. Revolutionary stuff! So simple. So inexpensive!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

MULTI-PURPOSE SPRAY USE THIS ON KITCHEN SURFACES, AROUND SINKS, WINDOW SILLS, MANTLES, SHOWER TILES. JUST NOT WOOD. 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup water 12-16 drops eucalyptus essential oil (tea tree oil, rosemary peppermint and lemon oil are great too. Make up your own fragrance blend!)

What to do? Pop it all into a spray bottle. Shakey shake before use. Done. Antibacterial Surface spray Same as above, but with 1/2 tsp either eucalyptus, clove, tea tree or neem oil in the mix. Revolutionary, right? NOTE: If you have a marble of concrete bench top, omit the vinegar and go with a tablespoon of Castille Soap to 1 cup water and 10 drops essential oil. MOULD INHIBITOR

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Did you know bleach doesn’t kill mould? The mould spores actually omit a toxic gas retaliating against the bleach, and while the bleach removes it from sight, they’re still alive under there and grow back. Save your lungs and move to this nifty little spray and if you have a persistent issue not fixed by this and fresh circulating air, best to call in a professional mould removal service. In Australia, these guys are wonderful. There are two types of mould. There’s the type that just grows on the tile or surface as a result of a bit too much moisture in the room. There’s also the structural type that appears to grow from the inside of the walls ‘out’ to visibility. The latter needs a mould remediation treatment. The former can be cleaned away and killed with this easy spray mixture. 2 cups of water (for a seriously bad mould issue, do 1 cup to ramp up the lavender oil concentration) 14 drops each of lavender oil and tea tree oil 10 drops clove bud oil What to do? Put the water and oils into a spray bottle. Shake before use. Spray onto affected areas. Leave for 20 minutes, and then come back with your multi-purpose spray and give the whole area a good wipe down. We moved into a very mouldy apartment two years ago, and it took 2 cycles of this method in the bathroom to work on the ceiling and in the shower. Now? Mould free and haven’t needed to treat in a year, keeping windows open every day (and door to rest of house shut in winter). Ventilation is your friend and if it’s hard to ventilate, consider a dehumidifier to blast for a couple of hours here and there in the winter, especially. STAINLESS STEEL CLEANER This is a tough one to make, and can get really tricky. You ready? Cut a lemon in half. Squeeze a little into your morning veggie juice or smoothie. With the remaining lemon in the squeezed half, wipe all over your sink, laundry sink, casually – honestly, no need to break a sweat. Then wipe it down. Shiny and new. All grease, water or food stains… everything gone. WOODEN OR LEATHER FURNITURE POLISH Oh dear, another really tough one, that you’re probably going to switch straight back to those old, toxic furniture polishers, I’m sure.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Olive oil. Dab a little on a tea towel and polish. There. That’s it. Seriously. Do wooden furniture, leather furniture and leather shoes with this and you will be amazed. NOTE: test a small patch firts before you do this, to ensure it suits your type of leather. It is NOT suitable for suede. Glass Cleaner Dilute Vinegar half half with water and use newspaper to wipe windows and mirrors. Simple. OVEN CLEANER (Taken from Super Natural Home, by Beth Greer, 2009. A great book for the DIY enthusiasts) This is great. So easy and no more poisoning our lungs with those toxic cleaners. In a jar put: Equal parts sea salt, vinegar and bi carb soda. 1/4 cup of each is good for your average sized oven. What to do? Turn the oven on 180C / 350F and put an oven dish, half full of water in the oven and ‘bake’ to create steam for about half an hour. Do not add the paste to this dish. Cool oven a little before scrubbing your paste on the oven walls. Wipe down. Rinse with a couple of watery tea towels. Done. NOTE: Don’t add an essential oil to this one. Rose geranium baked pumpkin anyone? No thank you, a bit weird! CREAM CLEANSER Personally, I don’t make this often, because I find between a pure lemon for stainless surfaces and my ReSparkle multi purpose spray, a cream cleanser (jif-like) isn’t really needed. However, if it’s a texture you like to use when cleaning, especially for a bath, then be my guest. 1/2 cup bi carb soda in a jar 1 tablespoon of coarse salt. 1/2 cup water and mix. If a paste hasn’t formed, keep adding a little water, bit by bit until you have a paste.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Add 10 drops of essential oil of your choice for beautiful fragrance. Scrub the bath (gosh that’s fun isn’t it? no?) FLOOR CLEANER 2 cups water 2 tbsp Dr Bronner liquid soap 1/2 cup vinegar 10-20 drops essential oil of your choice (I like eucalyptus for disinfecting the floors and a citrus oil for freshness in the air, so I do a combination of 10 drops of each) 1 tablespoon bicarb soda (if you don’t have anything to ‘scour’ you can skip the bicarb) Mix and bottle and shake a little before use, as needed. NOTE: For varnished floors and polished concrete floors, double the castille soap and ditch the vinegar and bicarb. JEWELLERY CLEANER (silver, copper and brass) The course is worth it for this nifty cleaning trick alone. I am every single time amazed! There are so many strange chemicals lurking in jewelry cleaner. This is an awesome silver cleaner. Takes just a few minutes for the tarnish to disappear. Place some aluminium foil in a bowl. Place a tbsp or two of bicarb soda and a teaspoon of salt in the bowl with enough boiling water to cover the item in question. Dip the item into this solution and leave to clean for 5 minutes. Take out and rinse. Super sparkly silverware and silver, as well as gold, white gold, copper and platinum jewellery thereafter!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

THE LOO When cleaning the loo, we can again, easily avoid all the nasties with a very simple homemade formula. 1/2 cup bicarb soda sprinkled around the loo with 20 drops eucalyptus or tea tree oil dropped into the water. Pour now 1/2 cup of vinegar over the bicarb and as it bubbles up, use your toilet brush to swirl things around and give everything a good disinfect and clean. The bicarb is magic for smelly ‘situations’ too! If your toilet bowl is a bit stained, you can do a good tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide soak too and leave it all there for 30 mins before flushing. GROUT CLEANER Pour 1/3 cup baking soda into a big glass bowl Add very slowly, 3% hydrogen peroxide (or 6% readily available at most chemists, diluted half half) until you get a paste. Scrub into the grout on tiles and leave for 30 mins. Come back and rinse off. Double this quantity if you’re in dire need and you have a large bathroom. Soup it up as an anti mould growth grout cleaner with a tsp Neem oil, Clove Bud or Tea Tree in the mix. If this doesn’t clean your grout and your grout is old, it make simply need replacing. A note… There are recommendations for mainstream supermarket, DIY and online because there are many people with many different needs and preferences. Choose what sits right with you. If you ‘don’t do any plastic at all’ that’s absolutely fine and I salute you. Different options for different peeps makes it easy for everyone to feel

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation they can make a better choice. We also have some overseas people in the course, thus the mention of international brands. If you’re in Australia of course, it’s always best to see if there’s an Aussie product to avoid carbon miles. Go at your pace. Explore at a depth and level that you feel pumped, not swamped. This is your journey. In tomorrow’s module we will cover the laundry ‘everything’, so hang tight! What to put all the DIY recipes in? I use a variety of jars and glass spray bottles – E bay and market stalls are great for random finds and the floor clear and oven cleaners, I just keep in jars. Feel free to share your resources. DAY 5 Task Decide on your cleaning strategy. What will you commit to DIY to save money and plastic use? What will you commit to buying to set up your low tox home cleaning regime? If you adopt these natural cleaners or DIY recipes, where you were once using supermarket cleaning products, you will literally be reducing your chemical intake through breathing and skin contact by an average of 60 known irritant chemicals per week. Isn’t that wonderful? It’s a huge benefit to your family and you’re making an amazing change!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Pearl Chan, ReSparkle Interview

Pearl Chan, founder of ReSparkle, Interview – I just adore sharing these low tox businesses with brave people starting something RIGHT. There’s nothing wrong with making money and being rich, but at the expense of people’s health and the planet’s? Then nope, that doesn’t pass for a second. Pearl is a start up business just 3 years old and she’s a top chick. 1. How did you find yourself thinking one day “I need to start this business?” At the risk of sounding dramatic, my pivot point was the day after the tragic 911. At that time, I was a rising star in the field of private banking. Being in the swanky conference room the morning after 911, I asked myself this – if a plane comes through the glass window right then, would I be happy with the life I led? The answer was a resounding NO. That was the moment when I knew I needed to start a meaningful business that would make a difference in people’s lives and together create a positive impact on our planet and global community. This led me on an incredible journey of starting a soup & salad bar to a photographer, ad agency owner (to explore my creative side) and finally, I found my vocation in Resparkle. I say it’s my calling because I strongly believe love and health starts at home. Something as basic as a parent keeping the home clean and healthy is a demonstration of her love for her family. It is gratifying to know that Resparkle is able to help families create healthier and safer homes.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

2. What is so special about Resparkle that we need to know? In all current products and future ones, I am very clear about one thing – it has to be formulated with our health as the number one priority. As far as I know, Resparkle is the only organic cleaning range available to consumers in Australia that is organically certified by NASAA. All our products are currently not only 100% natural but also very affordable. Affordability is a big thing for us, as we want to make healthy homes possible for as many people as possible. To do this, we find innovative ways to reduce cost on unnecessary things like plastic packaging and only sell the active ingredients. But what really keeps our customers coming is back is how well it cleans! 3. What makes it such an effective cleaner? What are the active natural ingredients? Our core ingredient is a bioflavonoid blend, which is basically a mix of citrus fruits like blood orange and lemons. Through a patented natural process, we’re able to extract the cells of the fruit making it effective in dispersing grease/dirt (making it a super degreaser/cleaner) and at the same time kill micro-organisms (making it a super natural preservative) 4. Explain the refillable aspect? All conventional cleaners are 90% water & only 10% active ingredient. I figured it didn’t made sense to be paying and transporting all that water. Our patented bottle design allows you to reuse 80% of the bottle by replenishing with your own tap water and Resparkle tiny refill pods of concentrate. 5. What’s your personal fave in your range? Picking one would be like saying which child is my favourite! But I would say the Kitchen & Multi-purpose would be my most frequently used. I love cooking, especially Asian dishes and it can be quite a mess in terms of oil splatters & spilled sauces. I love how Resparkle cleans them all in just one wipe down without streaking and my kitchen ends each day smelling like freshly squeezed lemons! And there you have it!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

If you have time, this doco will really seal the deal on why we’re doing all this too. You are now part of the change. x We don’t need 20 different cleaning bottles in our cupboard. Get key essentials and free that cash up for other things. Less stuff. Less chemicals. Win-Win.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 6: Low Tox Laundry

When you lift the lid on ‘convenience’ for the first time, a flood of emotions often comes through – Guilt, anger, confusion, embarrassment, panic: How did I not know? How did I not wonder? What would things be like if… What am I going to do without… ? We don’t PART with convenience on this journey, we just redefine it. Slowly. If that ‘convenient’ thing is ugly once you do a little digging, it’s not so shiny and the convenience loses its appeal pretty quickly. Truth and peace of mind coupled with smart buying and smart ‘making’ become far more important over the course of this journey – to have that sense that through empowered choice, we know for FACT that we are now on the trajectory to be doing the best we can for both OUR health and the planet’s health, and that we’ve found a way to make it simple and uncomplicated… Well bingo, that’s our convenience born again – this time as a love child from hippy parents though The laundry isn’t exempt from attracting cleaning products that are full of nasties as I’m sure you can now well imagine. The issue with laundry detergents, fabric softeners and soakers is that not only do they pollute us and the waterways, but they can severely compromise our indoor air quality, if we’re using the ones with the nasty stuff inside our homes! What are the main things we’re moving to avoid, in addition to our list of chemicals already covered? Most laundry detergents and / or softeners contain: Petroleum distillates (aka napthas), which have been linked to cancer. Artificial fragrances, which have been linked to various toxic effects on fish and mammals and are endocrine disrupting – There are those pthalates again! Phosphates – You know how you see a “P” or an “NP” on a laundry powder or detergent? Well the P refers to phosphates. They stimulate the growth of certain marine plants when they’re released into the environment and contribute to unbalanced ecosystems. Optical brighteners, which are toxic to fish and can cause bacterial mutations and allergic reactions – Um, hello “The Simpsons” Nuclear power plant episode, anyone?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Quarternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats) – Found in fabric softeners and fabric softening sheets as well as industrial cleaners. These also operate similarly to triclosan, and to boot, can cause intense asthma in many people as well as dermatitis – they’re bad news and totally unnecessary. As soon as I removed them from my laundry, I realised how toxic they were the very next time I visited mum’s house when I went into the laundry there. I could barely breathe! They’re not there either anymore! Palm oil – A deforestation disaster ingredient! Unless it is fully traceable form a sustainable source, it’s a no go!

Also, in fabric softeners you’ll commonly find benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (irritates the upper respiratory tract) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen.) To top it off, many of them are petroleum based, which takes a toll on a non-renewable resource and is not bio-degradable. Yay… More moving onto better stuff! Some options for washing your clothes: Supermarket Sadly there is a lot of ‘greenwashing’ with ‘eco friendly’ laundry liquids and powders in the supermarket. They almost all fall down in the fragrance department… Aldi’s ‘apple fragrance’ and Earth Choice’s fragrances… synthetic. Close but no cigar – not that we’d want one of those anyway AWARE, Sensitive is my supermarket brand of choice. Great performance and definitely not a ‘Greenwash’ brand. It contains the lowest amount of SLS, coconut derived (not palm or petroleum) And I’ve spent 30 mins in deep conversation with the chief product development scientist at Aware to be able to bring you this summary of their SLS formulation: There are three places SLS can be derived from: Petroleum, Animal or Plant. 98% of the world’s SLS is Petroleum or Palm derived. Animal generally no longer used. Aware uses coconut oil. Petroleum and Palm SLS are obviously the worst offenders for there is a big environmental impact there both in origin material, and in the case of petroleum, in end pollution. Sulfination makes the oil water soluble. Another thing to think about is the fact that most laundry powders, regardless of SLS origin, use up to 30-40% in their products to give you those ‘uber white finishes’, so if they’re

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation petroleum origin to boot, then it’s by definition a total environmental disaster. Aware’s level is 10% and is a coconut based surfactant (which a lot of ‘non SLS’ brands say is their surfactant, no doubt to perhaps distance themselves from plam / petroleum brands) Something extra awesome about them is their commitment to sourcing 70% of their ingredients locally (which sadly has dropped to 60% since the soda ash factory in South Australia closed down) I was impressed. SLS starts out with one isolated fatty acid (from coconut, palm or petroleum based oils) called lauric acid. The lauric acid is reacted with sulfuric acid and other chemicals. Sodium coco sulfate goes through the same chemical process as SLS. It is different only because it uses a blend of fatty acids and excludes the lauric fatty acid. This allows companies to say on the front of their label sodium lauryl sulfate-free and not really lie to you. Sodium Coco Sulphate is therefore pretty much the same thing – something on a lot of green brands. So, my recommendation is? Absolutely leave SLS out of as much as possible in the products that you buy. BUT Go with what feels right to you. SO, if budget is priority to you and easy ‘can get on the day’ as an Australian in this program, then Aware Sensitive is a great choice – certainly the best and only option I would consider in the supermarket. For those who want to stay completely SLS free I would suggest exploring Soap Nuts from BIOME, or Kin Kin Naturals (NOTE: who say coconut based surfactant but ‘non SLS’ so that’s odd to me seeing as coconut based SLS is exactly that and therefore I believe it’s a half-truth) Same with the Abode brand… BUT they are the absolute best of the bunch, unless you choose to make your own. Feel free to share your recipes if you do and support each other. Know that if you do buy Aware, you are supporting an Aussie brand, who is palm oil free, petroleum free, phosphate free, pthalate free, triclosan free, quat free and sources locally as much as possible as well as being far lower SLS than other options. If you are concerned about the allergic reaction potential to any kind of SLS (there’s sadly no data separating out reactions based on raw material provenance ie petroleum vs coconut) then either use soap nuts, make your own, try these ones below or program the long rinse on your machine.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Online These are the highest performing online brands I’ve tried to date – Please share your finds in the comments here or in our Facebook group and I will add them to the master list. Clean Conscience – Amazing. Made in Tasmania and this is the ingredient list: Certified Organic Soap Nut Powder, Bicarb-soda, Washing soda, Eucalyptus oil. How’s that for a low tox ingredient list!? Kin Kin - naturals, laundry liquids. Another trust worthy local brand Ecologic – Another straightforward, trustworthy brand. Soap nuts – Some people complain of soap nuts not being very effective and others love them. They’re extremely economical as you can see. A simple, extra boost for your soap nuts washing, is to add a couple of capfuls of hydrogen peroxide 3% to the wash. You can up that to 1/4 cup into the wash for whites. A note on Ecostore laundry products… I find the performance pales in comparison to Aware (by the way, I’m not sponsored to say Aware is awesome. It’s purely off my own bat!) DIY Washing powder You can indeed make your own and this one is an excellent one that I’ve made in the past as is the super simple Wellness Mama one. The ‘washing soda’ in the recipe is lectric soda, available in supermarkets or in bulk ON BLANTS WEBSITE, as is the rest and a glycerine soap, just grab a Dr Bronner glycerine soap from the local health shop or jump online for a fragrance free soap of your finding. What about Borax in DIY laundry powders? If you’re going to use it, be sure it’s naturally derived and not synthetic. Read here. Another great DIY recipe as submitted by a course taker who swears by it 1 bar natural soap, finely grated 1 Cup of washing soda (Lectric Soda) 1/2 Cup salt 1/4 cup citric acid 20ish drops of essential oil (I like lemon)

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Other laundry products Woolwash for sensitive clothes Ecologic again is a lovely, simple brand for delicates. Stain remover Kin Kin stain remover DIY option for stain removers 1. Bicarb soda rubbed into a paste with water and scrubbed onto whites like arm pits and collars, then pop items into a general wash. Great for carpet stains too but don’t leave on overnight for it might lighten the carpet. Just scrub on with a little water. 30 mins, Rinse out and soak up. 2. Dab some eucalyptus oil onto the stain and then wash as normal. Different methods work for different people, fabrics and stains themselves. 3. Use hydrogen peroxide 6% from the pharmacy, diluted 1/2 1/2 water / 6% – For a spot stain on clothing, simply dab onto stain and let it soak there for 5 minutes before continuing with the wash. For a carpet stain (think Red wine) mix a couple of tbsp. each of 6% hydrogen peroxide and dish detergent (Castille soap) and rub into the stain. Blot and rinse and soak up with water and tea towels after it’s had 10 minutes to work some magic. Repeat if needed. Remember: Different fabrics work differently and for delicate fabrics I’d be a little cautious and try a gentle wool wash delicates soak first. Soaker / Whitener Kin Kin from BIOME is wonderful. For a supermarket option, AWARE also does a great one.

Fabric softener I’m not going to let you buy one! It’s a waste of money to buy even a natural one. Super simple option: A 1/2 cup of bicarb soda or 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar at the rinse cycle.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

DIY ‘yummy smelly’ version 2 cups of Epsom salt 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or blend of scents 1/2 cup baking soda What to do: Simply mix the essential oils of your choice in with the Epsom salts. Once those two are mixed, combine your bicarb in there as well. Keep in a jar and use 1/3 cup per wash, about half way through or even from the beginning, it will work well. Washing delicates I use cotton muslin to tie delicates into a pouch to protect them during the wash. Most of those delicates bags are synthetic / plastic bags and not ideal to be swirling around with your clothes – especially in warm or hot water if you’re needing an intensive wash done. Muslin can be purchased online or in a hospitality or fabric store. Grotty uniforms For uniforms, the trick is to not let them fester in a laundry basket for a couple of days. As soon as they’re taken off, you should have a soak bucket that they go into overnight, with a tbsp. aware or a low tox soaker as named above. So there you have it. A simple laundry guide. A note… There are recommendations for mainstream supermarket, DIY and online because there are many people with many different needs, locations and preferences. Choose what sits right with you. If you ‘don’t do any plastic at all’ that’s absolutely fine and I salute you. Different options for different peeps makes it easy for everyone to feel they can make a better choice. We also have some overseas people in the course, thus the mention of international brands. If you’re in Australia of course, it’s always best to see if there’s an Aussie product to avoid carbon miles. Go at your pace. Explore at a depth and level that you feel pumped, not swamped. This is your journey. Day 6 Task Develop your laundry strategy. Choose what you’re going to replace and discover, as you run out of things and decide on essential oils you might want for your home made fabric softener.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Need a good essential oils recommendation? I use Springfields and Young Living and can help you with a Young Living account if you want wholesale pricing – therapeutic grade oils are expensive! 28 8 and DoTerra are wonderful as well. Most important is you look for ‘therapeutic grade’ when choosing essential oils, for their purity and safety to use on skin as well as in cleaning. Which ones to use? Entirely up to you and the scents you enjoy, but for cleaning I love eucalyptus, lemon, rosemary and tea tree for their purifying smells and medicinal cleaning properties. If you have a cleaner, make time to talk him / her through the cleaning changes you’re making and teach them about what the replacements are.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 7: Low Tox Face – Cosmetics, kincare & men’s face & having

Everyone we can get across the line in rethinking their products is a beautiful win! It’s a minefield out there… When talking cosmetics to friends, instead of “Ah, that moisturiser YOU use has parabens. No good” (accusatory tone!) Change instead to saying “So I’ve been researching comsetics because of this odd rash I was getting sometimes (Lie. It makes it less intimidating if you’re coming form a personal challenge) and I discovered THEY were putting things like X and Y and Z in the stuff we buy. Isn’t that crazy? Anyway, if you want I’ve done a bit of research and have found this awesome website XYZ where WE can get safe stuff from that’s still nice looking / smelling etc. (inviting, uniting. feel the difference?) A reality check for us here:

So today, the face! I started out my professional life in cosmetics. I remember being so nervous walking down the Downtown Duty Free steps at The Strand arcade here in

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Sydney to speak with the manager, Cookie. I was healthy for the most part, except for my chronic tonsillitis during the teens, so from high antibiotic use, my liver was most probably already a little weak on the detoxification front. What then ensued was 6 years of pounding my skin with endless amounts of cosmetics, full of nasty ingredients – all very taxing on the liver, trying to constantly detox my body! What’s even worse, is went on to work for the finest French house – Luxury is not exempt, in fact they are just as big a culprit as the cheap toxic stuff. In our staff training sessions, we would always talk about the rare algae of the so and so sea, or the organic extracted collagen or the pure vitamin C or the fact that the formula could penetrate below the epidermis to the dermis (awesome. NOT!) We always talked about the ‘top half’ of the ingredients… Never the bottom half where all the nasties typically lie, such as the endocrine disruptive set of chemicals. Over the years, I met so many women in the industry. On the cosmetic floor it seemed every second woman had a hormonal issue. Endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fertility issues… I’d never heard of such things until then. When I was 22 however, I was diagnosed with PCOS. Something has to give and we have to wake up to the undeniable links between what we’re putting ON us and what is going on with us these days. It’s not right. So, firstly, I want to share with you the last cream I used. Years after leaving cosmetics, I saw that in fact there was no difference between the super expensive creams and the inexpensive creams in terms of performance, so I decided to save the cash. This is what that last cream I used looked like – $21.95 at Priceline:

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

So, if this is you, don’t panic. It was me 6 years ago too! Now, I don’t tend to go through every single ingredient if I want to research a cream. I literally would put it down at the first ‘no no’ I find. This is also not about shaming brands… I find it a more positive experience to find retailers and brands that ARE doing the right thing, and supporting them and shout out about them. Then the changes come from a happy place and you don’t hold onto the negative aspect. The first dodgy ingredient I found was OCTOCRYLENE – A synthetic ingredient, that acts as a UV absorber / filter, which is bio-accumulative in wildlife (therefore in us also) and produces damaging reactive oxygen species upon exposure to the sunlight. (Free radicals. Source. Chemical Maze) If we were to go on, we would find Isopropyl - a petroleum derived alcohol with suspected respiratory, kidney, cardiovascular, liver and neurotoxic concerns (source: chemical maze). We would also find parabens and phenoxyethanol because 1 hormone altering preservative clearly isn’t enough! We would find Alumina – an aluminium compound and suspected neurotoxin and environmental toxin. We would find a list that goes on like so with probably about another 6 harmful ingredients, at a glance and then a few harmless synthetics that certainly don’t come close to making up for anything! Now, my job is not to make you a qualified environmental toxin phd in 30 days – I’m not even one myself! My job is to help you make better decisions and assess risk with ease and source better products. It is NOT to just provide you with a list of safe brands. Critical and curious thinking is a lost art these days, and we’re bringing it back, baby! I want you to look at a product that might come across your desk, or you might see in a supermarket and go “What are those ingredients, who knows but there’s ‘parfum’ so I’m not going near it, because that means it’s hiding pthalates!” So, I won’t be listing more dangerous chemicals and fear mongering with too much time spent on a very long list of scary things we were never meant to put on our skin. You can hop over to Chemical Maze or the EWG site to get additional clarifications you need if in doubt. The stuff we’re avoiding, is all the stuff we’ve already looked at in our perfumes and cleaning products – as well as a whole new lot but generally, one of the big ones will

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation be in something high fox anyway, which means you can stop right there, and not bother trying to decipher anything else. Why harp on the bad stuff? I will add 1 major ingredient though that comes up in face scrubs, body scrubs and cleaning products as some sort of bizarre touted ‘feature’ that we’ve not yet discussed. Microbeads. Microbeads are touted as a scouring / exfoliating ‘active’ but the real story behind them is plastic. Plastic with phthalates and BPA in it often times. Up to 350,000 plastic beads floating over your face – some perhaps even accidentally in your mouth they’re so small – and out through the drain, into the waterways, into the fish, back out of the sea, lightly steamed with ginger and shallots and onto our dinner plates. It’s a big deal! When I was a little girl I lived in Chicago for a time and I’m a little bit patriotic that my home state of Illinois has been the first in the world to ban microbeads. You can read more here to familiarise yourselves with the severity of the situation. So today’s added ingredient learning – the micro bead – is your new No1 ingredient to run a mile from – We’re all going to become very fit as low fox living people aren’t we? Running from everything Your skin care regime should be one thing: SIMPLE. Simple products. Simply made. Enjoyable to use. Great performance. So firstly, let’s talk about some skin complaints that you can fix simply through a few little lifestyle changes – no extra beauty product cost at all! Common skin complaints WRINKLES Your skin has either deep wrinkles from ageing, sun or lack of healthy fats OR fine feathery lines of dehydration from water. Either way, you will go a very long way to turning back the clock simply by remembering to drink water when you are thirsty, and by including ethical animal fats, quality dairy, avocado, coconut oil and nuts in your daily foods. It doesn’t ‘cost’ you this beauty tactic, simply because you would be eating anyway, so there’s no additional beauty ‘cost’ – only benefit!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation DARK CIRCLES Many people are barking up the wrong tree when it comes to dark circles. The 2 most common things they can mean are food intolerances and liver congestion. So, again, this anti-ageing tactic requires you to think about your food and whether your liver might be having a hard time of it. Best you talk to a qualified practitioner for your individual assessment if you’re a ‘dark circles’ person. PUFFINESS The amount of money I used to convince people to spend of deputing the eyes. Three suggested remedies for puffiness include Get more sleep. 2 night’s sleep of 6 hours only, and boom: Big, puffy eyes I get. No mystery, sleep does so much for us and you should get more, and preferably earlier than 11pm so you get the hormone regeneration ‘golden time’ happening. Lie down with 2 cucumber slices on your eyes for 5 mins. They magically depuff and the forced slowdown is beautiful. To alleviate puffy eyes in the morning, rinse your face with very cold water a few times and pat dry. You drastically speed up your ‘I’ve been awake for ages’ look. Now, what you might ‘need’ My beauty routine is super simple and consists of either an oil cleanser or a mild foam cleanser for summer or shower. I then have a couple of moisturisers on the go at any one time, as I like to keep trying different natural offerings and be abreast of the best on offer – I buy all my own cosmetics and skin care to keep my opinions ‘clean’. Chey from Black Chicken sent me a present this week for including her in my recommendations, but I’ve been buying her stuff for 2 years which is exactly why she’s included, if you see what I mean. I’m the one who reaches out to these brands for the giveaways and support in getting the word out – NOT the other way around. Lastly, I make my own scrubs, use mostly coconut oil, Weleda Arnica Massage Oil or Black Chicken Love your body Oil on the body and don’t use an eye cream and haven’t for years. My skin looks better now as a 39 year old woman than it did as a 24 year old. I feel it. I see it. There’s vitality. There’s natural glow. You can’t put a price on those. It’s about ditching the skin pollutants and also feeding the skin properly from the inside out. Then you can build a beauty routine that’s as simple or as layered as you desire – You don’t have to give up an intricate beauty routine if you don’t want to. The choice is yours.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation There are budgets to suit all and the results are ALL good, whichever option you choose.

FOR THE DIY’s Cheapest, simplest any-one-can-benefit-and-afford option Plain coconut oil. Some find it too thick, some enjoy the texture. You can even use it to clean away eye make up at the end of the day! The Low Tox Life is NOT elitist. There’s always something for every budget. DIY Face Cleanser? Honey. Pure, plain, raw honey. Rub it onto your face. Rinse off with warm water. Delicious! DIY face cream “Project” from Robin’s Key – A reliably good site, even though the recipes can be complicated at first as you assemble your ‘skin care pantry’. If you’re the ‘make your own’ everything type of person, you’ll enjoy it! If you’re pregnant and worried about essential oils, read here. Thanks to Chey from Black Chicken Remedies for writing it! DIY Face mist / toner – Click here DIY Simple foam cleanser – Click here I’ve made near identical things to all of the above and they’re great, easy and low cost! If you fancy sticking to low cost but buying something fabulous every one and then these are for you! LOW COST / MEDIUM COST LOW TOX BEAUTY Here is a range of brands, both Australian and from overseas as there are people around the world reading this now. There are budgets to suit everyone, and just remember – this is NOT a competition to see who can buy the most stuff. If anything we’re trying to move AWAY from thinking we need loads of stuff. It’s simply a list to help you begin exploring new, low tox options, whatever your budget. If you’re specifically after a range of Australian brands, BIOME has many, many to choose from. UK

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Check out this fabulous site I’ve spent time screening. Great brands. Full ingredient disclosure so you don’t get caught out!

Australia Online Just click on the coloured links below to check these favourites out. (Now not all the products are Australian. It’s up to you, your preferences and I’m simply presenting a few options you might want to explore.) Lavera Cleansing Gel / Milk – Normal to oily skin Weleda Gentle Cleansing Milk – Normal to Dry

100% Pure – Foaming Cleansers – Normal to Oily skin Acure Facial Cleansing cream – Normal to Dry / sensitive TONERS A lovely 2 in 1 cleanser / toner from Weleda for normal to combination skin. Super well priced and delicious Rose toner from Andalou naturals

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation 100% Pure Toner (although in all honesty, if budget is of a concern. Toner can be the first thing to go.)

EYES 100% Pure Eye cream (that everyone goes crazy over including the Kate Hudsons of the world!)

Rose Hip Rich C Eye Oil FACE Sanctum Face Cream Acure Face Cream Wild Rose Smoothing by Weleda or the Pomegranate range for firming!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

And this range which I discovered recently, by a lovely woman down in Victoria, who hand makes skin care with beef tallow – For any primal living people out there, this is a beautiful, reasonably priced product that lasts and lasts. And this range “pure and Green” an awesome 100% Australian Made range, endorsed by Planet Ark and Palm Oil free. Very reasonable.

MATURE SKIN This stunning new Evening Primrose range from Weleda is something I just gifted my mum a couple of products from. The scent is intoxicating – I kept the body oil for myself. Sorry mum!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Super young skin & problem skin (acne) And for teen girls wanting to ‘grow up’ too fast – This cleanser by Harmonis Kiss! Gorgeous and natural.

A range of Acne suitable products from Nourished Life, that perform well. Note – If you have persistent acne, you’ll be more likely to get results from removing all toxins and cleaning up the diet to a low grain / low sugar diet and support your hormones. See a naturopath for guidance, rather than just trying to fix it with a cream and a zit stick!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Super young skin & problem skin (eczema / psoriosis) may benefit form this beautiful cocooning new-ish Weleda range, The White Mallow range.

Sanctum does a pimple spot cream that people are getting good results from SENSITIVE SKIN For a friendly budget yet beautiful performance and wonderful comfort to sensitive skin, the Almond range from Weleda A little more ex-y yet gorgeous also, the Vanessa Megan range from Nourished Life

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

LUXE PRESENTS TO SELF Still far less expensive than luxury skincare prices, so again the myth that ‘low tox is a more expensive way to live’ is BUSTED! Pai Cleanser Black Chicken Remedies Purifying Face Oil Black Chicken Remedies ICU Intensive Eye Serum Black Chicken Remedies Love your face serum

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Dr Alkaitis Eye Cream – Another award winner and if I were to use an eye cream again, this would be it! Except I don’t TREATMENT PRODUCTS This is a stunning serum, the La Mav Vitamin C serum, I must say – Reminiscent of the performance of the Guerlain and Kenzo products I used to represent many moons ago – minus all the hormone bending weirdness! Cacao Revelation Mask, Black Chicken Remedies – Chocolate on your face while you have a bath – I’m not sure that there’s anything better than that, except eating chocolate perhaps!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

The only “I MUST HAVE AT ALL TIMES” treatment product I use these days outside of moisturiser and cleanser is this complexion polish from Black Chicken. It is the bestest thing. Baby smooth 39 year old skin? Yes please! TRAVEL SETS These work well as ‘hint gifts’ to mums, friends and sisters to introduce them to how good low tox skincare can be – Just saying Black Chicken Remedies and Dr Alkalatis are both high performance, beautiful product ranges.

Men’s Shaving & Skin The best 3 natural shaving products & creams I’ve come across for gents with feedback from my husband, Dad and other male friends are Weleda Men’s Shaving Cream (Great for UK availability too!)

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation DINDI Shaving soap – Beautiful when used with this natural shaving brush

Sanctum Men’s face cream Then, while we’re at it, this super affordable men’s moisturiser ‘SANCTUM’ that’s phenoxyethanol free (along with being free from all the other nasties. It’s just rather rare to come across a men’s P free one on top of the rest!) Or my husband’s favourite the Weleda men’s intensive face cream

And for your bearded man? There’s even luxury beard oil these days!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation And there are so, so many more products that I’ve not tried that look beautiful that are all wonderfully low tox! Many of these natural brands not only provide natural nontoxic skincare, but you’ll find that their packaging is recyclable, less toxic plastics, foil tubing or glass is used where possible. If you start adventuring online, past the two retailers I recommend as not giving us any surprises – Nourished Life and Biome… Then watch out for people that don’t freely list ingredients. I’ve ordered shampoo from several ‘green sites’ before, and they arrived with a fake fragrance and phenoxyethanol to name one faux pas. If I don’t get to see the ingredients online, I don’t buy it. Simple. Send enquiry emails to ensure you’re getting what you want and repeat after me this mantra: Simplify, don’t complicate. If anything this is not about spending MORE, but deciding exactly what you need, and buying less, but better, non-toxic quality. AND it doesn’t break the bank. Bonus, right? Day 7 viewing – My Chats with two awesome people in the low tox life. David Johnston, Managing Director of Weleda Australia. Weleda was the first low tox brand I started using for its affordability and delicious smell. Only later did I learn to what extent this brand’s integrity goes with its sourcing, ethics and agriculture philosophy. I really enjoyed picking David’s brain on Weleda. He’s a top guy who’s even doing the course with us, as he insisted the whole office pay to do it – How’s that for a work place? Alexx chats to David – Video https://youtu.be/PKN01AxP6jI Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/David- Johnston.pdf Chey Birch, creator of one of my favourite skin ranges, Black Chicken Remedies. The Healing Balm of Ages is a one of a kind curative product for body AND soul. Enjoy my chat with Chey on her range, and on the power of essential oils. Alexx chats to Chey – Video https://youtu.be/DDcs2ywcqN8 Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-Black- Chicken-Remedies.pdf Day 7 Suggested Task

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Commit to simplifying your skincare products. Do you really need everything you’ve been using? My skin never looked better than when I went low tox and used a few, beautiful, natural and simple products that don’t cost the earth. • Decide on what you’re going to toss, buy and what you’re going to make yourself. • When tossing things, be sure to squeeze the rest out if you’re not going to be using it, and put through the recycling, NOT in the regular bin. • Those of you who’ve been into the natural beauty for a while now, or any DIY’ers, feel free to share recipes that you love and brands you trust. The lists above are simply what I’ve tried myself or gifted to my sister of mum over the past few years and had a little try of theirs. We all know the low tox playing field now, so no fake smells (‘parfum’), hormone altering preservatives such as parabens or phenoxyethanol or Triclosan (which in the skin care realm is sometimes in antibacterial washes like phisohex and acne skin care ranges.) These are the major things to check first. If you’re confused or unsure – call the company and ask or look up ingredients on the EWG site or in your Chemical Maze App. You can also take a picture of the ingredients and post on the group page. Want to read more? Toxic Beauty is a confronting yet good book below. A great resource when researching if something is safe or not when you’re not sure is SKIN DEEP from the EWG.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

A last little ‘yay’ from me for today – Companies will stop making what people stop buying, so your changes and those of others as they discover this information too, will be a truly grass roots reshaping of the beauty product industry. Here’s to a happy, low tox face and a happier planet. Make up, body, sun care, self tan are all coming up! Alexx

Day 8: BODY: Scrubs, lotions, uncare and elf tanning

Our limbs are long and that’s a whole lotta surface area to be soaking up toxins, with today’s group of products under the microscope. Remember from my chat with Chey from Black Chicken, that one drop of lavender oil on the skin registers with the liver in 20 minutes. So, when you think about all the other stuff potentially going on our skin and registering with the liver, well, it’s no question that we want to keep it all super ‘clean’ and minimise the work load of our

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation toxin sorting machine – our liver. There’s only so much one liver can do and when the liver’s had enough, we hear about it through many, many possible symptoms around many parts of the body. SO… For body lotions and scrubs, it’s a matter of applying what you’ve learnt, and choosing better. It’s all the same nasties for this category so there’s nothing ‘new’ to learn per se. Look out for fake fragrances and micro beads when it comes to the scrubs, as well as triclosan, parabens, phenoxyethanol. If the budget is super tight but you want to get started on a low tox body regime today, the DIY and coconut oil options are cheap as chips! Phase out don’t freak out, and perhaps make a little birthday wish list for your family to treat you to a few things when that time comes. No more fake scented candles for you, thank you!

BODY WASH & SOAPS You can head to local markets these days to find great, super low tox and often hand made local brands to do. A great regular around Australian markets, are the Lemon Myrtle soaps and body washes. They’re delicious. You’ll no doubt discover your own local soap maker near you! Sanctum’s Body wash is lovely. Used it on my travels last year. Yummy!

The Weleda Lavender soap is a before bed shower ritual in this house. Love it and it lasts without getting ‘squooshy’. They’ve a whole range of soaps and bath gels well worth deciding which plant vibe appeals to you best!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Body Scrubs I have two delicious DIY body scrubs which you can whip up so, so quickly. These are also perfect for Christmas gifts if you want to save money and give a gift from the heart! Lemon Coconut Caramel Body Scrub And my infamous Coffee Body Scrub – the smell is so, so good! You can grab spent coffee grounds from your local cafe to use so this virtually costs nothing!

Need a scrub for stubborn cellulite? Weleda has you covered with the treatment scrub Birch Body Scrub – under $20 too. Can you believe the wraught of those $150

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation luxury scrubs I used to pedal 15 years ago in Luxury cosmetics? I cringe… Invest the additional money in organic vegetables and meats and watch everything change! Body Lotions For body lotions you can simply use coconut oil for an inexpensive and completely toxic free option. Pro tip: In the winter, just bring the jar into the shower with you to soften / melt the oil for applying afterwards. You’re welcome! You could also use argan or avocado oils which are both great, simple options. DIY… You could make your own whipped body butter from my blog or check out the Wellness Mama’s recipe for another version. Check out the 100% Pure range from Nourished Life.

BIOME also has a beautiful range of Australian made low tox options at various price points to check out here! And the Vanessa Megan Body Cream is literally delicious, if you like cocoa & coconut vibes for your body!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Weleda’s citrus body lotion is fresh and divine.

Massage Oils The first low tox product I ever got, was gifted to me by my auntie from Paris. Weleda Arnica Massage oil. I was and still am obsessed with the smell and find it deeply comforting and therapeutic. The Evening primrose oil is wonderful too. I particularly

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation love these because they’re in glass bottles – less expensive recycling for the ‘circle of life’ factor.

A lovely Aussie massage oil is the Ikou range and the Black Chicken Body oil from my chat with Chey – so good! – from BIOME.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation And if you have SUPER dry or SUPER cracked skin, Weleda’s SKIN FOOD is one of the best things ever – An unchanged formulation since 1926 – They sure have the right idea. Why ‘improve’ something with a bunch of harsh chemicals???

Healing Balm of Ages by Black Chicken. Another wonderful super dry or cracked skin product.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation You’ll notice a pattern with my using very few brands and it’s true. Over time and learning more and more I’ve realised all the fancy ingredients amount to about as much as the chemicals lumped in with them. As I simplified my products and started throwing some DIY in the mix, I saved money and started buying from people that made me feel good – inside and out! It just feels right to support Chey making it all by hand down the south coast and a hundred year old brand like Weleda, harvesting plants at their most nourishing, guided by biodynamic principals and keeping things affordable for people… And the ingredient lists are the shorted of so many low tox brands these days. It’s also meant I stop being on the hunt for the ‘newest and latest’ launches out there and stop ‘buying into having to buy’ new things. Simple, reliable staples that are delicious, and then on with spending more time on other things than hunting through cosmetic departments for hours and getting a headache! DO YOU BUY INTO HAVING TO BUY? SUNSCREEN AND SELF TAN For sunscreen and self tan, there’s a little more new stuff to learn. I caught whiff of just how shocking an amount of chemicals there are in your average sunscreen, when it came time to buying one for my then 6 month old son about 5 years ago. This was what I initially bought. How this stuff is allowed onto shelves to protect us from cancer, when certain ingredients in the bottle have been linked to causing it, I have no idea. But hey, we learn, we say no, and we vote with our dollars to seek out the better option. Here’s what you can expect to find in what we’re NOT using from now on… • Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) is one of the most frequently used chemical UV filters worldwide. OMC easily penetrates the upper layer of the skin and, when exposed to UV radiation, generates free radicals in skin cells. • Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), octyl-dimethyl-PABA and octinoxate – all hormone disrupting. • 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) Laboratory tests on rats exposed to 4- MBC revealed that male rats born to mothers exposed to this compound had lower testis weight, experienced delayed puberty and decreased adult prostate

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation weight. Human trials found that both OMC and 4-MBC were readily absorbed through the skin and were detectable in urine. • Padimate O (2-ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoate ), when exposed to sunlight, generates free radicals that cause strand breaks on DNA. • Fragrance chemicals – There are usually around a dozen in a bottle, all of which heavily knock us about with hormone alteration It doesn’t stop there, and there’s a list twice as long, but rather than wallow in the depression of how horrific the average sunscreen is, let’s look at which ones aren’t. Let’s also emphasise here that not wearing sunscreen if you’re a sun lover, in Australia isn’t a great option either. Our sun is hotter and harsher, I can tell you that 100%, compared to European or American sun. We need protection if we’re out in the sun in the middle of the day for more than 10-15 minutes, the question simply is, WHAT? ECO is my favourite brand for texture and performance. Pop through here to grab it. Finally a natural sunscreen that you don’t have to ‘suffer through’. While it’s definitely more expensive than mainstream options, if more of us buy it, it will eventually bring costs down. I’ve contacted the company also to consider making a bulk pump or bulk packaging of some kind for families and schools – I’ll keep you posted on that front! There’s also the Dr Mercola sunscreen from Iherb but I caution you on the Sodium Benzoate which can be a skin irritant to some people.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation There are more natural options popping up. Investigate if you fancy and feel free to share. Key also is to not over protect to the point where you cause deficiency or even Rickets (a bone weakening caused by Vitamin D deficiency in small children.) So you tell me too much sun and I’m skin cancer prone, and too little sun and I might get Rickets? Great. Not. What’s the balance? Allow yourself a little splash of sun on bare skin for at least your legs and arms, for 20-30 minutes, 10 minutes if really fair and make sure this isn’t smack bang in the middle of the day (10-3.30). We need vitamin D for so many of our body’s functions – including synthesising fructose in the summer when more fruit is around (don’t you find that amazing? Nature always knows). Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating sunburn or long term sun exposure, unprotected. It’s just a fact that short amounts of sun exposure keep our D levels healthy, so as long as you keep to the morning or late afternoon sun and limit time to 20 minutes in those off peak times, this is a perfectly natural and common sense practice. D deficiency is rife and can affect hormones and metabolism – Not good! Then, for the middle of the day, there’s natural sunscreen. Natural sunscreen will give you all the benefits of providing protection and prevention, without having the burden of the chemical cocktail, absorbed into our skin. If money’s tight, it’s better to protect with light, full cover clothing and a good hat, and use a natural sunscreen when you really need it or for the face and ears, than it is to settle for the cheap, chemical laden variety and slap it on all the time. Swimming tops with sleeves are great for minimising sun cream use for kids and making that tube stretch further! BUT I TRULY CAN’T AFFORD THIS PRICE ALEXX! There are 2 DIY options – Cyndi O’Meara from Changing Habits has a great SPF 20 DIY sunscreen. This one is also DIY and great value once you have all the ingredients. An alumni of this course, Michelle, actually made the latter and costed it out at $13 for 210ml – A big saving on eco brands if you’re prepared to make it yourself. Home Made Sunscreen Recipe/Full ingredient listing: http://wellnessmama.com/2558/homemade- sunscreen/ Ingredients I chose (see recipe for all options): • 1/2 cup almond oil (125ml)

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • 1/4 cup coconut oil (62.5ml) • 1/4 cup (loosely packed) beeswax yellow beads (approx 25g) • 2 Tablespoons Zinc Oxide(approx 28g) • 1 teaspoon Carrot Seed Oil (5ml) • 1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E oil(2.5ml) • 1 tablespoons Shea Butter (approx 15g) Ingredient Brand used Purchased from Packaging size Price Unit Price Batch cost Sweet Almond Oil Melrose Health Food Shop 250ml $9.00 $0.036/ml $4.50 Unrefined Coconut Oil Macro Organic Woolworths 300ml $7.00 $0.024/g $1.50 Beeswax (yellow beads) N Essentials N Essentials 250g $15.45 $0.062/g $1.55 Zinc Oxide Powder N Essentials N Essentials 500g $13.64 $0.028/g $0.79 Carrot Seed Oil N Essentials N Essentials 30ml $19.50 $0.65/ml $3.25 Vitamin E Oil Invite E Chemist Warehouse 30ml $17.00 $0.56/ml $1.40 Shea Butter (unrefined) N Essentials N Essentials 500g $16.36 $0.033/g $0.50 TOTAL COST PER BATCH $13.49 Initial ingredient outlay $97.95 (YIKES lucky I had ¾ of it already!) Batch cost $13.49 – Made approx 210g 1 x 3/4 body application (wearing a one piece with shorts) used 16g Therefore: approx 13 applications per batch. N Essentials website (based in Melbourne) – http://www.n-essentials.com.au/ (500g-1kg order = approx $10 postage.. well to regional Qld anyway!) FOOD TIP: A diet of whole foods is naturally more protective. There is plenty of research around it and I myself noticed the difference when ditching the vegetable oils for healthy, saturated fats like avocado, coconut oil and grass fed butter through my cooking. Nature knows best!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation And if you don’t want to get in the sun but you want a glow and a couple of shades darker in the summer time? Then you might like a little helping hand in the tan and glow department. Problem is those are often an absolute shocker in the fragrance, chemically departments too. Santorini was my favourite brand, but it seems with a formula change they started using phenoxyethanol – we have to remain vigilant always! ECO TAN is another great brand. The “winter skin” 2 in 1 moisturiser and gradual colour developer is great for fair skin. If you’re after a little more colour and have a medium to olive skin tone, go for the Eco Tan Invisible Tan.

BB & CC Creams are a wonderful tint for the face also to gift some colour without needing the tan. These two are excellent: Lavera BB Cream

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation La Mav BB Cream

Geek out… Want to learn more about toxic sunscreens? Further reading backed by numerous study citations, which I have verified. Also a link to an extensive exploration of nano technology by the EWG. http://www.naturalnews.com/032815_sunscreen_chemicals.html http://www.novamagazine.com.au/article_archive/2008/08_12_toxicsunscreen.htm http://www.ewg.org/nanotechnology-sunscreens And there you have it – The body & sun protection is sorted. Enjoy deciding on what to try when next you need something – Remember to use your birthdays and Christmases and share wish lists and sites to get you vouchers from – This is a great way to fast track your transition if you’re on a budget!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 9: The Antibacterial Myth – Are we ‘too clean’?

At this point you might have started to panic and say: Oh. My. Gosh. Everything is toxic! Firstly, just remember that even in the 9 days since starting, you’ve probably removed about 60 known carcinogens and environmental stressors from your home and by not buying those products again, from the planet too. Amazing. It can be all too easy to start obsessive compulsive patterns by getting extremely particular about things and worrying all the time about ‘everything’ killing you. If you feel yourself going there, relax. Remind yourself of what you’ve achieved. Be mindful as the need to replace things comes about and choose better next time when it comes to big ticket items. Let go of the notion of perfection. Our world is not black and white, and we must be content with growing our circle of influence in our home, with our daily choices out and about and with family and friends on this journey as that is already a big, awesome deal! Now, today’s topic is a good one! And I’d love to start with a great chat with Liezel Barnard, Naturopath. We have a wonderful chat about ‘fear of bacteria’. She’s also the in house naturopath for Weleda, and I quizzed her on her best products for super sensitive or eczema prone skin and fortifying the skin barrier. I also pinned her down about cellulite – just as a tangent that I know a lot of people battle with! I made the most of the interview for us, don’t you worry Alexx chats to Liezel Barnard – Video https://youtu.be/0nYp-oIlYc4 Or sound cloud for taking your interview on a walk! https://soundcloud.com/ alexx_stuart/alexx-chats-to-liezel-barnard Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Liezel- Barnard.pdf Bacteria For a long time it’s been a dirty word. It was truly a miracle to be finally able to kill deadly bacteria that threatened lives when penicillin was introduced in the late 1930s. Many infant deaths prevented. Many infections from simple burns and cuts, stopped from turning into life threatening situations. Many experts were confident the tide had turned in the war against bacterial infections. Indeed, in 1969, the then US

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Surgeon General, William Stewart, boldly told the US Congress it was time to “…close the books on infectious diseases.” This glorification of antibiotics gave birth to tendency t0 use antibiotics for every little ailment as well as giving rise in popularity to the notion that ‘all germs were bad’ and that we had to ‘kill bacteria’. What happened as our obsession with killing bacteria grew? We started to kill not just the harmful pathogenic bacteria but the good guys as well and man, there are LOTS of good guys. We need them. It might surprise you to learn as it did me, that we humans have more bacteria cells than we do human cells in us. We are 90% bacteria and 10% human cells. So it stands to reason that we make bacteria a top priority to understand better and ensure we get the balance right in both our environment outside and inside the body, as well as protecting the good bacteria and treating them like VIPs. In the simplest of terms, I like to divide the types of good and bad bacteria into ‘good guys and bad guys’. Our skin, guts and colons have a whole bunch of good guys living on them – We don’t even realise they’re there most of the time. Their job is to hang out, kind of like army reserves, cruising and enjoying the day until pathogenic ‘bad guys’ come along. Our good guys are our first line of defense, and if we have them there ready and in abundance, they will attack the bad guys and say ‘no way are you going to take over our peaceful, happy home we’ve got going on.’ What weakens and depletes our good guys? Bad foods – refined carbohydrates, sugar, alcohol, pesticides. They are the bad guys’ favourite foods and thus can easily upset the balance of good vs bad on and in our bodies. Antibacterial obsession – The large group of products that have antibacterial agents. Antibiotics without rehabilitation to restore gut population vigilantly after treatment, AND treatment when it’s truly needed, rather than being handed out like lollies at a party (which of course also deplete good bacteria! Of course. ) What’s the big deal about our ‘good guys’ anyway? Does it really make a big difference? Well, short answer yes. Big time. Our gut isn’t just our gut and our skin isn’t just our skin.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Our skin is the fastest route to our blood stream Our gut holds the key to nutrient absorption quality for our whole body. Our gut is where 80% of our immune system is powdered – if our good guys aren’t fighting the good fight for us, the bad guys take over and wreak havoc that can span from either gas or bloating, to infections, to autoimmune disease and more. Our gut is our second brain – The connection between the two is so great, that if we don’t keep our good guys happy and in abundance, we can experience anything from depression, to bipolar, to anxiety, to Alzheimer’s, now being called ‘type 3 diabetes’ So, no more of this ridiculous killing of the good guys. The world is not a sterile place. Let’s stop wishing it were, to the detriment of our health! Washing hands and wiping surfaces with simple, non-toxic cleaning products is the only daily antibacterial task you need to undertake vigilantly. That doesn’t need hard core chemicals like bleach, alcohol and triclosan to do the job. Remember soap? Simple soap? Clinically proven to do just as good a job as any of the hard core hand washes and ‘antibacterial home hands free systems’ (!?!?!) of today. The two major ‘antibacterial’ agents in popular hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps? Benzalkonium Chloride – Petroleum derived and a known irritant reported to cause asthma, dermatitis, eye and skin irritation and nervous system issues. What’s it also in? Asthma inhalers!!!!!! The world has gone mad. Triclosan – Just to recap. A petroleum derived chemical that can off gas chloroform when mixed with liquids (!!) and can cause skin, eyes and lung irritation, immune system disfunction along with being an environmental toxin. My dad was recommended by his doctor, Phisohex to wash his face and body in the shower with a whopping 1% Triclosan when he had a small bacterial skin infection. Steam + water + dad always had a cold or cough despite great diet???? Love me a bit of chloroform poisoning, don’t you? Couldn’t find the bin fast enough for that one! Another thing to watch out for when it comes to Triclosan, is this symbol above. You may come across this product symbol in your travels. ‘Microban‘ is code for triclosan and is often found in things like ‘mould resistant’ paint, varnishes, sponges, wash cloths and even products like sheets and mattresses. It is definitely one to watch out for and avoid.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation To sum up, overuse of antibacterial products can cause our natural good bacteria depletion, not just the bad bacteria which over time can lead to superbugs and antibiotic resistance. That is the big picture reason to stop worrying so much about bacteria. Losing all the other chemicals from fake fragrances and other stuff in the process of ditching the antibacterial frenzy? That’s just a sweet, sweet bonus. So, as always, onto solutions! My top tips for building the good germs back up on and inside us? 1. Stop using antibacterial products with harsh chemicals like the above two that also impact the environment. Simple non toxic cleaning sprays, gentle soaps and and natural cosmetic products are all we need to keep bad guys at bay in our homes. 2. Stop using harsh personal care products that upset the balance of your skin. If you’ve acne or hormonal issues these are best fixed from the INSIDE out with an expert practitioner (I’d suggest naturopath / nutritionist combined and am trying to dig up a holistic dermatologist for more wisdom on this to share with the community as I know this affects many, many people!) 3. Reduce refined carbohydrate / sugar in your diet. If you think that means ‘no treats’, I just happen to have written a book full of Real Treats! #shamelessplug 4. Increase your intake of cultured foods. I have a great beginners’ post on the subject on my blog. Cultured veggies are brilliant because they contain so many different strains of good guys, whereas a probiotic will usually only ever have 8-12 on the better end of the practitioner quality products. If you do want a good probiotic however to start building your good army, I love the Health Force ones – A multi-pronged approach to giving you good guys as well as food the good guys want so they have a greater chance of settling in and getting rid of the bad guys. Kefir is probably the easiest cultured product you could start incorporating too, if you were going to start making something at home! With cultured food introduction I will say this: Start small and increase quantities over time. You will be causing a ‘killing of the bad guys’ by growing your good guy army and that can, errr, make you clear a room if you go too fast with your blast (can’t resist a good pun!) So a teaspoon for a day, then twice a day, then each meal, then a tablespoon then a tablespoon with each meal… then a couple of big sips of kefir in the mornings… Slow and steady increase to avoid ill

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation effects of ‘die off’ of the bad guys. If you’re in Sydney keep an eye out for my absolute favourite store bought cultured veggies Kitsa’s Kitchen. So now that we know to stop scrubbing down our skin with harsh antibacterial stuff and start filling our tummies with good guys, we’ll be back to balance in no time! This has tremendous impact on our natural ability to fight infections, as well as our overall health. If you’re interested in just how critical gut health and having abundant ‘good guys’ is to our health, I recommend Dr Natasha Campbell McBride’s books.

As for products now that we’ve debunked this antibacterial myth and exposed the dangers of wiping out all the bacteria? Soap – Why not support a small, local handmade soap from a market or online? I love these Hemp soaps or these beautiful handmade small batch soaps or these luxurious liquid hand / body soaps. These are local Aussie soaps and all palm oil and nasties free.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation You also have a whole page of various priced and naturally fragranced soaps from Nourished Life HERE. – The Squeakie natural sanitizer is the one we use when out and about if things get grotty, to avoid having to use the chemically hand washes in public bathrooms – Why, oh why are they fluorescent pink!? Remember to resist the urge to sanitize everything. Just use as you’d use to ‘wash hands’ when out and about before meals or if leaving a playground to avoid passing on colds from other children. And then there’s the gorgeous Calendula soap from Weleda. Super gentle for sensitive skin and little people. This was our baby bath soap when the little man was a baby. Memories! If you need another sanitiser option for on the go, use a natural hand sanitizer like this lavender or peppermint one. It’s awesome and tiny, so it fits easily in a bag on the run, with kids… No triclosan needed, thank you very much and perfect to finish a visit to the kiddy park! There are so many other natural and palm oil free soaps in the BIOME range. Got pets who need a wash? Dr Bronner’s Castille Soaps are awesome, diluted in water and scrubba dub dub for a non-toxic pet washing experience!

Once again, if you’ve found something great in your area, feel free to share! You’re all good detectives now. Resist the urge to just ask me to look – I won’t be there forever and the whole point of going deep into information on various harmful

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation ingredients, is so that you can independently assess whether something makes the low tox cut for you or not. And as always, find something local to you and celebrate it – I always love buying a soap or bath salt from a local artisan when I see a new one at the markets and gifting it for the next birthday. Day 9 Task 1. Weed out any toxic antibacterial products you might have lying around. 2. Decide on your replacement strategy – more often than not, you actually just don’t need to buy them! 3. Make note of what you will replace things with, when you next need them. 4. Ditch toxic pet wash products. Done.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 10: Personal Hygiene – Pits, time of the month, exy time

A broad topic that I’m going to separate into a few sub topics. Let’s start with a topic that applies to both men and women. Deodorant. Dr Peter Dingle, PHD in environmental toxicology says the number one indoor air pollutant in your home is deodorant spray. Yep. *Cue tossing of deodorant sprays across the world as we speak*. But my deodorant is the only one that works… But all natural ones have failed… Read on. Trust me. Let’s build the case for why today, is the last day you’ll use that toxic can of badness. These simple, concise ingredient break downs come to us courtesy of Natural Cosmetic News. Aluminum Aluminum based compounds are the element that makes an anti-perspirant do what it says. Some research has suggested that these aluminum compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause changes in estrogen receptors of breast cells. Because estrogen can promote the growth of both cancer and non-cancer breast cells, some scientists have suggested that using the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. Studies have looked at aluminum content of breast tissue, and aluminum absorption through the skin, but no clear link to breast cancer has been made. Researchers continue to look at this possible breast cancer risk factor and more studies are needed. (American Cancer Society) The way it works as an antiperspirant? The aluminum ions are taken into the cells that line the eccrine-gland ducts at the opening of the epidermis, the top layer of the skin, says dermatologist Dr. Eric Hanson of the University of North Carolina’s Department of Dermatology. When the aluminum ions are drawn into the cells, water passes in with them. As more water flows in, the cells begin to swell, squeezing the ducts closed so that sweat can’t get out… Does that freak anyone else out just to read it?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Parabens Parabens in their many forms (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben) are a class of artificial preservatives widely used in cosmetics and personal care products that are being investigated for their possible role in breast cancer. Parabens mimic the activity of estrogen in the body. Since estrogen promotes the growth of breast cancer cells and a woman is eight times more likely to develop breast cancer in the part of the breast closest to the underarm, scientists are studying the connection. Although parabens have estrogen-like properties, the estrogens that are made in the body are hundreds of times stronger. So, natural estrogens (or those taken as hormone replacement) are much more likely to play a role in breast cancer development. Propylene Glycol Propylene glycol—a humectant which means it keeps substances from drying out, and it was originally developed as an anti-freeze, but is now included in some deodorants and antiperspirants – oh, and many commercial ice creams! It is a neurotoxin known to cause contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver damage. In propylene glycol’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), published by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, workers are urged to avoid skin contact with the toxic chemical as it may cause eye and skin irritation, gastrointestinal irritation and discomfort, nausea, headache, vomiting, and central nervous depression. TEA & DEA TEA and DEA (triethanolamine and diethanolamine) adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. They both could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time where DEA can cause liver and kidney damage and TEA can cause allergic reactions. These chemicals are already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic (cancer-causing) effects. Triclosan Here he is again – getting rid of all those ‘harmful bacteria, hey? – Triclosan is an artificial antimicrobial chemical used to kill bacteria on the skin and other surfaces. Triclosan is a skin irritant and may cause contact dermatitis. Recent studies suggest this chemical may disrupt thyroid function and other critical hormone systems. The

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation American Medical Association recommends that triclosan and other “antibacterial” products not be used in the home, as they may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics that can allow resistant strains to flourish. FD&C colors FD&C colours are artificial/synthetic colours approved by the FDA for food, drug and cosmetics. Some are made from coal tar derivatives and have known to be carcinogenic; they also often cause allergic skin reactions. Talc Talc, hydrous magnesium silicate, is a soft mineral used in personal care products as an absorbent and colour additive. It is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer if it contains asbestiform fibers. The quantity of asbestiform fibers in cosmetic grade talc is unregulated. If talc is listed on the label, there is no way of knowing whether or not it contains asbestiform fibres, therefore there is no way we’re using it, right? Is it any wonder our bodies revolt eventually with allergies, inflammation and even possibly cancer, when one of the most permeable parts of our skin is pumped with the above list of chemicals every day? Once again, it’s crazy to think how we might have got here. I hear you though, you don’t want to stink. I don’t either! I’ve used natural deodorant, fragrance free for 3 years now, and no synthetic fragrance skin care or bath / shower care of any kind. When I went to Tasmania on a business trip recently, I forgot my soap. I had to use the hotel’s, and I firmly believe in a 90 / 10 vibe, so I was really relaxed about it: Out of my control, just this one time, move on… BUT, what ensued was terrible BO on conference speaking engagement day – delightful! I can assure you it wasn’t. I hadn’t had BO for a couple of years so it was really unsettling and I felt super self-conscious. So, the moral of the story? These synthetic fragrances could actually be causing some of the BO you might get, yet we ironically reach for heavier fragranced products to cover up the excessive BO. Where’s the logic? Yet another reason to explore the natural options.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

So what’s going to be strong enough? I have 3 tried and tested options for you that all work really well and are free from nasties! Miessence Fragrance Free

Fresca Unscented

Axilla Deodorant Paste, Black Chicken Remedies

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Axilla rates best for intensive sports and men from public reviews. NOTE: To apply, you don’t need to rub it in aggressively. The bicarb ingredient in it might prove irritating if you do that. Just hold it to your underarm for a few seconds to soften with the temperature, and gently rub in. Chey has even created a blog post for those who experience the odd irritation. Unisex Weleda Sage Deodorant

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation But there is no way I’m going to spend upwards of $10 for a deodorant. What can I do? Fair enough. The good news is there are several reportedly effective home DIY hobbies in the land of not being too stinky! A slice of citrus wiped under the arm. Plain and simple. A bit of bicarb soda & tapioca / corn starch / flour ‘mix’ (be sure to use an aluminum free bicarb for under the arm!) What to do? Mix 1 teaspoon bicarb with 5 tsp tapioca flour or organic / non GMO corn flour well and pop in a jar. Splash a little under your arms after the morning shower. Many report this working for them for a day, sometimes even two! For a scented version, pop a scraped out ‘spent’ vanilla bean you’ve used for cooking, into the jar to have vanilla bean deodorant! Coconut oil. Now, a disclaimer here, this doesn’t work for me. BUT, many say it does, so I’m just sharing all the low cost options out there in case you want to work through them. A great deodorant paste recipe here if you fancy having a go yourself. And, to reduce body odor overall, consider an arm pit detox – yes there is such a thing!

Low Tox Waxing Most commercial waxes tout their ‘hypoallergenic’ and ‘plant based’ claims, but most with have either a fragrance, or a palm oil ingredient, or a preservative like phenoxyethanol or parabens… It’s a mine field. Apply what you’ve learnt and if you’re feeling brave to make your own, go out and buy some 100% organic cotton white fabric and these basic ingredients and make your own. HOME MADE WAX RECIPE 1 HOME MADE WAX RECIPE 2

Low Tox Down Under for couples – Sexy time! Now, on the topic of getting intimate. I’m not meaning to offend anyone who doesn’t use contraceptives or intimacy related products for personal or religious reasons at all

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation here. Please move down the page if this is sensitive for you in any way. Lots of people are looking for all sorts of natural alternatives during their low tox life changes and I want to share this for those of you this will be useful too. Firstly, hormone replacement / fiddling contraception is a big no no for the low tox life, I’m sad to say for those still using it. You are not only fiddling with your long term hormone health, but also with your gut health, as the pill affects the gut flora too! I would see a naturopath and discuss a strategy for coming off it and the best alternatives for you moving forward. Condoms This condom recommendation is in fact so old school that we go back to 19th Century and prior contraception technique: Lambskin condoms. The only fully natural condoms to my knowledge. Note: These are only recommended for monogamous partners, as they are not STD preventative, and only contraceptive in their effectiveness. The good news is that they are as effective as other condoms, so there’s no issue there other than the 2% risk associated across all condoms. Of course, as with many things eco, the lambskin variety are 3 times the price! You and your partner are worth it though, right? Vegans are in a predicament here obviously with the lambskin, but Glyde in the USA is worth a look. You could also consider a diaphragm which is most often made from pure silicon and reasonably low tox. For personal lubricant, Sylke comes up as being the most natural. Oh man, everything feels like a pun while I’m writing this section! Anyone else noticing that? For ‘toys’, be weary here, as many are made with PVC and our private ‘bits’ on both men and women, are the most permeable tissue we have on our bodies – No good for phthalate exposure at all! Lelo is a phthalate free brand and more options are listed in this Women’s Health Article. Are you a bit out of touch with getting sexy at all these days? Your head is too full, you are too busy, your hormones are screwed, and you’ve forgotten how cool your partner is… in a nutshell. Hee hee, I have to laugh here because I have been guilty on numerous counts of all of the above! BUT, we can always strive to do better, and so, I offer up some low tox mind tips to make space for each other – not just on the couch to watch TV!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation 6 tips for making space for & actually feeling like sexy time 1. Daily meditation will help empty your head a little as does a long daily walk. 2. Taking regular deep breathes works wonders. You will be lowering cortisol, which will prevent high estrogen which will allow better uptake of thyroid hormones which will ensure your DHEA levels remain healthy which will ensure you have the energy and inclination towards a bit o’ sexy time. 3. Be sure that not all your date nights are out with the family – leave the kids at home and do fun stuff together. We become so functional in family and long term couple life, that we forget how fun we are. Which leads me to the next point… 4. Double date – It’s so much pressure conversing just the two of you. By hanging out with other friends that you both like, your partner will see you making a funny call, laughing at a good story, discussing something passionately that has nothing to do with your lives together… They see you ‘new’ and you see them new too, a little bit. We need this to have the ‘man, you’re pretty cool’ moments that remind us why we’re together in the first place. 5. Step away from the screens – ironic, true, given you’re all glued to the modules and the Facebook group during such an intensive learning process. But AFTER 30 days, how about you try no screens after 8pm. Normally I do this a couple of nights a week – You’ll remember what you enjoy doing away from technology – books, a good movie, a board game with a glass of wine, and oh – sexy time for example! Don’t forget your favourite music. Why oh why does the good music leave the picture in long term relationship sex? It’s weird. Good music is the best background for most enjoyable things in life – cooking, sexy time, dinner parties with friends… and it sure makes cleaning the house less of a chore! 6. Single? Stop hanging out with married people. Recruit more single friends who want to go out and be spontaneous and be in spaces where other people are. And of course, the age of internet dating is nothing to be ashamed of – My brother in law is now expecting his first child with his beautiful wife thanks to RSVP. True story

There’s not much room for sexy time if you’re in another world! Is this you?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

And now for a romance stock shot that I just couldn’t resist! Where are the kids? Grandma’s house? No this grass isn’t full of bindis and bull ants at all. We could lie here forever and ever

Now gents don’t the course, while this bit isn’t for you – please share with your partners, as it’s important. Onto the women’s stuff! That time of the month doesn’t need to be toxic mayhem. We are on average, to use 12,000 tampons over a life time and don’t feel bad if you’ve not thought about what exactly might be in those tampons and pads up until now. Just get excited that today, you make the change and you go low tox down under!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Mercola.com can be a little alarmist in its writing style, but the article through here summarizes the critical importance of stepping away from toxic feminine hygiene products pronto! Every bit of it is true. I have an amazingly talented friend Aimée Marks, who created the TOM Organic range. I interviewed her a couple of years ago on my blog about her inspiration for creating her range, which you can read here.

So, for Aussies, the TOM range is my number one recommendation if you like to buy ‘ready to go personal hygiene products. They’re available from you guessed it, BIOME as well as in supermarkets, health shops and directly from TOM. Other brands that are organic, more sustainable and available internationally are Natracare Organyc Then you have cloth pads which are available via Tw i n k l e L i l y – A great site with a range of breast pads, pads, nappies and maternity.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

What if there were a way to ditch products altogether? There is. You might have heard of the “menstrual cup” – People rave about them once they get the hang of them. If it’s something you want to explore as an option, it’s a great economizer and pays for itself after 3 months, so you save from there on in! Check both brands out here.

Day 11 Task Depending on what you needed to change, look at here being male / female, set your strategy. Examine what you have. Decide where you will work to save money on a DIY option and then decide what’s going on the ‘next time I need’ replacement list. Enjoy ditching the fake, weirdo deodorants and moving to more natural products and DIYs. Feel free as always to share on the page something that’s working for you!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 11: A Low Tox Mind and meditation with Grant Lyndon

What makes a mind toxic? I ponder this a lot and feel pretty happy with where my mind is at compared to 5 years ago – or ten. So stressed, so nit-picky, so happy to pass the buck or gossip. I’m super excited to share a few ideas with you today, therefore, on this beautiful Sunday where we are so lucky to be alive, about how to ditch a different kind of toxin to the ones we’ve been focused on – mental toxins! Many things. Just as toxins can build up in our physical environment, toxic thoughts can build up in our mind too and it’s important to check in with yourself often to ensure you’re mentally detoxing, as well as physically. The mental detox should ideally occur before the physical one, to ensure your body and mind is relaxed in preparation for letting go of the toxins safely, as Shalani discussed on our detox the body day. A lot of you have felt overwhelmed at some or many points on this journey thus far, so I want to say a little something to help you with that. You are enough. What you are achieving is enough. Let this 30 days be a springboard to better choices over time, rather than a finite window in which to achieve – or ‘fail’. Maybe money is holding you back. Maybe time, or being busy with kids, or your partner’s attitude… Maybe one, or some or all of these things are seemingly stopping you from achieving what you want to achieve. To all of that, I share the wise words of a coach I’ve worked with in the past, Kate Hosie. The obstacle isn’t IN your way. It IS your way. We are given road blocks and tough times and impatience and dissatisfaction as possibly our most powerful springboards to a better, higher and calmer place: How can I manifest what I need, to make the changes I want to make? How can I encourage my family or friends to see I’m on their team, not against them?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation How can I attract more earning power in a way that I feel purpose and belonging, to get the money I want for the choices I want to make for me and my family? Detoxing your mind is an ongoing process. It’s about listening to the thoughts that come in. It’s about listening to what you’re saying ‘yes’ to, and realizing that often, there’s a lot more power, clarity and peace, in being abundantly clear on what you want to say NO to. To detox your mind I offer up these 2 tasks today Think of the last few things you’ve said YES to doing with and for other people and write them down. Now look at that list and circle any that really resonated with you and made you feel happy to do them, happy to know you had the time to give them, from the moment it was asked / proposed, to the moment you were fulfilling them. Now look at the rest and say to yourself… “I’m going to be mindful of these sorts of requests coming up again, so I can say no and make more space for the things I get asked to do that I genuinely want to give my all for. There is abundant work to be done. There is something for everyone. I am going to give of myself when I know its right for me, and not be scared any more to say no, if it isn’t.” Each time you ‘accidentally’ say yes again and you get that funny feeling that you should have said no, come back to that paragraph. Task no 2 First world problem friends or negative nancies. What would life look like if you singled out the 3 or 4 most positive people in your life, and committed to seeing them double the amount that you currently do? What would it equally look like if you halved the amount of time that you spent with people who were negative, draining or gossipy? Really have a think about who you’re surrounding yourself with and be the architect of the energy that’s in your life. Curate happiness. Emphasize positive emotions and don’t give fire to the negative ones. It’s a habit to build. It can absolutely be cultivated. Offer it and positivity to people who might be waiting for you to take them to a happier place in your circle. Get barefoot in the grass with your friends on their bad day and teach them what it can do for you. Hug. Bust out an Ooooooooom to release serotonin with your kids when it’s all gone south at 5pm. Be. The. Change. You guys are used to being the change now, right? Total warriors.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Low tox mind. Happy you! You’ve made so much time for swapping products and researching buying options and discussing it all on Facebook… Now spend time on researching YOU and what you need for your mind to feel low tox too! Alexx chats to Grant Lyndon – Video https://youtu.be/J25N3_C4Blw Or as a sound cloud if you want to take this to a park and sit on a bench or beach, barefoot. https://soundcloud.com/alexx_stuart/alexx-chats-to-grant-lyndon Transcript PDF File

Day 12: Detoxing from chemicals

When you remove the poison and reintroduce it, it can often be really confronting to see how affected you are by it. Nearly three weeks now since we began, you will probably be noticing this with artificial fragrances by now. An overwhelming desire to run a mile, perhaps? What you’ve been doing bit by bit, is detoxing without even doing a thing, other than ceasing to use certain things in your day to day. To really start to rid the body of some of the ‘stickier’ chemicals which reside inside us as a result of having used all these things over the years, then you can choose to embark upon what I call a Conscious Detox Process. It’s not what you think. You won’t be starving yourself or having to do a juice fast for 5 days, or anything of the sort. Detoxing is not something to take lightly and ‘faddishly’ claim we need to do it. There are many ways to go about it. There are also many specific ways to detox depending on what you’ve been exposed to. You can undertake things that feel good to you and right, because being stressed and anxious during a detox, is counterproductive and can in fact set you back. Key, is to be gentle to yourself and support your detoxification with lots of low tox mind time as well – did you skip Sunday’s module because it ‘wasn’t as important’? Go BACK. Those Sunday’s are designed to empower you to enjoy and settle into this processed in a relaxed fashion. Only when you are mentally positive and relaxed, will you truly start to feel the benefits of detoxification of any kind. It makes sense,

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation really. If you’re stressed, your body draws energy away from your digestive and immune systems, to use all your energy up on ‘saving your life’. Problem is, that running late for a meeting and running away from a lion give our bodies the same response. We want to be calm so that the body can work as efficiently as possible in the ‘whole’ sense, to allow for maximum chance of detoxification. So, firstly, the number 1 way to detox? To stop applying and ingesting chemicals in the first place. See? You’re already blitzing the no1 way to detox, simply by stopping using all the stuff you used to have. Enjoy today’s expert interview with naturopath and GAPS practitioner Shalani McCray from Live Alive. She’s awesome and ready in the group to answer any questions you may have. . Video - https://youtu.be/GpINhzsOWo8

Or the sound file here https://soundcloud.com/alexx_stuart/alexx-chats-to-shalani- mccray-1 – Go for a walk and enjoy! Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Shalani- McCray.pdf What can you do to support detox efforts? • Stop eating foods known to be harder to digest for a period of time, such as a month. The Whole 30 provides excellent inspiration for such a ‘cleanse’ and has participants leaving out sugar, chocolate, gluten, grains and dairy for 30 days, focusing on bountiful fresh produce and simple meals. It’s a great break for the system, while providing loads of delicious options for nourishment and satisfaction. It’s not a ‘go hungry’ detox that will fiddle with your metabolism as so many of them do! • Eat organic. The break from the pesticides will have your body working much more efficiently, as it’s not wasting time trying to figure out what ‘those things’ are. As we know, some pesticide constituents are endocrine disruptive. It’s no

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation mystery why we are having all these issues that our grandparents and even parents say didn’t happen in their day – Half the stuff going ON and IN us didn’t go ON or IN them in their day. • Eat garlic and turmeric – They are natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory spices. Enjoy through your meals AND chop your garlic and leave it there chopped for a few minutes before adding to the food – its antioxidant level goes UP doing this. • ADD vegetables. I always suggest that the best possible diet change for anyone and everyone trying to demystify healthy eating, is to double the veggies. So simple, yet such a massive increase in micronutrients, promoting health at the cellular level. • Work with a practitioner. A practitioner such as a nutritionist or naturopath will lead you with your specific case in mind, to ensure you’re detoxing safely, with the relevant herbs you require in your case and to help monitor you as you detox and be of support if direction needs changing or to celebrate the wins! • Take baths with Epsom salts, lectric soda, MSM, clay or magnesium oil – or a combination of some or all. Just 15 minutes will ensure some of these powerful detoxifier seep into your skin OR draw toxins OUT of your skin. Have you checked out BLANTS yet for bulk buying of Mag Chloride and Epsom? Much more economical. • Talk to a practitioner about supplements. If your liver is stressed or congested, you would do well to work specifically on liver detoxification, because if your liver is ‘stuck’ so are your toxins! • Consider an age old yet giggled about solution – enemas! I’ll let Shalani explain in her video. • Eat foods that chelate – That is, they bind to heavy metals and other toxins and draw them out of the body. There is a lot of literature on cilantro / coriander to support its extreme natural efficacy on detoxing the body from heavy metals. A simple green smoothie to make is 1.5 cup coconut water, 1/2 bunch coriander, 1/2 cucumber, 1 lime juiced, whizzed in a good blender for a minute. Drink and enjoy SLOWLY a few times a week while RELAXING. Other foods are pectins, parsley, onion, garlic and chlorella. Even proteins have been found to assist in keeping the levels of detoxification enzymes in healthy numbers in the liver. So your food is super important in the detox puzzle. I will

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation say though, ‘green smoothie’ craze is not something I promote when it’s packed with spinach and kale. You can read more about that here. • Use a dry brush before the shower to stimulate the lymph and move toxins along and out.

• Get a deep tissue massage. This is super effective because you are getting into a relaxed state AND then stimulating the shift of toxins from tissues… Be sure to drink a good amount of water afterwards (a couple of cups) or a herbal tea to support the process. • Use a good lymphatic drainage encouraging body range. The Birch range from Weleda, that has an internal tonic as well as scrub and oil can assist not just with the cosmetic cellulite ‘look’ but the drainage of the lymph. • Eat a simple raw carrot salad in the morning, seasoned with apple cider vinegar, lemon and olive oil. It is extremely cleansing and a great morning detox kick start.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

• Do yoga that has twists and releases in its style. So, so good to do ‘release’ style yoga with lots of twists to flush out organ toxicity. Kate Kendall, who we heard from last Sunday, has a wonderful online yoga class that speaks to detoxification – The Crooked Crow. So good! • Experiment with diatomaceous earth – taking bentonite clay, which is a powerful detoxifier. • Oil pulling, preferably coconut oil or cold pressed sesame oil – Oil pulling, also known as “kavala” or “gundusha,” is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes. This action supposedly draws out toxins in your body, primarily to improve oral health but also to improve your overall health. There’s an interesting piece here, by a Chicago dentist who provides a really balanced look at oil pulling as well as overall oral health and the baddies we want to keep at bay and cleanse from our mouthes. • Take activated charcoal (also a great tooth whitener) You can read more here. • Try nearly every day for types of movement where you sweat…. Even if it’s for a few minutes – rebounding/trampolene is great for assisting the lymphatic system (most women have very sluggish lymphatic systems). So voila. A taster into detoxing today. Do not panic and do not try to do all of these or ‘think’ you need to do all of these, because you do not. As I said at the start and as you can see from above, there are many ways to detox the body. Enjoy and remember, just by STOPPING the use of all of the things we’ve discussed thus far, you are already naturally detoxing by default, so if you find having to ‘do stuff’ to detox daunting, don’t worry: Your body’s already doing stuff without you

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation having to do a thing, other than of course, work on your breathing and being as relaxed as possible and maybe grate that carrot in the mornings as your ‘thing’ for now. DAY 12 Task Pick JUST 2 detox methods you’re going to experiment with this week and if you’re in the Facebook group, feel free to share your progress over there. Blame me for the massage on your credit card bill. I have no problem with that Low tox. Happy bodies. happy planet Alexx P.S A reminder of what I said in the beginning of the course, with my disclaimer – The information in this course is based on research and expert experience. For your specific case, I ALWAYS recommend investing in seeing a practitioner to discuss your situation.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 13: Low Tox Make UP

Make Up is yet another place that SO. MUCH. STUFF. HIDES. The irony of ‘beauty’ is that it’s to make you feel better about yourself, yet it compromises your health long term – and future generations’ health scarily when it comes to the endocrine disruptors – on so many levels. Our skin absorbs what it absorbs straight into our bloodstream. Food on the other hand at least gets a bit of enzyme treatment and liver detoxification ‘sorting’ before making it to our blood. It stands to reason therefore, that what we put ON our skin is potentially more harmful than what we eat. Let that sink in for just a moment. What are some of the worst enemies in make up commonly found that we haven’t yet covered through other products? Talc Strong links to ovarian cancer. Get it off your baby’s bottom and out of your powders and eye shadows! Lead Love that red lippy? well, it’s probably got lead in it. Elevated lead in adults can lead to miscarriages, birth defects and seizures. Lead showed up even in a natural product from Burt’s Bees, which just goes to show when a beautiful little natural brand is snapped up by a multinational, often the short cuts begin and the integrity of the brand goes out the window! For lipsticks with the most lead, go HERE. Cadmium Lippies again… Often there! Cadmium is a carcinogen that has been found in breast cancer biopsies and is thought to cause cancer cells to multiply. HOW IS THIS ALLOWED IN STUFF SOLD TO WOMEN, RIGHT??? Read more and see a list of offending brands if you fancy from Mother Jones. Musks used as fragrances, can accumulate in your body, and have been linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and cancer in laboratory studies.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Toluene made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances – yet another thing lurking in there along with the pthalates! Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum these products coat your skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They also can slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of ageing. These petroleum based ingredients have also been found to tamper with our hormones. More irony in the fact that we’re using this stuff to ‘look younger’ yet it’s ageing us and therefore encouraging us to use MORE of what’s ageing us. Talk about vicious cycle. BHA / BHT Used as preservatives in makeup, skin care and even food. Also thought to be endocrine disrupting as well as cause asthma and skin irritation. Read more here from the David Suzuki foundation (love that man!) Siloxanes Look for ingredients ending in “-siloxane” or “-methicone.” Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife (taken from David Suzuki foundation website) I could go on and on, but as I said with skincare, I find it’s best to know a few ‘key’ baddies, because companies that greenwash or are mainstream, will always display at least 1 or 2 in the non-negotiables toxic list, so from there you can just walk away… No need to keep reading through the rest of the list, so to speak. I’ve popped two books below in the recommended reading for those who want to delve further, both of which are excellent. A note on Fragrance Free vs Unfragranced as this has come up as a question I want to address, and of course there are fragrances in make up too! This post describes the difference very thoroughly. There’s also a fantastic info graphic that will show you just how big a toxic load we reduce by ditching the ‘fake smells’ from our lives.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Keep in mind with makeup that it’s near impossible to be completely ‘chemical free’… Micas, pigments and titanium dioxides are in most make ups. Some people are sensitive, some aren’t. The most important thing to focus on is to reduce and eliminate those hormone disruptive chemicals we’ve learnt about and keep that idea of ‘simplification’. Your skin will start looking radiant without any help whatsoever any day now, ditching all the chemicals, so you might indeed find you can ditch a lot of makeup and stick to basic lip gloss, mascara and cheek tints.

(Pic courtesy of Nourished Life) So what to use? Again, it’s about fleshing out brands that ARE doing the right thing here. Often as many of you have reported already, what goes with a raising of consciousness, is a desire to have less stuff in general. So you probably won’t need to replace every little thing! Here is a list of brands for you to explore, that I absolutely love. Again, I suggest BIOME and NOURISHED LIFE in Australia for the simple fact that the low tox commitment is the most strict and significant through Tracey and Irene’s sites that I’ve come across. You are able to get full visibility on ingredient lists too, for peace of mind. For the UK, again I recommend LoveLula. I can’t wait to get to the US and UK on my research trip in July and share with all alumni from my courses my US and UK best

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation finds – You will receive this automatically, so no need to request it. Keep an eye out late July. Here are my specific recommendations of things that have kicked around in my makeup bag the past few years. I don’t use much and on the average day it would be mascara and a BB cream at best, so if you’re a makeup fanatic, pop through the links above to the general site and shop around. Something that Irene Falcone who founded Nourished Life has said to me before is that of over 50,000 orders now through Nourished Life, never once has anyone ever said “It’s not as good as the mainstream prestige beauty”. So enjoy your natural beauty discoveries and discovering that it doesn’t cost the earth and is mostly all mid- priced. If you’re truly strapped for cash, just invest over time and see where you might be able to cut spending in other areas. My theory is that ‘cheap’ stuff has a price somewhere further down the line – either in your health or in that of the planet’s. It’s best to buy half as much stuff and twice the quality. LIPS You will never know your red lippy isn’t Chanel once you discover ZUII. I find in fact its better. I wear it probably about twice a year, but when I do, I love it and it doesn’t budge! Best news is? There’s no lead. I love the 100% Pure Glosses and the Luk Beautifood sheer lipsticks created by my friend Cindy – made entirely from food actives! A delicious range with real smells from orange, cinnamon, chai or mint!

EYES

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Ere Perez Black Waterproof mascara is a must have for me – and I used to be a Lancome Definicils girl through and through! Everyone also raves about the 100% Pure Black Tea mascara although I’ve not yet tried it for performance myself. The 100% Pure natural eyeshadows – I wear nearly every day and replace about every 8-9 months. It lasts such a long time! (noticing a brand pattern? I like the low fox factor, the affordability and the performance and that’s what matters to me so again, once I find something good, I don’t feel the need to look further – Maybe I’m getting old?) The Adorn eye shadows are lovely light colours also and the texture of these is wonderful – no melting into sweat lines on the eyelids! FACE Love the Eco Minerals Byron Bay brand for blush if I’m going out at night! For foundation the 100% Pure range has sheer, powder and fuller coverage options. If you enquire and say what you’re currently using at 100% Pure and Nourished Life, they will colour match your existing ‘mainstream’ foundation more often than not.

BB / CC cream options – BB cream is a tinted moisturizer and the La Mav one is fabulous, but CC cream goes an extra step towards evening out skin tone so if you have ruddy cheeks, pigmentation or broken capillaries, the CC cream is your best option!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

If you need a better coverage in the foundation department, these Adorn ones are lovely as is the Lavera range referenced down below. I’ve used Jane Iredale in the past who has lovely things and is a bit of a pioneer in the natural beauty space too. I’ve popped some beautiful natural brushes below too if you want to check out. Vegan (synthetic bristles) Set

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Or you can get some natural, cruelty free, hair bristles from Crown Make UP. We will cover nails, shampoo and hair colour coming up in the next few days. Remember, companies won’t make what people don’t buy and you and I have the power to change the market by choosing the beauty world we want with our wallets and abstinence from certain products. You now have the main list of evils in make up. Use the key nasties list to navigate new brands you come across that are better low tox options and enjoy your make up in a whole new light! DAY 8 TASK Do an audit of your make up. Are any of the big no no’s you already know from previous modules or the one above in what you have? Make a list of products you don’t really use that you don’t need to replace. Toss! Feel the delicious feeling of letting go of ‘stuff’ that doesn’t serve you, can potentially damage your health and fills the world with landfill. No need! Decide what you’re going to try in replacing key items in your range that you DO regularly use and enjoy! These days I have a cheek tint, a compact foundation for T zone, a mascara, BB cream and sheer eye shadow, along with one sheer lippy, one gloss and one bright red for

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation ‘that night’ of the year! Simple. You might like wearing lots of make up too, and that’s fine. Here’s to the new low tox discoveries you’ll be making over the coming months. Today’s interview is with Irene Falcone from Nourished Life. Enjoy and go for a walk while you listen! And if you have a bit of extra time, Annie Leonard, founder of one of my favourite things on the internet, The Story of Stuff, has a video on cosmetics that is well worth 8 minutes of your time. WATCH IT HERE.

Here’s to low tox make up – Imagine the amount of daily chemicals we are reducing now with our knowledge 13 days in? From the skincare, body care and makeup modules thus far in this course, you have reduced your chemical ingestion via skin exposure, by 2 kg – 2kg of the stuff. You ought to be pretty excited by that incredible achievement – the bravery to wake up and say “This is NOT cool anymore. I’m in charge, here.” Incredible isn’t it? Low Tox. Happy Body. Happy Planet. GLOWING SKIN! Alexx x Day 14: Low Tox Kds

It’s crazy the ability the little ones have to make us reconsider everything we do and why and how we do it, if it means a better life for them. I will never forget my final turning point in committing to a low tox life, after already having a toe in the water

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation for a number of years. I was walking down the aisle of a supermarket. My little man was just starting solids. I thought “I’d better go and pick up a few little meal pots and snacks for emergencies”, even though I was committed to making his food from scratch (and freezing it in plastic ice cube trays of course. Argh!) I looked at a few packets and was shocked to find fruit in so many savoury meals (let’s get them sugar addicted young!), apple juice concentrate, nutritionally empty starches and grains (babies lack the enzyme suite to fully process grains) and loads of plastic packaging. I wanted to run screaming. How did we get here? I thought. It was then I started my first little blog and then 2 years later alexxstuart.com, in February 2012. We’ve covered a lot of the content in previous modules that you will use to making better decisions for children’s stuff, whether it be bath time, bed time, play time or more. So, here are a few useful resources, products and ideas, on providing for your low tox kids! Most of all I’m excited to share with you today, an interview with a dear friend, Tabitha McIntosh. We both met many moons ago while managing two of Sydney’s best bars of the early 2000’s – everyone’s got a past, don’t you worry about that! And since then, Tabitha’s clocked a Bachelor of Medical Science, Advanced Dip Nutrition and Naturopathy and has a thriving practice in Sydney, Awaken your Health. In my chat with Tab, we talked about the all-important lowering of the toxic load. Video - https://youtu.be/whU9bGzcG3k Or take this interview for a walk! https://soundcloud.com/alexx_stuart/alexx-chats- to-tabitha-mcintosh Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pdf- logo.png Two of the best things you can do to lower the toxic load exposure for your kids are: Ditch foam furniture items – especially older hand-me-down ones such as those mini kids foam couches and cheap stuffed toys with synthetic exteriors to match. Flame retardants are a real issue and health threat. Read the article to learn more, and we will also be covering this topic at greater length in the ‘bedroom day’ for kids and little people alike. Pesticides in the most heavily sprays foods – berries (buy fresh in season organic / spray free at a local market OR frozen organic), apples, pears, leafy greens, stone fruits, potatoes and cucumbers to mention most of the most heavily sprayed crops.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Here’s the ‘dirty dozen’ USA list that’s not too different. Please note that fresh produce of any kind is always still going to be better than processed food. Hidden heavy pesticides also lie in hidden GMOs (genetically modified foods) so basically any packet / processed food that contains corn, soy or unspecified ‘sugar’ (many processed foods contain not cane sugar but sugar beet, which is 91% genetically modified. There are 3 big issues with genetically modified agriculture. 1. Its ruining soil biodiversity. 2. The technology is such that it allows the plants to be treated with heavy amounts of pesticide without ‘killing the plant’ – Problem is that pesticide residue ends up in us and is anything BUT good news. 3. Its destroying local economies and small hold farmers all over the world at devastating rates. If it’s something you want to learn more about, you must watch Dr Vandana Shiva in action. This talk is incredible. – You’ll need an hour but it’s worth every minute to see how much our informed choices impact on such a massive scale. Another couple of important things to consider where your children are concerned are If you’ve renovated for the new baby, be sure to ventilate that room for at least a month before hand. Get the windows open, get fans on, get an air purifier for the night time… Get rid of as many fumes, VOCs and residues that reside and are given off by, new furniture and paint jobs. If you’re doing a home renovation, consider getting a good amount of testing on moulds and lead in old pain to decide whether you all need to move out for a little while. Now those are big picture things, sure, but those precautions are going to be a great investment for the health of your family. We can often be great at choosing a pthalate free toy or an organic strawberry, but then miss some massive exposures such as the ones above. So, back to the smaller stuff like the toys and the food… A lot of parents worry: But how am I going to convert my kids now that I’ve learnt all this stuff? My mantra for you to adopt here is this. It is you AND them against the baddies who contaminate our food, toys & personal care. It is NOT you against your children. If you make it a ‘you against them’ scenario, then they will feel a need to rebel, a need to retreat or a need to be deaf to your pleas and your preaching on all the

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation badness you’re telling them will no longer be around. How many parents ‘give in’ on a cupcake covered in weirdo fake artificial chemicals on top? You? You’re not alone. Instead of repeatedly telling them ‘no’ try explaining why. Even to your two year old. Your one year old. Your baby watching you with their older sibling. Try then explaining that you LOVE cupcakes too and that’s why you’ll all choose a beautiful cupcake recipe on the weekend and make it together. Be strong. Be focused on what the real issues are and share those issues with your kids. We don’t give kids half the credit they’re due when it comes to understanding things but we must. If we teach them, they never need to ‘unlearn’ this stuff and then they’re sorted for preconception care before they’ve even met the future partner that they’ll have their kids with! So, so amazing. I have talked about every possible thing with my little one, now 5, before he could talk. I talked about ‘baddies putting chemicals in things… baddies putting bright colours in things that make us sick… baddies putting weirdo flavoured powders that make our brains get excited… baddies putting a monkey on a cereal box, to make you want it when it’s actually really bad for our tummies and can make you sick… I also talk about and read out, ingredient lists in my kids cooking workshops. “So who can tell me what *insert copious amounts of numbers here* are? Do they sound like real food to you? Shall we make a chocolate icing that IS made with real ingredients and IS super yummy? “Yesssssss” they all say and so we make this one. So instead of saying “we can’t have that anymore” without explanation, I want you to try, no matter how young your child is, it explain briefly in super simple terms, that it’s not cool because you’ve found out something about it, and then move quickly towards solutions. Come up with your own explanations or borrow mine, either way you’ll all come out winning the best prize: Stronger, healthier bodies and wiser kids. Make scented candles together. Pop online and choose a replacement together that they’re empowered by because they get a say in what’s replacing said yucky thing. Pop into your favourite recipe books and choose a homemade version of something you’ve just said ‘not any more’ to. Most kids will get it very quickly – especially when the problem is met with explanation AND a delicious, fun solution that gives them quality time with their mum or dad!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Babies Nappies & bottoms & toilet training

Mind blowing, isn’t it? Not to mention the pthalates, latex and other dubious chemicals that one can find in a bog standard supermarket nappy. Traditional disposable nappies are basically a shocker. If cloth nappies are a ‘block’ for you or you need a couple of emergency brands for travel or times when it can all get too hard, these are far better than the average supermarket brand. Resounding praise also comes for Itti Bitti and Bum Genius For an amazing array of ‘little people’s bottoms’ related products, BIOME has you covered and Tw i n k l e L i l y has a great range too. Want to make your own wipes? Well, you can! WATCH HERE.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Weleda has you covered for baby (calendula) and super fragile eczema prone skin care (white mallow).

This is the baby insect repellent we used. Vanessa Megan’s magically delicious and gentle blend of oils to keep the mozzies and flies off your little one. Once they’re 3 and older, you can graduate to the adult one or for a more budget friendly option, there’s this one which after a couple of tests, seems to do the job very well!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation For baby food freezing, I did little jars that I defrosted in the fridge overnight before needing them. You can grab a set of small jars LIKE THIS easily online. You can also use a stainless steel ice cube tray from BIOME which is so awesome and durable. Forget the expense and think: I will never have to buy another tray ever again! Buy less, buy better should be a recurring theme by now.

For bath time mats – For little babies, I recommend a little towel under them to prevent slipping. For the toddler years there are 100% natural rubber mats in the USA. Not yet in Australia. Toys I am going to put it out there that I don’t think it’s entirely possible to live in a city and have no plastic toys. I sigh at the sight of the dinobots and skylanders and legos my son has, but I also recognise that I make every effort to ensure ‘play’ doesn’t just revolve around toys and that it’s dress ups, sports, reading, playing shops… So much more. This has meant that we haven’t been overridden by toys over the years and have managed to contain it to just his small bedroom and not other parts of the apartment. Diversification is key to not have your home be a plastic toy festival. For a gorgeous new site I’ve found, “Good to Play” and you guessed it, BIOME, have a number of age groups covered, with a sustainability and material-safety focus – Nice to have the hard work done for you this Christmas and support small business. In the USA you have Baby Green Thumb for natural toys and in the UK Green Bee Kids. I

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation also love the suggestion from the group about GREEN LULLABY for doll’s houses, cradles and storage boxes made from cardboard. For little science curiosos, the ECO SCIENCE TOYS range is awesome. Dollies who are rather expensive but rather beautiful, from Good to Play. A better low tox doll choice? Wonderful! Once we believe in having ‘better stuff but less stuff’ we need to teach our kids the same. Precious, beautiful things chosen carefully together, vs loads of mindless, cheap toys. I’m in the middle of teaching my little man this too, and it’s not always easy, but the effort we put in will pay off, that I know!

Or did you catch the beautiful Tree Change Dolls story? Since the viral success of her story, she is now going to be producing 10 dolls per month on her etsy store to give proceeds to charity. I know which dolls I’d prefer my little girl to be playing with if I had girls. Move over mini weirdo porn star dolls, and hello real dolls! Now I can’t vouch for the plastics of these dolls, but I just had to include because I think the low tox message here is so, so beautiful.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Play mats – For eco play mats you might need to go on a bit of a google. Key is to ensure a natural fibre or at the very least, a ‘pthalate free’ declaration. Here’s a list with a few options so they definitely exist. Being half Mauritian we used a coconut palm woven mat once I realised the el cheapo mat I had originally bought (one of those A.B.C squishy foam mats) was toxic. Island hippy in the city! He loved it. The toys went on top. Its funny how we got to a world full of fake, brightly coloured and artificial things thinking it was ‘better’ somehow and that our children would be more stimulated by them… Notice how the baby wants the darn ol’ keys? Forget the brightly coloured plastic obsession and go natural for them too. For bath time, you might laugh at me, but I suggest stainless steel cooking utensils. My little guy has a ball with metal cocktail shakers for pouring, spoons, funnels and more – Not a plastic toy in sight! Hot liquids and plastics don’t mix, no matter what the plastic, so it’s best to keep it low tox at bath time. Again, it doesn’t matter at all about the bright colours and crazy plastic bath toy characters – If anything, it’s a great exercise in fostering imagination, I dare say! You could also check out Little Organics for some cute rubber options. Has anyone noticed yet, how when you lift the lid on it all, you slowly start to see such things you once thought were exciting, and pretty and ‘must have’, as being ugly and cheap looking? Miscellaneous kid’s stuff This eco Change Mat Cover from BIOME is divine and not expensive – perfect for covering a possibly PVC containing change mat without having to toss it to landfill and protect your little one at the same time.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Gum boots – Remember nasty Teflon / PFOA’s made by the company DuPont? Well, they make the plastic in Crocs shoes and gumboots. Stick to pure Rubber gumboots by Clark’s which are able to go in the recycling bin once they’re done and dusted. They’re found in many shoe stores or there are a few here too! (mind you don’t choose the PVC ones at the bottom!) Little girl’s beauty and kid’s bath time – Nourished Life has you covered! I just started using the Sanctum Bath / Shampoo for my little man and it’s divine. Note: I only use this a couple of times a week. Kids just don’t need ‘cleaning’ every day other than month and hands or if they’ve had a scuff! Low tox kid’s shower idea - Just stick them in there with a couple of drops of lavender to chill out at the end of the day after dinner. Works a treat to get them ready for bed and then in winter, with a nice warm blow dry of the hair… La La land! For rain coats, you’d be best off going with a kids drizerbone, buying huge size and letting them wear it over 3 years, so it’s not a hideous expense. Forget the garish batmans and various superheroes on the rain coats. Buy them a colouring in booklet with their superheroes or watch the show. They don’t need to be on their functional raincoat that gets worn a couple of days every now and then. Most raincoats are PVC / phthalate laden. Waterproof = suspicious and worth a company email to the brand in question, at every doubt to ensure there’s no PVC or Teflon coating.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

UNIFORMS For kids uniforms, you’re best avoiding the bog standard school shorts and pants as they’re teflon coated – chemicals on your kids’ hot sweaty legs and chemicals that NEVER break down in the environment. MY ORGANIC UNIFORM has you sorted for most standard colours. There is also myuniform.com.au with their 100% cotton section. It’s not GOTS certified nor is it organic, BUT it is not synthetic recycled weirdness with teflon treatment, so it’s a great step in the right direction until more options become available or if the My Organic Uniform guys are out of stock. Kids’ make up Nourished Life has the Pure Poppet range of nail polishes, and for lip glosses, use the 100% pure Strawberry Lip gloss. Those cheap cosmetics at kids’ shops on the impulse buy counter tops, are chemical cocktails that will cause early puberty. DO NOT BUY IT! You don’t need it or want it for your child. Just picture an oil rig out in Saudi Arabia and picture smearing that stuff on your child’s face… Once it’s truly seen, it can’t be unseen and share with your child where this stuff comes from. Show them pictures! They’ll get it, I promise. Bedding / Mattresses – Hang tight, we’re covering this as a category in the Bedroom module, with a kid’s section! Clothes – hang tight for clothes day!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation For website resources, I simply love Healthy Child Healthy World. Chemical Free Parenting (by Dr Sarah Lantz who’s co-authoring Tabitha’s upcoming book!) What do you need for your child that we’ve not covered? Name the topic and I’ll get researching to ensure we have a better and better group resource each day. Also, if you shop from a site that you love that is eco for kids, please let me know, as I’d love to broaden this resource. Enjoy getting your kids on the low tox bandwagon. Include them in your research – remember to be WITH them, not against them. Let them make choices in the replacements. Share your creative ideas in the group!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 15: Low Tox Hair & Nails

Now, when it comes to educating you on hair & nail products, there isn’t much more we need to cover in terms of ‘new nasties’ – You’re experts now. Remember, rather than worrying yourself with all the little weird name chemicals on those long, long lists, scan for the suspicious ones or baddies first. I’ll start today with HAIR. Common baddies re-cap: • Triclosan or “antibacterial” being the code word for it! • Phthalates – Does it smell fake? Then it is! Buh Bye • Sodium Lauryl Sulphate / SLS • Parabens, Phenoxyethanol • Plastic container with a “3” “6” or “7” in the little triangle • Non sustainable palm oil – this isn’t ‘toxic’ per se but is certainly harmful to the planet, due to the deforestation and ecological disturbance of harvest. Unilever uses 20% of the GLOBAL palm oil use. Not great. To have a quick scan of their products, go here – We’re already avoiding them for a whole lot of other reasons! If you’re concerned about the palm oil issue and use, here’s a good list (you’ll be shocked) of what it can be found being called. Is it any wonder they get away with sneaking palm oil into 1000s of products? Who’s got the time? So, if you’re going to try and avoid it altogether, Hair products – even the natural ones can be a minefield. I use Lavera and I have been comforted by the fact that they’re most definitely sustainable – NO grey area about it! This little UK site is great for greenies and for our UK friends on the course to confirm origins of palm!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER Many natural shampoos and conditioners cost ridiculous money if you ask me, for a clean head of hair! $50 for a small 300ml pump is just nuts. Now, many people will have many different types of hair, scalps, lengths, desired outcomes, so this is a category with a bit of trial and error involved as you go on to discover your perfect hair treatment. Lavera is my favourite and for the first time in my ‘i always pick the most expensive thing in the room’ life, it’s SUPER reasonable in price at around $11-13. I’ve yet to find a local Australian range that isn’t a monstrous $40 style price tag, that is actually nice to use and does the job without forming residue – Please feel free to share your successes as every ‘head’ is different! Lavera Colour and Shine SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER – Also free from all the other nasties and a lovely, natural fragrance that they spell out on the back.

People are loving the Acure Argan / CoQ10 shampoo too while a couple of people have said it caused build up. The Millet Nourishing shampoo is delicious from Weleda, if you have dryness or frizziness.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

The Miessence lemon myrtle is great if you have normal to oily hair.

For shorter hair and men, the Dindi Shampoo bar is super convenience and delicious.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

If you want to get a travel sized range for your next trip, the mini Sanctum range is great and a good way to test out the range too! Phew… Options, options, options, right? Treatment and styling products My favourite – Yarok “Feed Your Ends” It is such good value as far as low tox hair regimes go, and the Feed your Ends spray lasts a good many months to a year with the size it comes in. I’ve used it for 2 years and have only bought 2 bottles and I DON’T condition apart from the Weleda hair oil treatment I mention next every 2-3 weeks.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Once every 3 weeks I do a Weleda treatment oil and tonic – so delicious! I laugh at the memory of all the toxic treatments I used to do. Mmm, let’s let those parabens sit on our scalp for half an hour shall we? You have to laugh or you’d cry! Acure Argan Oil - This product is delicious and two teeny tiny drops is all you need for success. If you’ve been using the “Moroccan Oil” run it through your detective lens! For hair paste or wax, you can’t go past Yarok. It’s wonderful. Just give it a good rub through your fingers first! Need a spray? Biome has you covered with the Giovanni low tox spray Dry shampoo au naturel? Easy. Go HERE for the ACURE one. Very good indeed for the cheeky tide over!

Dandruff? Weleda Wheat balancing (mind if you’re coeliac) or the Beauty and the Bees Charcoal shampoo bar.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

A beautiful range of brushes and biodegradable combs is available through BIOME as well.

KIDS HAIR and the dreaded LICE This range from BIOME will sort out the head lice situation – Toxic free! Simply tea tree oil and a good lice comb.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation If you wanted to go DIY for the lice situation this post spells out all your options using coconut oil – Disclaimer: It opens with a pet hate typo “You’re” instead of your. hehe. Other than that, it’s really thorough and useful information. This range and these too for baby will be delicious kids’ hair wash as is the Weleda Calendula range I mentioned in kids day – Use less and make it last so it’s not a cost rise! Remember – Best not to ‘over wash’ kids’ hair and skin. Most often a water rinse is all that’s needed and a good wash of the face and hands. Just because it’s low tox doesn’t mean it’s necessary and you can save a lot of money by simply using every other day or a couple of times a week, as opposed to every day!

Hair Colour This is definitely a ‘low tox’ category that can’t achieve ‘no tox’ unless we are talking about pure Henna. I like having my hair done, so it’s a matter of choosing a least toxic option. This year I decided to stop using colours of any kind and just get foils. Foils don’t touch the scalp and get easily washed off in the basin. I take my Lavera shampoo to the hairdressers’ to follow up with and my styling sprays for the end of the appointment. She’s fine with it! The two most natural ‘home’ hair colours I’ve found are… Herbatint (Do NOT use the included shampoo and conditioner – High tox! Just follow it with your own hair care products)

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Fuente 96% organic is hitting Australian and UK shores at the moment – Will be interesting to see an ingredient list. Aveda – While not perfect by any stretch, is definitely a less toxic option if there’s a salon near you that uses it. As I said, with hair colour, it’s very tough to go ‘no tox’ but we can get a substantial way there and with something that happens once every six weeks, it’s a scnario where you make the choice to do it or not and you don’t stress either way. This is a joyous process, not a stressful one! If you really wanted a NO TOX option and want to give yourself natural highlights with herbs, the Wellness Mama has a few ideas here. For different shades.

DIY Options Now, the cheapest option of all is to go ‘no poo’. It’s not for everyone but many who have, don’t look back! Here is a post on that by women who have gone there with success. Here. Bicarb and Apple Cider vinegar. Hotly contested but nonetheless with a following. Make a simple mix of 2 tbs bicarb and 1/2 cup water. Scrub it through your hair. Rinse with apple cider vinegar (about 1/4 cup dissolved into a cup or two of water is perfect and great for conditioning and knots) Finish with a little treatment oil or Feed Your Ends mentioned above, and blow dry – Even if you’re tight on budget and want to alternate this low cost DIY with a product every other time, you’ll be stretching the budget nicely that way. Caution: If you’re going to use Bi carb, you don’t need much in your cup of water. The ph can irritate and strip your hair and scalp over time and to be honest, I don’t think it should be used other than occasionally to solve a build-up problem. The PH is all wrong, given it’s extremely alkaline. This blog from empowered sustenance is a great one on the bicarb situation. I like to do a shampoo once or twice a week and every second week do a ‘build up removal’ with a thin solution of bicarb and water, followed by apple cider vinegar. For more elaborate DIY Shampoo / Conditioner options, the David Suzuki site – It’s the best site for eco warriors like us – has a wealth of ideas and resources. Plain apple sauce is a great and super gentle ‘no poo’ wash.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation A couple of people in the past courses, have used apple sauce to wash their hair. With its mild acidity it is gentle and was reported to really help on people’s ‘poo free’ journey who wanted to go that way.

For a homemade treatment to repair and nourish – EGGS! The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is naturally moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes unwanted oils. Whichever style of treatment you need. Once you’ve separated the eggs and used which one you need, you have two cooking options: Custard or meringues! To Use: Use 1/2 cup of whichever egg mixture is appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If there isn’t enough egg to coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water (to prevent egg from “cooking” – that wouldn’t be too pretty!) and then shampoo hair. Whole egg and yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month; whites-only treatment can be applied every two weeks. If you have super dry hair and lots of frizz, a coconut oil treatment is great. Massage it through your hair and leave it on for an hour. Wash it out with shampoo – a double wash is definitely needed here, and then follow with what you’d normally do. DIY Dry shampoo Yes, it’s possible. Dry shampoo is full of all the nasties we’re now avoiding, so let’s not bring them back with the dry shampoo obsession. Make your own! To make: Mix 2 tbsp tapioca flour or organic cornflour (organic means you avoid genetically modified cornflour, which is super common) with 3 drops lavender essential oil (you could choose whatever scent you prefer and personalise). For dark hair, mix in some cocoa powder or cinnamon to the mix – No more than a teaspoon or 2 needed. Sprinkle mixture onto scalp and hair roots. Work in with fingertips, then comb through. (You can also brush it on with an old, large makeup brush.) You can keep a little mix of this in a jar that has the ‘sprinkle’ function lid built in to make application easier - an old dried herbs jar is perfect! A note on accessories

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation For straightening wands and curling irons, it might be more expensive, but using such high heats right near your face with steam coming off the appliance – and therefore mouth and nose for breathing – Stick to high quality ceramic brands like GHD vs non- stick Teflon coated cheaper brands. Don’t stress if you’ve got something like this. Just put it on your phase out plan – Christmas is coming, so it could be the perfect time to upgrade in the form of a great gift! We’ll be talking Teflon more next week. So there you have it. A tonne of ideas to low tox your head! Whatever you choose, this will be a monumental step towards lowering your toxic load – Shampoo doesn’t just go on your head but your whole body as it rinses away. Bye bye toxic ‘poo, we don’t need you! NOW ONTO NAILS

NAILS Hopefully by this point you’re not saying to yourself “Oh god, what’s she going to tell me now?” – I know how it can get and can see the realisations people are having in the Facebook group about other things they now want to question – mouth guards, yoga mats, gum boots et al! Relax. Breathe. Remember this is a big journey and your new position is this: Ah. Not such a great option after all. Bastards. Will choose a better one today, or next time it runs out. Sing it with me! With nails there are a few new things to become aware of in terms of what we’re leaving behind! We’re leaving behind mani-pedis at the nail place! They are toxic clouds of badness and unless it’s an extremely special occasion where you ‘just must’, I would strongly recommend you avoid those places like the plague! Fumes, the toxic nail ingredients and skin lotions… After a couple of weeks now away from the fake smells, you’ll really notice how toxic the air in those places is. And acrylic nails? Worse. You have the added use of MMA. MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) can cause serious damage to the lungs as well as permanent damage to your natural nails. Nurses aren’t allowed to wear acrylics in most countries because acrylic nail

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation wearers are prone to nail bed infections which has causes death in infants in hospitals due to transmission. Lastly, due to the highly flammable nature of the adhesives, it is recommended that acrylic nail wearers stay away from curling and straightening irons and wands. Yikes! And shellac? Between the UV A rays and the acetone, Shellac isn’t recommended either. Read here for more if you fancy. Time to move onto learning about exactly what harmful chemicals we’re leaving behind and get a couple of brands under our belts for low tox nails. So, to do your nails yourself, here’s what you need to know. There are 5 ‘big’ toxins in your average nail polish purchase consideration. Here are the 5 main ones: • Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): Here he is again, right? Pesky little chemical! A possible trigger of asthma attacks, this phthalate has also been associated with developmental and reproductive effects, and cancer in lab animal testing. This has been repeatedly called, “a potent hormone disruptor that affects the male reproductive system most dramatically.” • Toluene: It’s a solvent, also found in gasoline, that can cause dizziness and short term intoxication. Like DBP, it is a volatile chemical that can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and nails. It could also be listed on the label as “toluol” or “phenylmethane.” • Formaldehyde: Considered a human carcinogen by U.S. health agencies, it is an irritating chemical that people have allergic reactions to. Don’t be fooled if it’s listed as formalin on the label. • Formaldehyde resin is a synthetic resin product made with formaldehyde as a base ingredient. • Camphor is a toxic compound that can bring about dizziness, lethargy, asthma and rashes. So when you see ‘3 free’ and ‘5’ free nail polishes, these are the ingredients they’re ‘free’ from, with the last two being ‘5’ free. They are all DBP (a type of pthalate) and formaldehyde free. Now, if a manicure is your top priority and something you’re not prepared to cave on, then a 5 free brand is a great, high performance compromise. USA based? Go here for a similar brand.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation For a super low tox nail polish, consider a water based style – They aren’t as high performance / chip proof however. Scotch Naturals is that water based nail polish. It’s completely free from the ‘5’ as well as the other pthalates like polyethylene terepthalate, that often still lurk in “5” free nail polish brands such as 100% Pure and Kester. It’s also free from all the esthers and alcohols of traditional nail polishes. To succeed with water based nail polish however, you definitely need to get the base and top coats. If you’re a nice nails person, you simply won’t be happy unless you’ve gone the whole hog here. Pacific 7 FREE at Nourished life, are only $16,95 AUD. Scroll down the nail polishes to check it out. I have tried it and it’s my favourite of all the lower tox nail polishes out there. My toes are pretty and my mind is at peace – perfect combination!

For KIDS nail painting, you can’t go past the super cute Pure Poppet range.

Now, nail polish remover

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover? Here’s the simple secret: While acetone will work faster at getting the polish off of your nails, non-acetone removers will be gentler to them. So what’s in these removers, anyway? Acetone is a clear, harsh-smelling and highly flammable liquid. It’s a solvent, capable of disintegrating even plastic. This explains why it works so quickly breaking apart and removing your nail polish. Isopropyl alcohol is typically used in the making of acetone. The key active ingredient in non-acetone removers is usually ethyl acetate. Made from ethanol and acetic acid, ethyl acetate is colorless and also flammable. In addition to also being used as a solvent, its fragrant smell has led to its use in perfumes. So, while neither of them is great and has many another chemical in them, Non acetone is definitely a baby step in the direction! I will let you know, trust me, if a higher performance natural nail polish remover hits the market. For water based nail polishes, Scotch Naturals does a remover that I’m unimpressed by. This post here goes deeper into your natural nail remover options and is worth a looksie. For removing the RGB nail polish, they have their own removal pads that are acetone free. Expensive, true. I’ve not tried them but people recommend them in threads I’ve used in the past discussing the topic. Fancy just ditching the polish altogether? There is nothing better than simple, natural, buffed and filed nails. If you look after them naturally, and lather in a low tox lotion, your nails will be gorgeous. It might just be that you fall in love with well-manicured, nude nails. I certainly have and only do toe nails now. I personally wear an RGB nail colour or the Pacific 7 Free now on the toes and that’s it. Day 15 Task What’s your hair & nail plan going to be? Buying new products or perhaps having a go at some of the DIY options on the hair front, to save loads of money AND toxic ingredients in the one go.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Remember, it’s not about a buying frenzy – If anything you’ll be simplifying things as you realise the 8 different shades of nail polish and 15 different hair treatment bottles were total overkill. I have been there!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 16: Plastic Fee Living – Going LOW plastic in a high plastic world

We’ve come so far – Passed the half way mark now. You guys are going so well. It’s so beautiful seeing all the changes and I hope those initial days of fear of the unknown, or rather, what just became known to you, has subsided as we start going gangbusters on some fantastic changes. Love seeing all the pictures on Facebook of DIY efforts, orders arriving, decluttering exercises… So fantastic. This is another topic that could do with its own 30 day course! I aim to provide today a few fresh ideas, some sound stats and some great deeper reading, to help you well on your way to developing your own position and decision on how much plastic you allow into your life. Why should we attempt to reduce our purchase of plastic items moving forward? This film will provide you with the passion to make the changes we need to make. And how can we start to get inspired? Start with my chat with a low tox retail pioneer, Tracey Bailey, founder of BIOME. https://youtu.be/GvAxL2x6uiw Or take it for a walk https://soundcloud.com/alexx_stuart/alexx-chats-to-tracey- bailey Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tracey- Bailey.pdf Of course we’re trying to keep plastics to a minimum. It’s very costly to recycle and damaging to the environment, especially wildlife and ocean life. The most important message on plastic is to reduce where possible and stay away from the BPA / PVC varieties and single use plastics. Life is at best 90/10 as a conscious living person, especially if you’re in the city or a town, because you simply cannot control everything and everyone else’s choices. So, while I say a definite yes on ditching single use drink bottles, shopping bags and smoothie cups (I take my jar to About Life if I’m craving a smoothie and they fill that), BPA, PVC… If you have to get a plastic lunch box here, or your favourite eco

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation cleaning product or make up is in plastic, then relax. You might never eliminate plastic altogether, but every piece of plastic counts and a conscious all round lowering effort that continues to evolve over time, is what feels logical, here, as a collective goal. There is no black and white on this low tox journey. That is why when I first started my blog, thinking of what ‘identifying terms’ resonated with me, “LOW” was the word I chose, when I realised that NO was both impossible as well as the fact that it would mean people might always have a sense that they weren’t doing enough. We’ve seen it in this course with brands under the microscope of a formula change already: If they check out with everything else, but have sustainable palm or low level sodium laurel sulphate: Does it pass? Perhaps for some who’ve just started out, yes it does. For some further along in the journey who want to now work on THEIR next step? Perhaps not anymore and they’re ready to look for the next change to make. You. Are. Doing. Enough. When it comes to plastic it’s probably the biggest and most continuous elimination journey of them all. I’m still going and I started 6 years ago. There will be some things you just want to keep using, and that’s cool. Whatever little choices you have made, where you are with what you can… They’re enough. Until you make the next one. Then that’s enough too. There are enough people judging everyone out there in today’s world – let’s not bring that into a space that is so, so positive and impactful on so many levels.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

I didn’t create this course to create people stressed out of their minds thinking everything is going to kill you. No. The big picture here is delicious change and a better future. Know that that’s the path you’re on and just keep putting a foot in front of the other. Sometimes doesn’t feel simple but it actually is simple. So as we focus on plastics changes, again the focus is to reduce over time and to start becoming conscious when choosing anything new. The one thing to try and reduce the MOST, is single use plastics, i.e, a packet snack or drink packaged in plastic or single use bags. It’s crazy that something goes through so much production to make something that will be used once and then is often times not even possible to recycle. I’ve done a few categories of plastic saving ideas, and then you have a wonderful interview chat with me and the wonderful woman behind BIOME, Tracey Bailey. A few things about plastic to help you get motivated about ditching as much as you can from your day to day purchases: • In 2002 alone, 5 trillion plastic bags were produced. They never fully degrade, they simply break down into micro plastics affecting wildlife and human life as we ingest without knowing. • BPA free plastics may be as bad for you, or even worse for you, than those containing BPA. That’s because alternatives to BPA, like BPF might be even

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation more harmful. There is more and more evidence coming to light on this every day. • Some of the chemicals in plastic are obesogenic – Causing you to put on weight! So by ditching the weirdo packet of fakeness that is a processed chocolate bar, you’re ditching that AND the plastic it’s wrapped in – Double farewell for a better YOU and planet. • Roughly 50% of the world’s plastic production is used ONCE and then thrown away. • The amount of plastic produced in the past 10 years is equal to the amount produced in the entire 20th Century since plastic came into production in the late 1940s. • Throughout the world, around one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed every year by plastics, either entangled and strangled or choked and starved. (source: marine conservation.org) There are so many more horrifying stats on plastic’s take-over of the world, but let’s switch into motivation now, to get us changing that big picture! If you want to follow plastic reduction inspiration on Facebook I recommend: My Plastic Free Life Plastic Free July (A challenge we also run on my page to support each other in ditching more plastic in conjunction with Rebecca and her team. Very cool!) Take3 for the Sea, my environmentalist friend Tim Silverwood Tw o H a n d s Pr o j e c t Responsible Runners At the shops Stop using individual plastic bags for produce and plastic bags for carting your shopping. There is absolutely no need for 3 lemons to go into a single use plastic bag that then get packed into a single use plastic bag. None. My tip with reusable shopping bags? When you unpack the shopping, place them IMMEDIATELY BACK IN FRONT OF YOUR FRONT DOOR so that they go down to the car with you without forgetting them. This will help anyone who’s found it hard, to turn a corner, finally. Of all the low tox changes I made, I think this habit was the hardest – the remembering

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation of the reusable bags so I never had to say yes to a plastic bag. The other corner I turned was suddenly forbidding myself from saying yes to a bag. At first, that meant wrapping shopping in my gym towel, or 6 avocados in my hand bag (I like avocados and I’m pretty sure people thought I was a shoplifter on the way home!) Whatever I wanted had to fit in my hands or hand bag, or I’d have to leave it, because I was not allowed a plastic bag full stop! I was remembering those reusable bags pretty easily after a week or two of that! Stop buying nuts, seeds and other dried goods at the supermarket or most health stores and buy instead from a bulk bin place or a co-op if you can join one in your area. The enormity of plastic that can’t be recycled that is saved in switching to bulk bin shopping is amazing. Truly. You will also save so much money this way. In Australia you can go to Source Wholefoods or Bulk Wholefoods or Naked or Alfafa House in Sydney – which ever is near you in your capital city that I’ve not named – feel free to share! In the UK there’s naturally good foods and perhaps you could start a co-op with your friends, as the quantities are 2.5kg or more? Big savings to be made on organic dry goods this way. Stop buying ‘halves’ of fruit and veg. Half a melon, pumpkin, cauliflower, cabbage or paw paw means plastic wrap. Buy whole and get a little recipe inspiration to ensure you use it all up over the week. A whole cauliflower could be half roasted with turmeric and olive oil and then served with pomegranate and goat’s curd… the other half could be blitzed into a puree with coconut milk and sea salt. Different textures and flavours = not getting bored! Get re-usable produce bags for delicates. I love these ones from 4MyEarth, a beautiful local one-woman-show business run by Bec Hurst, who is doing the course with us – who better to support?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Just wrap your herbs in damp tea towels tightly, to keep them fresh – Never leave them in those plastic wraps they might come in depending where you shop. They wilt far too quickly that way. Ask for a box from the store room if you’ve forgotten your bag. I’m waiting for the day when this stops being met with a blank stare! Ditch the plastic wrapped toilet paper and go with online loo paper ordering that will make you excited to need loo paper – I promise. Welcome to using WHO GIVES A CRAP. The most puntastic site ever to be created since the history of man kind! It is SO much cheaper and all cardboard and paper are fully recyclable. Your kids will love building towers with the loo rolls!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Buy bigger plastic bottles for things like hand wash if you’re not keen on soap or making your own. Often the container can be recycled but the little pump or seal lid can’t. This is where you can cut down on those harder to recycle plastics, by doubling the size of what you buy. For cleaning products, I’m reminding you of the wonderful product range, ReSparkle. The refill concept saves so much plastic from cleaning product purchases, when DIY isn’t your thing.

Choose brands that use less plastic. For example TOM organic still has to wrap their tampons in the individual plastic wrap, BUT their box is cardboard and recyclable. A better choice and of course let’s not forget, organic. Another example is a plastic packet of flour of some kind, vs flour packed in a brown bag with a plastic viewing window instead of the whole thing being plastic. All those tiny little decisions to swap to more conscious brands add up, in our big collective. I so look forward to seeing what discoveries you make on this ‘consciousness growing’ step. With the size of our group, you will literally save 100s of kilos of landfill per week. As Carrie Fischer says in When Harry Met Sally: “I think that’s amazing. Don’t you think that’s amazing?” (Any other fans out there?) Ditch the receipts. Receipts covered in thermal coatings (that plasticky feeling receipt) are covered in BPA in a much more concentrated dose than from food packaging – Say ‘no thanks’ unless you really need that receipt. Stop buying convenient ‘squeeze top’ products like tomato sauce, honey or mayo. Choose a glass jar. You CAN grab a teaspoon and grab what you need. You DON’T need

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation a squeeze bottle. THEY told you you did. Mute the ads and save the planet. Ha! I’m laughing but it’s scarily true.

In the kitchen Stop using cheap ice cube trays that break and split every couple of years after all the bending you have to do to get the cubes out. Invest in a couple of stainless steel ones. You will not regret it, these things are indestructible and totally old school!

JARS. JARS. JARS. Who’s already a pro jar person? I have them everywhere and use for everything! If you’re freezing leftovers in jars to avoid plastic, be sure to leave a comfortable inch at the top so you don’t break the jar when the liquid expands while freezing. If you want to grab a few, BIOME stock some really cute ones. Ditch the plastic wrap. 4MyEarth again has one of my favourite products,the bowl covers. All different shapes and sizes you can use as needed and for whichever bowl size is appropriate.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

These hemp bowl covers from BIOME are wonderful too and perfecto fro covering half a cucumber or a sandwich or whatever else you might need them to cover. Super versatile as they’re foldable.

Ditch the zip lock bags. Start seeing how much you can put into jars, stainless containers, glass bottom containers or simply wrap in sandwich wrap bags / wax coated paper sheets. The simple act of NOT buying that next lot of them, will see your brain creating the new ways to store things. The TV told you that ziplock bags were convenient. Then your habit told you they were. The price of that convenience is massive for your health and the planet’s health and you CAN change this. Tough love is sometimes the answer. Get a cool take away glass takeaway coffee cup, or even bring your jars down for coffees, smoothies or juices to the cafe – They’re cool with it, I promise – No matter

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation how ‘recyclable / degradable’ they tell you a coffee cup or smoothie cup is from a cafe, if it goes into a regular bin, it ends up immortalised in landfill. No good.

Get even more obsessed with jars - Did you really need an excuse? Milk bottles, gift jars for making scrubs as Christmas presses for friends, keep back ones from your tomato paste, honey, coconut oil, rice malt syrup… Keep them all! In the bathroom There is so much to be said for making your own wherever possible if plastic reduction is your main focus. Scrubs and other exfoliants are not only packaged in plastic, but often contain micro plastics – up to 350,000 tiny exfoliating beads per standard tube. CRAZINESS. Use exfoliating mits, dry brushes and wash cloths made of natural fibres.Here are some here.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Buy a sturdy refillable shaver handle made from metal to last you years. Ditch the Plastic, PVC rich curtains. Every hot shower exposes you to toxic PVC vapours (the phthalates are back!) so either ditch the curtain altogether and let it run down the bathroom drain, OR treat yourself to the cutest PVC free shower curtain you ever saw from BIOME! Ditch the plastic floss coated in ‘non-stick’ teflon. Opt for natural brands.

Out and about Straws take an estimable 400 years to break down – and into what and where does that go once it’s ‘broken down’? Into fishies? Into us when we eat the fishies? En route they become tiny fragments of plastic that can easily be accidentally swallowed by

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation wildlife. No good. Try these straws if your family love straws. Bamboo. They also have glass and stainless options. Keep an old plastic fork in your bag at all times (or a real one for that matter) I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used it – kids parties, emergency lunch out and about, food festivals… A quick wipe with a napkin and my natural hand sanitiser and back in the bag in goes. Picnics – You can get some beautiful bamboo fully biodegradable picnic / event gear these days. Love these and these from BIOME. So beautiful! Choose better at the supermarket – Most supermarkets now offer biodegradable picnic and party ware. Buy it – It’s going to send a powerful message that we want MORE of that at BETTER prices. While I rarely shop in a supermarket these days myself, I do still for a few things, and those things are all GREEN. Sippy cups and water bottles – there’s no excuse for plastic these days. Sure the odd mouth piece might be, but in terms of the liquid being in contact with anything for an extended period of time, the body of the product you choose is the most important. Have a little shop here. We use the Life Factory big bottle with the screw top lid and drink by unscrewing the lid completely and straight from the bottle. You decide what’s best for you. Stainless is a great option too, but some people complain of the metallic taste.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation You can always find great op shop finds in glass, crock and stainless. You might want to also go low budget glass water bottle with a VOSS water bottle or other brand, as pictured, and put a sock around it to protect it! Whatever works, and there’s always a low tox, low cost solution!

Can I use silicone? The jury is largely out on silicone. My feeling is that you can freeze with it and make jelly BUT best not use it for baking. Also, stick to 100% silicon products when choosing. Any silicone that is 100%, can contain BPA and the price will tell you everything in the silicone category! To make your decision on silicone, I love the comprehensive nature of this post – She covers all bases! To replace your ‘cookie sheets’ you can go with an enamel one like these ones. If you want to read more about why it’s essential to move towards glass over time with your food storage, Chris Kresser one of my favourite researchers of all time, has written a lot on this subject if you want to dive in here. And in summary today’s task with a precursor: #1: Expect failure!! This is one challenge in which failure is almost certain—and that’s OK. As I talked about, completely eliminating all plastic from your life is darn near impossible. Even the stuff you try to avoid will sometimes creep past your defenses, so rather than stress about a mistake or moment of weakness, just accept it and keep trying.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation #2: Do an audit and make a priority list Deciding to go (mostly) plastic-free can easily leave you feeling overwhelmed. Each of us experienced that sensation, and many of you wrote or commented about that too in these past two weeks. So it’s a good idea to start by IDing some of the bigger plastic inputs in your life, and work on those. Once you’ve established a plastic-free habit with one thing, you can move on to the next one on your list. My favourite truth bomb from my chat with Tracey’s interview? “Plastic fuels the convenience lifestyle”. So true. Here’s to peeling back the layers and lowering the plastics load and the chemicals that come along with it. And remember – just take it one little step at a time.

Remember, this isn’t a buying festival. This is a simplification festival.

You don’t need to replace all the things you might be saying goodbye to. Let it go if it’s not necessary and enjoy the space it creates in your mind and home.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 17: Teeth, fluoride and water filtration

Today we’re exploring toothpaste, fluoride and water filtration. Here’s my transcript of the interview with Dr Ron Ehrlich, founder of the Sydney Holistic Dental Centre and sensational podcast, The Good Doctors. He’s one of the most common sense, wise practitioners I know, as we all look for the answers to a better life both within us and around us. Enjoy!

Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Dr.-Ron- Ehrlich.pdf Now, how about we look at the bestselling toothpaste on the market, in terms of its ingredients. Bless them, I love that they say ‘no Colgate toothpaste contains sugar’ – As soon as something proclaims that it is ‘something free’ ask yourself this simple question: So what IS in it then? It will save you from a lot of weirdness out there! 1. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate – One we know already by now, but to recap… It can be derived from petroleum or palm oil, it can penetrate the skin (gums are SUPER absorbent!) and accumulate in vital organs. It can cause or aggravate acne (hello, foam cleansers for oily skin???). It has suspected liver toxicity and

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation is toxic to aquatic organisms (and there it goes down our water pipes as we spit out!) 2. Glycerin – Has been found to starve teeth of minerals and demineralisation is one of the big keys to developing cavities. 3. Sodium Saccharin – Petroleum derived. Suspected reproductive and developmental toxicity and can cause rash and hives. 4. Flavour – Whatever that means… Can be artificial, can be real, can be toxic, can be not… We don’t like vagueness and secrets in the low fox life! 5. Carrageenan – Extracted from red seaweed and has strong links to inflammatory bowel disease. It may be contaminated with polygeenan, a known carcinogen. Polygeenan is strongly linked to gastrointestinal cancers. 6. Sodium Fluoride – Here’s where the irony begins… Potential effects include dental fluorosis, bone cancer, bone fractures, suspected respiratory, developmental, liver, musculoskeletal and neurotoxicity (Scorecard, Chemical Maze) 7. Triclosan – We’re old hat at this ‘anti-bacterial, thyroid harming, chloroform off gassing number, now aren’t we? The other chemicals in the lineup are harmless, but are they USEFUL in the fight against tooth decay? No. So how did we end up cleaning our teeth with this stuff and how did fluoride become safe to go in drinking water with that wrap above? Well, it’s very complicated. The truth bomb moment when I decided to detox our family from fluoride was the one where I learnt about the 5 major different kinds and which ones were used in our drinking water! Sodium Fluoride is used in most toothpastes, mouthwashes, dental varnish, dental preparations and nutritional supplements. This same form of fluoride is used as an insecticide and pesticide, as a preservative in glues, as a growth inhibitor for bacteria, fungi and mold. Sodium fluoride is also used in making steel and aluminium products. Added to molten metal, sodium fluoride creates a more uniform metal. Other industrial uses for sodium fluoride include glass frosting and wood preservatives. Sodium Fluoride is also used in the manufacture of chemical and

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation biological weapons. Although this form of fluoride can be used for water fluoridation, the next two forms listed are almost always used due to cost. Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) is a compound of calcium and fluorine which occurs naturally as the mineral fluorite – also called fluorspar. Most of the world’s fluorine comes from calcium fluoride. Fluorides in general are toxic to humans, however CaF2 is considered the least toxic, and even relatively harmless due to its extreme insolubility. Moreover, calcium is a well-known antidote for fluoride poisoning. When an antidote exists in combination with a poison, it makes the poison far less toxic to the body. Calcium fluoride is the form of fluoride commonly found in natural, untreated waters. Cryolite or Sodium Aluminium Fluoride is commonly used for aluminium smelting, though is also a pesticide often applied directly to field crops, resulting in permitted fluoride residues in and on fresh fruits and vegetables. Fluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6) is commonly used for water fluoridation. This form of fluoride is a toxic liquid by-product, acquired by scrubbing the chimney stacks of phosphate fertilizer manufacture. Other names for it are hexafluorosilicic, hexafluosilicic, hydrofluosilicic, and silicofluoric acid. The CDC approximates that 95% of our water is fluoridated with fluorosilicic acid. (http://www.cdc.gov/ fluoridation/fact_sheets/engineering/wfadditives.htm#1) Sodium Fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6) is primarily added to public drinking water as a fluoridation agent. This same compound is also used as an insecticide and a wood preservative. It is a classified hazardous waste by-product of phosphate fertilizer manufacture which, if not put into our drinking water, must be disposed of at hazardous waste facilities. Other names for it are Sodium Fluosilicate and Sodium Silica Fluoride. (Source: Fluoride Detective) So the 4th and 5th types are toxic waste products of industry that are extremely expensive and dangerous to dispose of as hazardous waste, and yet able to be earned money on as a product sold to governments and water companies, if they go in our drinking water? Yes, you can call me Erin Brochokivch from now on, but does this not smell very fishy to you? All too convenient a solution? It’s illegal to dump and must be disposed of as a hazardous waste product BUT it’s legal to dump IN US? So how do we leave such a big ingrained truth that fluoride is good for us? Well, I’ve invited two wonderful and gentle experts to discuss their feelings and views on the subject.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation You have the wonderful wisdom of Dr Ron Ehrlich in our chat above, which I encourage you to listen to when you have 30 minutes. And I also wanted to share some thoughts from the very experienced natural practitioner and BMedSc as well as Advanced Dips in Naturopathy and Nutrition, Tabitha McIntosh, who you now know from the low tox kid’s day. She’s passionate about pure drinking water and has researched the topic extensively. Tabitha writes… Fluoride is everywhere – it’s in tap & drinking water, a common ingredient in pesticides and insecticide residue on fruits & vegetables, commercial juices, soft drinks, prepared baby foods, toothpastes, and more. A major source of fluoride in Australia of course is our tap water: where it is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and toxic in large amounts. It’s derived from the superphosphate fertiliser industry – classified as a hazardous waste – and is banned in water, mouth washes and breath drops in some other countries. Nothing in health is one size fits all. And one of the major issues is, that once we put fluoride into the water, we can’t control the dose: the margin for safety is diminished. The level of fluoride put into tap water in Australia (1ppm) is 100 times higher than normally found in mother’s milk (0.01ppm). For example consider a four month old baby – in early stage neurodevelopment, with a porous blood brain barrier – receiving towards one litre of formula milk made up on boiled tap water, where proportional to body weight, fluoride intake is dangerously high. This scenario is not uncommon, and perhaps is a reason that fluoride is mentioned as a developmental neurotoxicant in Landrigan’s 2014 paper. Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity, published in the Lancet Neurology. www.thelancet.com/neurology Vol13 March2014, accesses 2 Mac 2014. Many health authorities including the World Health Organisation and the Australian government say that low levels of fluoride in drinking water is safe and protects teeth against decay, but Dr Grandjean and Dr Landrigan (ref Lancet Neurology March 2014) said a meta-analysis of 27 studies, mainly from China, had found children in areas with high levels of fluoride in water had significantly lower IQ scores than those living in low-fluoride areas – on average decrement of about 7 IQ points (ref 44 in Landrigan paper). . We do know that during foetal life and early infancy, the blood brain barrier provides only partial protection against the entry of chemicals such as fluoride into the CNS, and whilst Fluoride is protective against dental decay when applied topically to the teeth, it is not supposed to be in the brain, ever.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation The other issue is that obviously, once fluoride is put into tap water, we can’t control the dose given to any specific individual. For example, if a 5kg infant is feeding on 1L of formula daily, made up with boiled tap water (boiling does not get rid of trace metals like Fluoride), then that infants exposure to fluoride becomes absolutely excessive, and the repetitive exposures have potential for much harm. Fluoride ingestion is associated with a wide range of health effects: too much systemic fluoride interferes with many biological processes: enzymes, gene proteins, and competing with mineral uptake. Health effects Fluoride appears to become really problematic to humans in two scenarios: when intake is extremely high; and/or when intake of other important micronutrients and minerals is low and inadequate. The primary health issues ascribed to fluoride consumption are bone health and thyroid dysfunction, for which there is ample evidence. And overexposed to fluoride we are! Virtually all foodstuffs contain at least trace amounts of fluoride. When water is fluoridated, it is not just the water that is fluoridated, but all foods and beverages that are made with the water. A common presentation of overexposure is dental fluorosis (mottling & discolouration of tooth enamel). Fluoride is also bio-accumulative in bone, potentially weakening the bone structure (skeletal fluorosis), contributing in some cases to osteopenia and osteoporosis. Twenty-four studies have shown a link between high fluoride exposure and the lowering of IQ. Getting too much fluoride in your daily cuppa also has potential to compromise thyroid function, or more specifically Iodine uptake into the thyroid. The more one reads into the literature, the more Hypothyroid conditions take on a new perspective. In regards to the second scenario above, Iodine deficiency & sub-optimal Iodine status has become a huge problem in the last decade with the cessation of Iodine based sterilising agents in our commercial Dairies. Iodine is critically important in pregnancy for neuropsychological development in our babies. But are we an ‘Iodine-deficient population’? or “over-fluorinated & over-chlorinated population?” Whichever scenario, it involves children with reduced IQ’s which is not an ideal scenario, especially because the brain power of the next generation is crucial to all of us. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). The 22nd Australian Total Diet Study. Canberra FSANZ, 2008.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Li M, Ma G et al. Re-emergence of Iodine deficiency in Australia. Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr. 2001;10(3):200-3. The evidence of health effects are far reaching. There are many gaps in our knowledge about long-term health risks associated with exposure to systemically ingested fluoride, however numerous authors who have found evidence of increases in dental fluorosis have called for more research on potential links with skeletal fluorosis, bone fractures, bone cancer, joint pain, thyroid damage, mental and physiological changes and dementia.”

Wow. An amazing piece on fluoride and involuntary amounts of bioaccumulation being the real danger when it comes to fluoride in modern life! And… have you got some bicarb in the cupboard? Good, you can use that before finding a natural toothpaste tomorrow! It’s all Julia Roberts uses, as learnt from her grandpa So what’s the real secret to preventing tooth decay then? Well,Weston A Price a dentist in the 1930s made a decade of his life’s work, the study of traditional cultures eating traditional unprocessed foods. It’s a fascinating book if you fancy reading it. Click on his name above. What did he find? That cultures that had not been introduced to refined grains and sugar, and ate a traditional diet of whatever ‘their people’ ate (everything from blubber to raw cream and sourdough to vegetarian to cultured foods and liver and more) showed little tooth decay if any. Ramiel Nagel also has an excellent book on cavity reversal and prevention, in little people and grownups alike. Great read. He talks about many things, including the fact that bacteria aren’t the problem, it’s a lack of nutrition. The pattern continues to emerge as I write and research in this field more and more, and that is: Real, nutrient dense and colourful food, with minimal to no refined and processed foods, gets you a long way to feeling awesome and having a strong body. This being the majority of your food will prevent tooth decay the most powerful way possible. Think of nails as an easy example. Nails that break and are brittle and have white spots and ridges… They’re a sign of mineral deficiency. The miracle of a little detox work and possible mineral supplementation and foods rich in minerals (Go on, eat those oysters, I told you to!) to get your stores back up gives you beautiful hard,

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation invincible nails. Teeth are the same. Our bodies are the same. Not enough minerals (and of course other things) and things stop functioning at their best. Note here: See a nutritionist / naturopathic practitioner or go and visit a holistic dentist like mine, Dr Ron Ehrlich of the Sydney Holistic Dental Centre if you’re in Sydney, for an individual assessment if you’re concerned about constant cavities, fluorosis or deficiencies. It’s great if you have a problem to inform yourself with internet research, but best to see a practitioner to discuss individual case and bring them your questions that relate only to you. It is entirely up to you to decide whether you want to err on the side of caution or continue to just drink tap water – You aren’t wrong for having an opinion. Everyone simply acts to the best of their knowledge, and I would feel irresponsible NOT presenting a different way of thinking so that your choice was informed, rather than dictated. Here are toothpaste, mouthwash options: Toot hpast e You could go the Julia Roberts vibe of simply using Bicarb soda OR check out these other options in the Healthy Home Economist post. Some people argue that bicarb long term strips your teeth, while others say ‘go for it’. My feeling is it’s great for a short ‘brighten phase’ but best use a gentler natural tooth paste daily. You could dabble in this remineralising toothpaste from Every Day Paleo There’s a great little Australian business that makes wonderful holistic tooth products called Tooth Tonic. I’ve tried their tooth oil and it is fabulous.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Mouth Wash This is a great recipe for a DIY mouthwash. Just be sure to use aluminium free bicarb and to use food grade essential oil if you’re going to make this. Try Oil Pulling Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic practice of swishing oil (sesame or coconut) around the mouth for 5-20 minutes and spitting it out along with all the impurities it will drag out from your gums in the process. People report incredible results. I have a strong detoxification reaction if I do it for too long, and stick to 5 minutes. The best time to do it is first thing in the morning before food. Another great benefit of oil pulling is the teeth whitening aspect. Speaking of whitening. Whitening Activated charcoal is an excellent whitener as is a diluted hydrogen peroxide gel (under guidance of your dentist only though!) Read a little more here on oil pulling with activated charcoal. Living the Nourished Life in fact, is a great resource for natural dental care. Floss

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation What, wait, floss is toxic too? I’m afraid so. I wrote about it here along with road tested options on my blog.

Commercial brands of toothpaste to road test? I’ve tried and love Weleda’s ones. I actually quite enjoy just changing between the ones in their range to get variety. Their children’s tooth gel is wonderful and that’s what my little guy uses.

BIOME has a nice big range of tooth related products to check out here. The lowest tox yet most ‘traditional minty’ tasting, is definitely the JASON toothpaste.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

There are loads of other brands. Have a little look around, make your own, try different types. Enjoy the discovery process. Flossing every day and brushing twice a day along with eating a low sugar, nutrient dense diet seems to equal a healthy mouth and teeth, in the books I’ve read on the subject and the practitioners I’ve spoken with in the holistic space. Remember as Ron says: Our teeth are attached to a body – yours. They can sometimes be a glaring indication of inflammation somewhere else in the body, or a poorly digestive system due to a lack of nutrients being absorbed, or other things. On this topic if you’ve any questions, take to your practitioner and discuss and do some research to feel informed in the discussion and have good questions to ask. Further resources that suggest fluoride as used today in our water and in daily use, might not be the best idea. Watch the Fluoride Deception Interview with creator Chris Bryson and the award winning documentary Fluoridegate – Great and shocking investigative looks at Fluoride – the history and the situation today. Time to change the conversation when it comes to fluoride and where is our most frequent exposure to fluoride? Not in our toothpaste, but in our drinking water, several times a day. Which brings me to water filtration. WATER FILTRATION

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Given that fluoride is still touted as a benefit by governments and many dentists, I need to remind you here: This is your choice to make and I’m certainly not telling you what to do. I’m the first to admit that I am no expert on fluoride and filtration, but personally I believe I’ve gathered all the information I need, to believe that it’s not something I want in my daily drink. So if you believe the same, we of course want some options! When it comes to filtering water, it’s not just the fluoride that is potentially harmful, but chlorine vapor, pesticides and other residues that are best removed. Ideally, we want a filter that’s going to deal with the lot and whatever you can afford is absolutely better than nothing. Given our skin soaks up so much water, what do we do for our showers and baths? Can we filter our whole houses’ water? There are different types of water filtration processes for those of you who want to know – If you feel yourself glazing over, just pop down to the recommendations if you want to start looking into options for your home. Here are the main processes: 1. Distilling water Distillation is just about the oldest method of water purification. Water is first heated to boiling. Then the water vapor rises to a condenser where cooling water lowers the temperature so the vapor is condensed, collected and stored. Most contaminants stay behind in the liquid phase vessel. However there can sometimes be what is called carry-overs found in the distilled water. Organics such as herbicides and pesticides and the heavy metals within them, can actually become concentrated in the product water – this is why if you’re feeding a baby with formula it’s important NOT to do the ‘boiled water’ method. Distilled water lacks oxygen and minerals and has a flat taste, which is why it is mostly used in industrial processes. Not a good one for our drinking water options. Next! 2. Ion Exchange The ion exchange process percolates water through bead-like spherical resin materials (ion-exchange resins). Ions in the water are exchanged for other ions fixed to the beads. The two most common ion-exchange methods are softening and deionization. Deionization can be an important component of a total water purification system when used in combination with other methods discussed in this primer such as RO filtration and carbon adsorption. DI systems effectively remove ions, but they do not effectively remove most organics or microorganisms. Microorganisms can attach to the

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation resins, providing a culture media for rapid bacterial growth and subsequent pyrogen generation. Not quite what we’re looking for either – we want more! 3. Carbon Adsorption Carbon absorption is a widely used method of home water filter treatment because of its ability to improve water by removing disagreeable tastes and odors, including objectionable chlorine. Activated carbon effectively removes many chemicals and gases, and in some cases it can be effective against microorganisms. However, generally it will not affect total dissolved solids, hardness, or heavy metals. So to get the fluoride out of our drinking water, we still need more than simply carbon! 4. Reverse Osmosis Reverse Osmosis, a water treatment method traditionally known for removing salt from seawater, is also used to purify drinking water by forcing untreated water molecules through a semipermeable membrane or filter. The membrane blocks contaminants and the impurities are subsequently expelled from the environment. The result is pure, clean drinking water.The Reverse Osmosis membrane has a tight pore structure (less than 0.0001 micron or 500,000 times less than the diameter of a human hair) that effectively removes up to 99% of all contaminants and impurities such as total dissolved solids, chemicals, bacteria and viruses from drinking water. Anti-microbial filters used in Reverse Osmosis also help to remove unwanted odors, colors and tastes from water. Reverse Osmosis filtration technology is so effective that it is used by most leading water bottling plants. There are arguments that reverse osmosis starves the body of minerals, but to date it seems, that if you have a diet rich in minerals through clean food including sea vegetables and mineral rich salt such as Himalayan at a pinch here and there with meals or even in your water, then that isn’t an issue. 5. Bone Char – Say what? Brimac is a High Calcium Bone Char made of charred animal bone. Bovine (cow) bones are taken from cold storage, thoroughly cleaned and put in sun and rain for at least 90 days and totally dried. It is then carbonized at 1472 degrees Fahrenheit in controlled conditions. The result is Kosher Certified, 100% organic bone char made of 80% phosphate of calcium, 10% carbon and 10% calcium carbonate. It lasts a long time, has no toxicity and leaves behind beneficial minerals. There is no pH effect and it can remove chlorine, heavy metals and radioactive isotopes on top of fluoride. Bone char is considered a more effective contaminate remover than coconut because it is

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation hundreds of times more porous and contains calcium which attract the fluoride. Fluoride removal requires greater contact time for its removal as it is considered a dissolved solid. The calcium content in the bone is what removes fluoride. Calcium attracts the fluoride whether it is calcium or sodium-based. This is why multi-stage bone char filter systems are recommended. Two stage systems will remove about 50% of fluoride, three stage systems will remove about 75% and four stage systems remove about 95% based on a 1.5ppm fluoride level. My issue with Bone char is: How do we know that the bones used in this are cruelty free farmed which will also mean hormone, GMO and antibiotic free? How does that work ethically with vegan / vegetarian friends at my house for dinner? I would feel bad, even as an omnivore who has no issue with the concept personally. I’m still researching bone char and I want to be completely transparent on that – I don’t have the answer yet and there is conflicting information on this technique. 6. Kangen Water Filter – An ultra-luxury priced alkalising water system, purported to be the most potent and powerful one, making the water molecules smaller and thus faster hydrating to us. I’ve yet to research this type of water filter in depth, but wanted to add it in here as it is a current option and choice people are making. As I firm up any research of my own, I always share with alumni. You might be saying… Argh, it’s all too complicated, just tell me what filter I need? There are a few questions you can ask yourself to get to the answer of what you might like to choose for your home here, thanks to Pure Magic Water purifiers. These questions will cover most questions for city / country dwellers for the basic level of knowledge depth we’re going into today. What is my major concern about the drinking water? If you are concerned with just the bad taste or smell, choose a system with a carbon filter. It will remove the taste and smell and you can enjoy delicious water. If you want to remove fluoride or heavy metals such as copper, lead, aluminum, cadmium, mercury, etc., choose a Reverse Osmosis System. What type of water source do I have? If you live in the city, your treated water is generally safe from pathogens, harmful bacteria and viruses. You have a wide range of choices, depending on the water quality you expect. If you use tank, rain, bore or stream water, you may need

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation protection from Giardia, Cryptosporidium, blue-green algae, harmful bacteria and other micro-organisms. Depending on the situation, you may also need extra protection from certain heavy metals and/or chemicals and you may need to soften your water as well. If you are on low water mains pressure below 60 psi, Reverse Osmosis may not function properly without a booster pump. How much water do I need, and how quickly do I need it? If you have a large family with children, running a busy life, you may need real time filtration or an automatic type reverse osmosis system rather than a slow, small- capacity gravity or jug type filter. If you are a couple or a small family and have a plenty of time of your own, a manual wall mount type Reverse Osmosis might be a good choice. If you are single, a counter top or jug type filter may be enough. How much and what part of my water should be filtered? If the filtered water is just for drinking and cooking, point-of-use systems installed under the sink are most economical. If you want clean water for your shower, you can use a shower filter. If you want all the water in your household filtered, a whole house system (point-of-entry) is available. How much do I want to spend? If your budget is between $100 – $200, you can buy a single counter top or a gravity- feed terracotta/ceramic. If your budget is between $200 – $600, a 2-stage/3-stage under-sink system and a manual/potable reverse osmosis are within your budget. If you can spend $600 – $2500, a deluxe, under-sink, automatic reverse osmosis system or a distiller can be yours. Types of filters The most important thing here is not to stress. If your budget is small, you don’t need to feel bad about not getting the full under-the-sink filter system or whole house system. Any filtration choice is better than none. If the best you can do is plan for it within the next year? Then that’s a great thing to be working towards. A simple, small-ish counter top jug (that isn’t the prettiest thing in the world but is very effective) is the AcePot jug. Yes, it’s plastic but you’ll recall Dr Dingle’s research around plastic kept at length in a vessel? The AcePot is BPA and pthalate free and if you’re drinking water daily, your water never spends more than a day in the filter

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation before being finished and replaced. Just be sure to finish it completely before using a new one so the fresh water is always circulating.

Next up is this beautiful fluoride (and everything else) removal, ceramic counter top 12L. Great value. Lovely design and from BIOME. Perfect for families and my choice. If you’re in the market, save big time and make use of that LOWTOX free shipping with this during the course!

Next up, is this really reasonable, yet effective under the sink system from a company that’s been operating for over 10 years (beware dodgy internet sites with no shop or local number that you can call. I like to know that the people behind my water filtering are legitimate and have been doing it for a long time!) Many alumni have gone through them and been very, very happy. More powerful 4 stage reverse osmosis and whole house systems can be found here. If you’ve already installed something on this scale and are happy with the service and

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation the product – why not share with the group on Facebook? I’d love to add more local businesses to your area to the compendium for the end of the course. If you wanted to go for a countertop option but then were worried about the shower – after all, we’re breathing in vapours and bathing in shower water for around 10 minutes, then a simple shower filter is the answer. We have this one and I can’t quite believe how ‘swimming pooly’ other showers are at the gym or swimming pool. A note on baths I came across a nifty trick to neutralise chlorine for your kids’ and your bath. All it takes is a teaspoon of vitamin C (Ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate forms are the ones that works well) More information on that here. Why is the chlorine important to get out? Well, kids are tiny and notorious for having really long baths. To make it the safest possible and avoid chlorine breathing or absorption on their skin, that little teaspoon of vitamin C in the bath 2-4 minutes before they get in, is a small thing to do for a purer bathing experience for us all, don’t you think? We’ll talk more about detoxing in the bath in a few days! Note – I don’t recommend those forms of vitamin C for taking orally, as there is evidence to support that they disturb gut bacteria. Natural C is best through food and ‘trendy’ natural vitamin C concentrates such as acerola or camu camu if you feel you need a C boost, rather than Ascorbic acid. Can’t I just buy bottled water for our home? There’s nothing stopping you, BUT: Consider single use plastic as the greatest contributor to landfill today and how it’s not sustainable for our future. Consider also, Dr Peter Dingle’s research on the length of time water is in the plastic, rather than the ‘sippy cup single day’ scenario, with water constantly changing over. That branded water is bottled and shipped and sat on store shelves for weeks before selling, and that is where the concern is: The time it spends in that bottle. So, it’s fine for every now and then, but as an every day source, not so much. US Resource for counter top and home filters? Go here. UK Resource for counter top and home filters? Go here. Water filtration is a BIG and complex topic and this could be a 7 day course in itself. So today’s module is really here to help people starting out on the water filtration journey and present a few cost effective options.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation I truly believe, along with every holistic practitioner I’ve met and interviewed, that this should be a priority for people’s homes for the long term. The refills are inexpensive and they’re a great investment piece in your low tox armour not just against fluoride, but pesticide, antibiotic residues, pathogenic bacteria, chlorine and heavy metals. We drink litres and litres of water each week and this is such a great way to reduce daily toxin exposure. If you haven’t made the time to listen to my chat with Dr Ron Ehrlich, why not take the time now to delve into the science in an easy to understand way? Here it is again. You can catch Ron’s awesome podcast “The Good Doctors” too here – Be careful, you may never come out! So many interesting topics. Day 17 Task In your household, talk about water filtration. Maybe you want to watch one of the documentaries from today’s lesson on fluoridation with your partner to go on the journey together, or listen to my interview with Ron above. Maybe you want to sharethis simple article by Tabitha McIntosh about drinking water in general. In this piece talks about tap water in general and is a great, non-pushy piece presenting the facts to stop family from thinking you’re a whacko all of a sudden! Assure yourself that it doesn’t need to be actionable today or even next month, but decide together on the priority and make a plan. Whatever you decide to do, think about this: Given the amount of water we put on and IN us, doesn’t it stand to reason we would want to be informed about what’s in it and what the effects of what’s in it might be IN us?

Day 18: Low Tox Mind Series – with Tom Cronin

Ah… Sunday. How are your low tox mind shifts coming along? I won’t be adding to them this week and if you’ve skipped them because ‘they’re not as important’ then

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation today is your chance to head back to modules 11 and 4 and take a littel reflection time. Tom Cronin, founder of the stillness project is someone I adore in the meditation space. He’s particularly awesome, I think, because hie didn’t have an epiphany and ‘leave’ his high stress and output job, to become a meditation teacher. He spent a number of years still in his field mastering the benefits of meditation in a busy, modern life. So, yes – it’s possible. My Real Food Rockstars have done this meditaiton before. To everyone new to it, I hope you enjoy it. It’s very simple and one that I come back to often. Video - https://youtu.be/L45Y_nHRIYw Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tom- Cronin-LTL.pdf If you’ve been loving Sundays and want a little more meditative exploration, join Deepak Chopra and Oprah run a free 21 day meditation challenge twice a year worth doing and there are many online and local resources these days to help you get started. These challenges are so, so good. I could listen to that man’s voice forever! I’ll be doing it, and I couldn’t think of anything more awesome to do while we work on detoxing our lives! Enjoy your Sunday and enjoy the continued decluttering that’s happening for you. How good is it?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 19: Cookware & Bakeware

So here we are in the kitchen – to me, the centre of the house. It’s where we come together to share our family stories of the day. It’s where we have an opportunity to create and provide – to appreciate and give thanks. It’s a place where, if we do it right, we can be truly present in our day. It’s also a place of mass consumption that can all too easily have us lose sight of all the good things above. “You need *this* to be happy, you need *that* to get you through, take this pouch, by this $12 non-stick pan, have 3 for the price of two and throw the last one in the bin anyway because actually, it was just too much!” There is so much noise all day every day coming at us from billboards, google ads, YouTube ads, magazines, TV, radio… We need. We want. We deserve…

But ask yourself this… How many cheap chopping boards, utensils and frying pans have you bought in the past 12-15 years, needing to replace them every couple of years? After a time, they’re tatty and scratched with little bits of plastic peeling off or Teflon peeling off and besides, you want that new, fresh feeling. I spent hundreds on these sorts of items over the years if you add it all up, and for what? For more waste, more spending, a brief feeling of ‘ahhhh newness’ and then months later wanting MORE. I believe one of the pieces of the puzzle in undertaking this journey is to get comfortable with wanting less. It’s a natural part of going low fox in many ways. We wake up to the crazy marketing messages and we feel the urge to turn things back to a simpler, more natural time and way of life. It took my precious Grandmère passing away 4 years ago, to learn the true value of quality and investment like our grandparents used to do. I was offered her chicken roasting pan by my auntie to bring back here to Australia, that had belonged to her. I had always loved it. I’d always loved the tiny brown saucepan too for some reason – nostalgia for holidays in Mauritius visiting my family, I suppose. Anyway, I got home to Sydney and was curious to see just how old these two pieces were. 1.9.7.2. Yes, I’ll say it again: 1972, limited edition Le Creuset. That roasting pan has been the vessel for roasts in my family therefore now for 42 years. There has been no need to freshen

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation up, update, replace or toss out because it’s indestructible and with age, actually becomes more loveable. This is my Le Creuset collection today. I’ve picked up a medium saucepan from Mum from the late 70s when we lived in Chicago and more recently, my prize possession: The big red pot for slow cooking in the oven which instead of other vacuous or lavish gifts from Mum and Dad for overseeing their renovations a few years back, I just wanted this one thing.

It’s our culture that says we’re snobs for buying such things as an expensive cooking pot – I say we’re environmentalists. So much cheap stuff goes into landfill every year, because it was never good quality in the first place. My kids and their kids will still be using these pans and that makes me so happy! Our new motto? Buy Better. Buy less often. Waaaaaaay less often. CHERISH. So, you clearly see I recommend this beautiful brand as a low tox option – for the fact that the material is low fox but also the fact that it’s so, so durable and therefore a great environmental option. What can we use to cook in? Here we go! A few materials to familiarise yourselves with first “Non-stick” Teflon coating. Nasty stuff. Read my post about Teflon here. And everything else it’s in apart from bake / cookware.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation My number one recommendation for whatever low tox pans in your kitchen you end up using, is to buy 2-3 different ones and rotate through them to avoid any metal imbalances. Cast Iron can leach iron if not properly seasoned, stainless steel type- depending, can leach nickel, and aluminium… well, that one we just shouldn’t have in my humble opinion, due to it’s neurotic implications. Cast iron A great cooking material. Ideal for stir fries, pan frying and roasting. It’s a good idea to keep your cast iron pots or skillet well-seasoned to prevent excessive iron leaching – which is often argued wouldn’t be a bad thing, given anaemia is so prevalent today. BUT we can only lose excess iron through bleeding, so you also don’t want it to build up in your system. So, if you’re going to use cast iron, ensure you season it to avoid leaching, and it wouldn’t hurt to give blood once a year to ensure you don’t get an excess iron build up in your system. Read more here. I still don’t consider it unsafe as a general rule. Just a good low tox one to rotate through your pots and pans usage. How to season your pan? READ HERE. Ceramic and glass You get what you pay for in the land of ceramics and glass – Buy better and avoid dodgy fillers / impurities from the making of the product such as lead or cadmium. They are easily cleaned and can be heated to fairly high temperatures. High quality ceramic and enamelware cookware is glazed to resist wear and corrosion. Le Creuset is the best in ceramics. Buy for a life time and pass down to your children. Pyrex is the best cooking glass. Brilliant, that one can bake something, cool and pop the lid on leftovers, and take the lid off to bake again the next day - My kind o’ kitchen helper! Enamel / porcelain cookware As long as the coating remains in good condition, the surface of these pots is durable, with no metal leaching into the food. Good quality cookware will have an extremely hard finish that is fused to the metal and won’t scratch, rust, fade or peel. However, some lower-priced cookware, which resembles porcelain-enamel, has an easily- damaged baked enamel finish. Baked enamel is fine for serving plates (such as the hugely popular Falcon range) but not very reliable for cooking unless you really keep an eye on those scratches where the metal can then leach.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Aluminum – It’s a great heat conductor, lightweight, inexpensive and easy to clean. However, some aluminium is dissolved into food when you are cooking acidic foods like fruits and tomatoes or anything containing vinegar. Even if there is little risk from exposure to the levels of aluminium released into food from cooking, we are exposed to aluminium cumulatively from many other environmental sources, as well as cooking with it over time. In addition, salty water or food can pit aluminium cookware, making older pots a possible source of trace amounts of substances like arsenic and fluorides. I choose not to use it for these reasons. (source: Wendy Priesnitz, journalist, Natural Life). Anodized aluminium is different, where the aluminium doesn’t leach into the food. HOWEVER, many cheap brands combine it with PFOA / PTFE technology and so it’s pointless. Le Creuset do a frying pan that isn’t blended with any nasties. Worth a look if you’re already missing the non-stick pan at the thought of today’s information. Stainless steel – Wonderful, although some scientists suggest there are very low levels of various metals released over time into the food. The better the quality the tougher the pan, so always again think ‘investment and long term’ when it comes to stainless steel. The potential issue with stainless steel is nickel leaching. 18/10 stainless steel is the best you can kind for avoiding nickel. I love this Nutrition Coach post to help further explain the situation. The principal elements in stainless that have negative effects on our health are iron, chromium and nickel. My favourite brands for avoiding nickel are my brushed black stainless De Buyer pans, and Raco. Copper Copper is both a toxic heavy metal and a mineral that is essential to good health. What to do? Symptoms of copper toxicity include trouble concentrating, tender calf muscles, unexplained nausea, irritability, hyperactivity, constant fatigue, and chronic joint pain. So, for cooking it’s a bit like aluminium in that if you have something acidic, best use something else to cook it in. For the odd pretty soufflé in a restaurant – don’t stress but definitely not a good one for slow cooking. “Green non-stick” – The non-stick technology such as Scanpan’s ‘green tech’, is the one where the PFOAs (Teflon) have not been used. BUT that still means PTFEs from the same company and to me, this seems like of like ‘oh, but a little bit of BPA is ok’. It would be remiss of me to recommend something to you where I had doubts myself,

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation and in the case of any try hard non sticks pretending to be low tox, it feels like a case of “It’s a little bit greener” rather than SAFE – the ultimate goal. Silicone – Is simply bonded with oxygen and then died and moulded into all the shapes of today! I don’t recommend it because when in an oven is smells funny. That’s enough for me. I freeze things in it and refrigerate, but I don’t cook with it. Brushed metal “wok seasoned” finish This to me is the best performing non-stick situation for low tox living. As long as you season the pan well, you will prevent rust and you get a really impressive non-stick vibe. My De Buyer pans once seasoned were non-stick – perfect for eggs and omelettes. I have a mini 20cm one and a larger one. They’re not super light but I’d take low fox over a ‘light’ Teflon coating any day. Good for the arm muscles! So what cookware to choose? Research what feels comfortable for you and best to get 2-3 pieces in different materials – 1 frying pan and one medium to large saucepan in a great, sturdy brand, and a big crock pot. I have the above Le Creuset pieces, 1 medium stainless pot, 1 humungous stainless stock pot and 1 stainless colander. We also have 3 frying pans, a pressure cooker (see below) and a thermomix. I use wooden utensils with a few stainless ones too such as a ‘flipper’ for pancakes or omelets. If you’re after specific brands, google will tell you exactly what they’re up to. Frying pans Bring back healthy fats and cook in stainless steel or brushed black metal that you season. The best of the ceramic pans are Baccarat Bio and le Creuset. The others don’t seem to perform as well for as long, and need regular replacing with scratched surfaces – No thank you! Slow cookers Watch out for ‘non stick surface’ slow cookers. Ensure yours is ceramic, and pop it on a BUY SWAP SELL page local to you if it’s teflon coated and go and get a ceramic one next time you’re able to. If food’s going to be spending hours and hours in a vessel, we want to ensure that’s a low tox vessel, right? SUNBEAM does a great ceramic 4.5L

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation one under $100 and there are many more out there. Just remember - Ceramic NOT Non Stick coating, and you’ll be a low tox slow cooking rockstar.

Baking There is so much non-stick madness in the land of bake ware. I hear you! BUT, find a chef’s supply shop near you or online and a world of stainless steel options will present themselves. In Sydney I get all kitchen equipment from Chef’s Warehouse in Surry Hills. Then, you not only get the benefit of the stainless, but of really good quality equipment that’s made to last in busy commercial kitchens. Quiche tins, muffin tins, trays, cake tins… All available in stainless, no problem! So find a hospitality shop in your neck of the woods, or shop online googling ‘stainless steel’ and you’ll hap upon things like THIS TRAY and more on your internet travels. Parchment paper can even be toxic would you believe? Most parchment paper is pressed into a sheet, then dipped into an acid bath, washed, and “passed over a series of hot rotating drums that realign the fibers and give the paper its strength,” – Yikes! The only parchment paper I recommend is the If You Care range and depending on your feelings on silicone as talked about yesterday, it’s your call whether you use it. I can only advise on the ‘lowest tox’ on the market today and this is it – no bleach nor chlorine, which are both certain to cause harm and leach into food, whereas silicone, not so definite on the harm front. Do I need Patty Pans / Muffin liners? I don’t use them any more unless it’s for someone’s party and I’m taking a plate. They’re a waste. All you need to do is generously oil your tins with oil or melted butter and things should pop out well. If you really want some though, go for the If You Care ones. Your cookies and biscuits can go straight onto the stainless steel baking tray, provided it’s been really well oiled. I wouldn’t use brightly coloured silicone mats for baking. What does the colour come from? Is it 100% silicone? If it smells funny – why? Falcon does a nice enamel ‘cookie sheet’ too so you can pass on the silicon. You can also get various stainless baking trays through this hospitality store online

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Chopping boards The “plastic is safer” myth bugs me. Think about old plastic chopping boards. You’re literally cutting micro plastic into your dishes with every stroke of the knife. How can that be good for us? While it may seem like plastic is non-porous and can’t absorb liquids, with use the surface becomes scarred really quickly. This rough surface is exceptionally difficult to clean, even with harsh cleaners or running through the dishwasher – hmmm plastic through the dishwasher, no thank you! Wood, by contrast, shows the ability to halt the growth of and kill bacteria applied to its surface. Both new and used wooden cutting boards maintain this ability equally well. Again this comes down to quality. I’m lucky to have a husband who’s an artisan woodworker, and we’ve had 3 boards in our home pretty much since we started living together 9 years ago with no sign at all of letting up – Before then, I’d bought several plastic boards and subsequent ‘freshen ups’ in my 20s. Again… Quality trumping ‘shiny and new’. Pressure cookers A pressure cooker is an amazing way to save time by doing slow cooked dishes in a fraction of the time as well as save you on energy bills. I recommend the Tefal Acticook – Amazing performance and fully stainless steel except for a small colander handler, which I therefore leave out the colander and steam veggies on the side. You can do a lamb shoulder or pulled pork in 70 minutes compared to a whole day in the oven! Energy bill and time saving at it’s best. There are speculations on nutritional loss or protein changes with pressure cooking, but they are inconclusive. I am undecided too as it somehow seems unnatural to ‘force’ cooking to be fast, but if it’s time and energy saving you need as a top priority, then a pressure cooker that’s fully metal is a great choice.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Thermomix I have one but admit that I don’t use the steam basket or varoma – I just can’t get my head around using any form of plastic with heat in combination. They do say it’s perfectly safe, yes, but I just can’t do it, personally. I love the thermomix for everything else it can do and my 3 second salads, flat bread dough and 7 minute custards. I won’t be trading it in any time soon but gee I wish there were metal attachments for cooking and I’m in the throes of enquiring about getting them made available! If you’re looking to invest in a multi cooking / blending device, you can have a look at a new player in that space, the MyCook / OzCook, a Spanish origin machine that cooked, blends, steams, grinds, kneads and whips as its steam basket and ‘top steaming bit’ are both stainless. I’ve had it on trial recently and was really impressed with its performance. The only spot it seemed to fall a little short, was the grinding efficacy – just not quite as powerful as the thermomix, but I love the metal steamer and top steamer. A big plus for the low tox option factor! Utensils Wood is your absolute best bet because it’s gentle and prevents scratching, no matter what the surface. Stainless steel is the next preference, and then silicon spatulas for baking and scraping that stated to be 100% silicone and not ‘mysterious blends’. You will know from the quality and price. Buy well, buy less often. Blenders, blitzers and food processors.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Most blenders are plastic bodies except professional grade ones such as this one in the Hamilton Beach range. You also can’t beat something simple like a stainless steel stick blender in a big glass Pyrex jug for making soups, smoothies and the like. Again though, when choosing your brand, choose quality, motor size and sturdy feel to it. Roasting trays I’d choose a top notch Le Creuset style of tray for lasagnas and bakes – Remember this isn’t a 2 year purchase, this is a once in a life time purchase, so it changes the mentality a little. For roasting meats, a good stainless steel one is a great things to have in the kitchen.

Kettles I’ve come to think that the best is a good quality ceramic kettle that you boil on the stove, old school. Again, Le Creuset is my choice here. I used a Breville Glass bodied one for a little while, but still felt uncomfortable with the plastic lid for boiling water. Most other kettles while they might be majority stainless steel, have a plastic gauge window – What’s the point? \

Coffee Making The bad news is that most coffee machines have plastic tubing with either phthalates or BPA in them, as well as flame retardants, as do all electrically powered items. It’s not the best news at all, no.

Your best options are Italian and French presses. This post has a few ideas and pictures of what I’m talking about. If coffee machines are going to be your one non low tox thing, then that’s cool. As I always say, it’s not about perfection. If you have a POD machine at home like the Nespresso though, you might want to at least consider more environmentally friendly pods such as Australian Organic Fair Trade brand’s REPUBLICA.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Bin liners Lastly, someone asked me about bin liners again on Facebook today. If you Care has some great ones that don’t instantly disintegrate at the drop of a hat like some natural bin bags. They’re here. To not be annoyed by these though, as they are weaker there’s no doubt, you need to ensure you have a smaller bin and don’t stuff it to the max before trying to tie and take out. You’ll have a smaller bin by the end of this course, anyway right? So in summary what’s going to help you go low tox here, is to find a chef’s shop and buy professional baking equipment that’s stainless steel. Then, start buying investment pieces over time or telling your family “I just want everyone to put in for this one Le Creuset pot for Christmas” or whatever it is you want – Birthday’s and Christmases are a great time of the year to be saying no to another scented candle or cheap hand cream and asking for a collective voucher towards something of value that you and your future kids or op shop will treasure for years to come. Buying cheap is a false saving and costs you and the planet down the line. Day 20 task Decide the 3 most toxic things in your kitchen and work towards replacing them in the next 3 months. If budget is a big, pressing concern, for big ticket items like a pressure cooker, if you live close to a bestie – why not share one? One week on and one week off and you both batch cook things and swap stuff? Etsy, gumtree and ebay can be a great resource for good condition, second hand, big ticket items too. Head to your local swap and share sites too – So often you can find a bargain! You’re then helping prevent these sorts of things from going to landfill, by giving them a new home for a fraction of the cost. WINNING!

Day 20: Food Storage

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Food Storage is something that has come up throughout the course already. So today is a bit of an ‘additional reading’ day and a catch up for those needing it with a ‘Tuesday slow down’. So many of you are already well underway with your low tox pantry and storage options. For those of you that have found this a bit daunting: Why not start with just one section of your kitchen and do it super well? Do each of the rest as you have time, money and see fit. Many people head to a local swap share site, eBay or community selling site like Gumtree, and sell their old plastic products for quite large sums to be able to fund the swap to glass and stainless. It doesn’t have to be ‘new’, it just has to be good. Here is a list of options for you to explore if you haven’t already. Glass ‘bottom’ plastic lid storage This is great for freezing leftovers into portion sizes for future meals, as well as various cuts of meat. Pyrex is a most excellent brand, but if you need water tight for out and about, Lock and Lock do glass bottom / plastic tops these days too. This reassures me as there are glass options popping up all over the place these days, meaning people are wising up to food being stored in plastic. Yay! There are more and more options too, including ‘glass lock’. These are my favourite solution for leftovers too, because you can simply take the lid off and pop in the oven and they have huge sizes too so I’ll often make 2 of my lasagnas and cook one that night and pop the other one in the freezer to make a whole stress free meal for one of those days down the track. These are a great solution for recovering microwave addicts with that ease factor or ‘lid off and in the oven’ too. It’s old school convenience, back with a vengeance. Just add a splash of water to any re-heats to avoid things drying out as they heat back up in the oven, and cover them if you really want to ensure they stay moist. Glass jars Keep your jars back from your pantry / fridge items as they run out, and wash them. Lots of different sizes are a good thing to have! We pour off pan juices, fats from frying (for example, sweet potato chips fried in coconut oil… you can re-use that oil!) and make double the sauces and marinades and pop into jars for another time. If you’re a bit of a neat freak, you can go for all matching ones from your local home & kitchen supply shop. In Australia, you have the amazing glassware

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation factory, Plasdene who have a great range. In the UK you have Spinks and in the USA CPS are huge. BIOME has a great array of glass jars also. Freezer note: You MUST ensure you have a solid inch of room off the top when freezing liquids. Liquids expand when frozen and you don’t want cracked glass in your freezer – No fun! I freeze batches of homemade stock in many different sized jars so that I can defrost overnight in the fridge (or in the sink in winter) depending on what quantity is needed the next day. Flour note: It’s best to store flours, whole grains like popcorn kernels and dry leaf herbs in the fridge. Between that and a few bay leaves in the pantry, you will have no pantry moth issues, no more! Nuts note: Nuts are susceptible to moulds and best kept in the fridge or freezer too if you’re storing for a length of time greater than a week or two. The freezer can also help to kill any moulds they might be harbouring from being stored in bulk bins for too long, as you never know! Fermentation Jars and Crocks It’s great to have a couple of bigger jars for things like fermented / cultured veggies, Kombucha, kefir or beet kvass. If you’re lucky enough to be in the USA, Kirby and Kraut have the prettiest range. If not, Kitsa’s Kitchen in Australia sells the wonderful PicklIt jars so just request an order form via email. If you want to nerd out on anaerobic jars and their benefit for fermentation, this post is a good one. You must check out the amazing Culture For Life kits her and Pete Evans have brought out too! Such good quality and I have a maiden batch brewing of kim chi that I can’t wait to inspect in a week or two!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Culture for Life Full Kit $195 AUD. Incredible quality.

Cultured Food Beauties! Kirby and Kraut crocks from NYC Picklit anaerobic jars are also brilliant and available from Kitsa’s Kitchen, nationally or direct from Picklit in the USA / UK. Cans Cans are a mine field these days with BPA regulations changing in terms of levels all the time, as well as companies introducing BPA lined cans without letting the public know – Cough, cough Spiral and AYAM brands for example. Honest to Goodness and Eden Organics are the two safest non BPA lined cans with NO lining at all. Beware the BPA free ones that still have a lining. While it’s great that they’re non BPA, it’s not so great what they’re replacing BPA with – Kind of like ‘paraben free’ only to be replaced with phenoxyethanol in the cosmetics industry. Read here for more on what the BPA free off shoot plastics might be containing – A big reason for just doing away with as much plastic and canned product as we can! Fancy getting into canning and preserving in jars yourself? Here’s a great free kindle download resource. (If you don’t have a kindle, just download the kindle app for your phone / tablet and then go back to amazon to set up single click download. Super easy!) You could also skim this quick guide here to ‘jar canning’ or check out some canning kits on ebay. Storing Meat and fish in the freezer Meat is best ‘dealt with’ in some way to get it closer to being how you’re going to end up using it. Let me explain: It’s hard to freeze 2 kg of mince in the freezer as is if you’ve just received a delivery. Best is to prepare it into the ways you’re going to use

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation it first and THEN freeze. So, if you’ve got meatballs, burger patties and Bolognese on the cards, make your meat ball mix (tried mysticky tamari meatballs?), your patty mix and then cook up a Bolognese, and then store all of those things, ready to cook in your pyrexes, instead of in plastic bags from the butcher. You will thank me for this tip when you have abundant meals ready to go, instead of ‘mince to defrost’ and that mountainous feeling sometimes of “Oh but there’s so much to do to just get dinner on the table”. Next step, is to remember to bring big containers to the butcher and avoid the plastic bag the meat would go in altogether! For bigger cuts like roasts and shoulders, if you have to freeze them, you can remove from the plastic, wrap in parchment and then over the top of that in foil or just tie a couple of elastics or string around them. For fish, I use Pyrex. Fishy smells come out if you only wrap fish in parchment, so I definitely recommend using a proper closing tub. To avoid freezer burn, just press parchment down on the surface of what youi’re freezing and then freeze. Stainless options Stainless steel is great for kid’s lunch boxes. They’re an investment as they’re more expensive. They don’t break or get tatty like a lot of cheap plastic lunch boxes, so in the long run you save money AND landfill and that’s a wonderful thing! These little dip pots are super cute and also great for dressings. You also have a huge range of stainless lunch box options to choose from over at BIOME. Amazon UK has you sorted for stainless options there. Love this traditional Indian tiffin box available on Amazon UK or in Australia here.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Storing Scraps The Urban composter for inside or balcony composting is ideal.

We keep it basic here and store our scraps in a metal bowl on one side of our double sink, and then take down to the compost every couple of days. (We’re on a second floor in an apartment block with no balcony). Keeping your scraps separate and composting them, you will be astounded by the reduction in waste.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Why can’t they just go in the bin? Well, if scraps are in through other random rubbish, they get compacted in landfilled and almost mummified. They don’t get the chance to break down and end up taking space. Composting ensures the circle of life is respected, where scraps get a chance to go back into the soil to make new food for plants that feed us again… It’s a beautiful thing! Scraps from onions, carrots, leeks, herbs, celery and citrus peel go in the freezer into a 4MyEarth produce bag to be used for future stock making and the citrus peel for slow cooking or roasting – they add great flavour!

Why can’t my pantry items and water live in plastic? As we heard in my chat with Dr Peter Dingle, after heating and freezing, it’s TIME that’s the next factor in plastics leaching. A picnic spread or a drink being consumed that day aren’t so much the problem, as the time something spends stored in plastic. DAY 22 Task Write down your storage changes yet to be made and make a plan. There’s nothing more economical than asking for specific stock up help for birthdays and Christmases the first year or two of low tox living – Who needs another toxic body wash or scented candle that you’ll politely accept before on giving or worse, throwing out. Ask for what you want and your collection will build in no time.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Write down a plan for your current storage options if you’ve not done so already – Swap, sell them, repurpose and upcycle them. The longer you go on this journey, the longer you’ll head towards markets and fresh meals and uncomplicated things in general. Who has the time to endlessly research every ‘new’ food product and packaging ‘solution’ people bring out… Easier to shop like your great grandma did when it comes to storing and eating food, don’t you think? Low Tox. Happy Bodies. Happy Planet. Alexx x Day 21: Wastage – food AND packaging

A favourite image to remind myself that there are so many opportunities to waste less. To waste less and to dispose wisely. These are the focuses here. Everything about our modern world is driving us to want more, buy more, consume more and we can outsmart the system. It is so important, as you have already seen and already done, to ‘get’ the part about the low tox life, that doesn’t mean buying everything under the sun that’s ‘eco’ for the sake of it. Sure there’s the excitement of grabbing new essentials that you feel safe and happy to use with new found knowledge. But that’s just it – they’re essentials. The beauty of doing this intensively over 1 month, is that we must choose wisely on our spending and prioritise what is truly needed. We’re more mindful. And look at how it feels to declutter, right? So, so good.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

FOOD WASTE

Isn’t this statistic crazy? I cringe at the thought of what I used to do… Every scrap, every slightly floppy veg or fruit… All in the bin up until about 4 years ago. 35 years of my life being completely mindless to the fact that vegetal matter compacted between other materials, did NOT break down properly. Not to mention the food it could become for new plants to grow if composted and reused as fertilizing gold! Here are just five of a long list of shocking statistics on food wastage (taken from OzHarvest statistics on their website). • Dumping a kilo of grain fed beef wastes the 50,000 litres of water and 1000kg grains it took to produce that meat (yet another reason to choose a far more sustainable grass fed beef). Throwing out a kilo of white rice will waste 2,385 litres of water, and wasting a kilo of potatoes costs 500 litres of water! • In Australia one million children go to school without breakfast or bed without dinner every day and two million people rely on food relief in Australia at some point every year. • 3.28 million tons of food is driven to landfill in Australia each year.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Australians alone waste close to 3 million tons of food per annum, or 136 kilos per person per annum. It equates to a whole bag of shopping out of every 5, or 20% – There’s plenty of food and people are going hungry. • All the world’s nearly one billion hungry people could be lifted out of malnourishment on less than a quarter of the food that is wasted in the rich countries. ALL. Isn’t that shocking? • So while we might not be able to solve other people’s problems, we can certainly solve our own.

Here are 5 simple things you can do to send less food to landfill

1. Start a fridge waste list. On it, write down everything you put in the bin that’s ‘past it’. Just getting conscious, you will see the amazing difference it makes to your food management in the house. Make it a family challenge to reduce the amount of items on it each week and if it’s blank at the end of a week, celebrate. Get kids and partners to take food to work / school as leftovers – cubed meats, leftover roast veg, stews and soups in thermoses over the winter. 2. Don’t toss ‘odds and sods’ veg – Boil it with homemade stock and a few spices / herbs, add a splash of cream or coconut cream and blitz. The “Fridge Ends soup” is born and tastes delicious and different each week. My “Buy Nothing

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation New Curry” is super tasty and very inexpensive. So perfect for stretching the food budget! 3. Either start a compost (and maintain it too), a worm farmor use your local council green bin if that is something they provide – You can even put meat and bones in there these days too! The size of our bin has decreased by 2/3 this past few years, as we’ve wasted less and less and in a second floor apartment that makes life easy too. It’s a journey where slow and steady wins the race, because you’ll find sustainability sustainable, making little changes over time. 4. Stop topping and tailing things like cucumbers and zucchinis, and if you *have* to do it with green beans, don’t cut an inch off each side, but just a tiny few millimetres! 5. Stop ‘carefully disposing’ of animal fats if you’re a meat eater. Our body and all of its digestive processes, is probably the safest way in the world to ‘dispose’ of animal fats and avoid it clogging drains and waterways, or being immortalised in landfill. Drain it into a little jar and save your money on butter / olive oil, and fry with it for the next time you’re cooking. 6. Stop buying 2 for 1’s on special if you’re a small family, single or if it’s a busy week and you won’t be doing much cooking. Things on special are such a trap. You can read a post of mine to further explore food wastage and a load of creative ideas from readers in the comments to boot! Get comfortable with consuming less because this also means less waste! TASK IDEA Implement these changes over the next few weeks and just notice what’s changed in terms of bin level, creativity of using leftovers, stretching of the budget etc. In 2009 we had a 43 litre bin and tossed 1-2 times per week with non-degradable bags In 2013 we had a 27 litre bin and tossed 1-2 times per week with non-degradable bags In 2015 we now have a tiny 11 litre bag (admittedly we are a family of 3) and we struggle to toss it weekly. How did we do it? Basically it was through starting to compost, market produce, bulk stores and more recyclable glass packaging, in a nutshell.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Imagine the waste we have saved from landfill collectively if we implement these changes over time. Mindblowingly wonderful stuff!

Packaging Waste

We’ve already discussed this topic a lot within the plastic free living module, but here is a refresh and further ideas. Find co-ops, bulk bin health stores and brown paper packaging (Tied up with string… couldn’t resist!) instead of plastic packed items. These are rarely recyclable and account for HUGE waste – healthy eating can still be super unsustainable, due to all the plastic! Don’t panic that it’s not ALWAYS possible. “Mostly possible” means more than we could ever imagine, so stay focused on your positives!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Find cardboard boxed items instead of plastic – pasta for example and in the frozen section for berries, not too hard once you’ve hunted around a bit. Stop individually bagging fruit and veg and just get them all weighed loose and popped into your reusable shopping bag. Over a year, you will save literally 100s of bags by doing this one simple thing – just you! If you fancy some produce bags though, use reusable ones like the beautiful 4MyEarth ones. Focus on anything that is refillable like the beautiful ReSparkle products or big sized bottles (more ratio of product therefore recyclable, as many caps and pumps aren’t). Commit to a few DIY cosmetics and cleaning products – Even just two will mean a lot less packaging. 4MyEarth produce bags are just awesome for keeping things fresh.

Go from THIS weirdness…

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

TO this homemade beauty TASK IDEA If you haven’t made anything at all yet, why not go back and have a read through the cleaning and cosmetic / skin care modules and decide to commit to something DIY? If you have, why not share with the group what you’re doing to ‘use’ less and stretch things more, to inspire others?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation GENERAL WASTE Then there’s all the other stuff. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. • Can what you want to update or refresh for home be reused by someone else? A charity? A friend in need? Another family (i.e. old toys, clothes, shoes)? • Can what you want to update be sold on a community site of some kind or e bay? • Can you contact your council and discover any particular collection days for certain items that you weren’t aware of? E waste collection? Paints and oils? • Can something be up cycled rather than tossed? Kids craft, old plastic items used in shed or for household sorting such as buttons, cufflinks, textas and pencils? • Can we start to ask ourselves: Why am I buying that? If the answer is quite confronting because you feel like you need it emotionally, then have a list in your head of the top three things that fill you up emotionally. Mine are cuddling my son and telling silly jokes, doing a Bondi to Bronte or even a small neighbourhood walk and calling someone I know I’ll have a passionate discussion about some such meaningful topic with. Nothing bought, nothing wasted and no decision made out of ‘hissy fit type’ emotion, just trying to fill a void.

TASK IDEA Make that list of ‘non material bliss’ in your life, or not in your life right now that you know you feel better when it is. This list will serve you when you feel the need to illogically buy things you don’t need. Oh, and plan for a smaller bin soon – You won’t need that big old thing anymore! This topic to me is the absolute best bit about the Low Tox Life – You just feel so good making a smaller foot print. It’s awesome and I can’t wait to keep sharing stories together as people kick goals over time! Want to be excited about having less? These guys can help. Let me introduce you to the minimalists and their Ted Talk.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Video - https://youtu.be/GgBpyNsS-jU Want to stop wasting and using and start minimising single use plastics? BAG IT is your movie.

Day 22: Low Tox Conversations – The challenge of toxic interactions on your way to the low tox life

Low Tox conversations are key to not feeling like a lone crusader. Perhaps initially you’re the only one in your family or circle of friends, who has had the light bulb moment and started moving more in line with nature? I know that feeling well. It can feel lonely, you can feel isolated and if it isn’t enough you feeling isolated already having the knowledge that you do, other people can further isolate you when you say even the smallest of things. This is why we need to very consciously and positively edge back towards a feeling of unity rather than feeling that distance continue or grow.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation I’ve invited psychologist and bestselling author, Alison Hill, to discuss strategies for managing toxic feelings and toxic relationship ‘moments’ or situations. While she specialises in the work place, I think we can all agree there are just as many challenges here in the personal space – whether it’s a teacher at school, a fellow parent, a sibling, a mum in law, a partner, a teenager… I hope you enjoy the chat. Video - https://youtu.be/cq0pglNq9pg And here’s the sound cloud to take for a walk! https://soundcloud.com/alexx_stuart/ alexx-chats-to-alison-hill The main thing is to become a master communicator overnight, ok? No, just kidding. But here are some things to consider while you brave your way into the world of low tox living, and others around you might not ‘get it’ or be rather opposed to changing ways. 1. Consider truthfully why you are doing this and share those reasons from the bottom of your heart. If you are able to connect to the emotional reasons for making these changes, people around you are much more likely to see that this is coming from the heart and no ‘you being a pain’ . 2. Ensure that you think before you speak. You will start to see that it feels like ‘everything and everyone around you is wrong in some way – high tox in some way. That is completely normal. It doesn’t make you better than them of course, so it’s important that when you communicate, you ensure and create a sense of unity WITH them, not against them. Example: “You know the course I’ve been doing? (Potential eye roll or apprehensive ‘yes?’) Well it turns out none of these companies are required by law to test chemicals for safety before the products are launched. How do YOU feel about that? Does it make you want to know what’s in it and decide for yourself?” Getting the other person opening up in any way possible is your best way to see how you can work with their enthusiasm or blockages and continue to move forward. “Did you know for example the supermarket personal care brands, almost all have hormone disrupting chemicals in there? Like the ones that mimic our own hormones and can make us get hormone related illnesses?” Contributing to infertility? That’s really worrying… don’t YOU think?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation 3. Watch documentaries together and ask them how they felt about the information that was presented. You don’t want to be secretly learning everything in a corner 4. Make it EASY for the resisters – They may well be resisting because of fear that it’s all going to be too hard! Here is a little video (zero make up, totally low tox fox mode!) from me with a few ideas around that facilitation. Converting your family to low tox living - https://youtu.be/qauj76CvkFE

Day 23: Low Tox Bedroom

The bedroom – A place of peace, rest, fun and… you guessed it, toxicity! But you guys aren’t shocked at least, anymore, right? Let’s hop to it! This module gets us looking at the bedroom and all the usual things in it, to ensure that as we replace things down the track, we do so with more eco-friendly, low tox options. This, like the cookware category is an investment category, so if the budget is tight at the moment, don’t panic and just think of the big picture and everything you’ve ditched already and be proud and content with that. Even if on a tight budget though, there are still things you can do from today, to ensure your bedroom is less toxic than it was yesterday for FREE!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Remember, this is a process. I have not yet been able to be fully low fox in the bedroom category, YET, feel relaxed and at peace about the fact that we’ve done the best we can with where we’re at. The most important place to start is with the thing you sleep on – Your bed. Most mattresses have a fair bit of foam that degrades over years. It has usually been treated with some sort of flame retardant too which can take up to 10 years to stop emitting fumes – how convenient is that, that every 10 years is when you’re supposed to update your mattress? A few other chemicals used by mattress manufacturers include stain-resistant chemicals that are recognized carcinogens, as well as Boric Acid, Antimony Trioxide, Vinylidiene Chloride, Zinc Borate, Melamine, Formaldehyde, and Decabromodiphenyl Oxide. These chemicals off-gas, or release chemicals into the air… imagine breathing this stuff in every night! The chemical exposure we get from our beds, is a full body contact, day after day situation – Not ideal! So what can we do to replace the current freaking out that is occurring as you read? Lots, is the answer. Mattresses Read your mattress label, but know that there are no standard labels on mattresses listing flame retardant chemicals, so it’s important to check with the manufacturer or store before purchasing. This is not a decision to take lightly or be pressured into a decision by other people over. Take. Your. Time. The healthiest mattress is one made of natural latex foam. But watch for the words “made with” on the label because that can mean as little as 1 or 2 percent of it in the mattress! You want to see 100% (if you’re chemically sensitive) or at least 80% of the mattress made with all natural, non-toxic ingredients. New latex mattress options? Australia The Comfort Shop UK Yanis Mattresses and Beds US Flobeds If you can’t afford to buy a new mattress or a full latex mattress, get a mattress topper or high quality protector, made from organic cotton and wool, so that what you’re sleeping closest to, is nontoxic and natural.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation My husband didn’t like pure latex as a ‘feel’, and it was a little too expensive for us, so we settled on a pure latex ‘topped’ mattress which has a good 10cm of 100% latex on top of the spring mattress, with a pure wool mattress topper. We aired the mattress in the sun for a week with windows open and a fan on, before using it. Some people might think this is crazy, but I say it’s crazy that so many chemicals are in our mattresses in the first place! All too expensive? Wait until the sales. You will save $100s of dollars buying a mattress when the time is right. Sheets and Dunas / Duvets / Quilts The most important things are • natural fibres, organic if possible • if choosing duck down, to source traceable down (see below) • Nothing ‘easy iron / low crease / anti-wrinkle’ sheets, as this is the clue for toxic chemicals used to create this finish. Also, Eco Down Under do very affordable ‘eco’ sheets and are well worth a look - Just don’t buy the fake smelly products they have! Choose organic cotton whenever possible (for the mattress topper as well as your sheets) because conventionally grown cotton is one of the most intensively sprayed field crops in the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than 53 million pounds of pesticides and 1.6 billion pounds of synthetic fertilizers are applied to cotton fields annually. Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown without chemicals. BIOME organic sheets – Beautiful!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation For the bed frame choose one made from solid wood instead of particleboard or fiberboard, which can give off toxic formaldehyde fumes. The National Cancer Institute has classified formaldehyde as “carcinogenic to humans” based on nose and throat cancers in working populations. I love these ones from The Comfort Shop here in Australia, and easily able to be found in the UK / USA too. My husband the woodworker made our bed and I love it. A simple Moroccan wood carving hangs above it, so we didn’t need to worry about an ‘eco bed head’. Richard Knight Woodworks has a few hardwood and natural oil finish options too.

Our beautiful and simple, handmade hardwood bed, made by my husband. Clever man! Pillows are super important too, and I can’t recommend this brand enough. Love my latex pillow and there are some great natural pillow products coming out these days too around the world – The world is waking up! While I definitely applaud a business like this, using recycled PET for pillow fibre, I’m still not sure how I feel about it being right next to my head and breathing, but in case it resonates with you I thought it worth a share. One word of caution on ‘duck / feather down pillows – Animal cruelty must be explored and ensured against. It’s horrible to think that a well-meaning person looking for a ‘natural’ bedding product might unknowingly be fueling a super icky industry: Live plucking is a horrible practice, practiced today to manufacture down quilts and

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation pillow – Be sure to use a company with what we call “traceable down”. Check this out from Patagonia, who went ‘traceable down’ last year and have changed the insulated clothing industry forever – Thank goodness! Video - https://youtu.be/U7quQcr4H68 So, if the company isn’t forthcoming on their website, then simply email them and ask about their traceability. People like us are going to effect the change – It’s already happening! Now, next to your head that’s on that pillow you end up finding, is often a lot of electronic clutter. Do you feel buzzed at night and you haven’t had any coffee? A big sleep disrupter in the bedroom might be exposure to electronic devices, wireless technology, and other forms of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Aside from feeling buzzed, Dr. Magda Havas, a leader in the movement against unrestrained wireless technology use, says they can cause headaches, nightmares, depression, fatigue, fibromyalgia, mood disorders, as well as long-term illness. 1. Get rid of the TV, electric clock, telephone answering machine, cell phone, or computer nearby or at the very least, switch it all off at the PowerPoint (standby isn’t enough) when you go to bed. 2. And of course, your mobile phone – Pop it into flight mode before you head to sleep! 3. Keep that bedroom super clear and simple (in a perfect world!) Kid’s bedding For the bubbas – How’s this gorgeous swaddle that allows the bub to have their arms up. I remember my little guy’s arms fought out of my finest swaddling work, and after 6 weeks I simply accepted that that was where he wanted to put his darn arms, ok lady?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Pure Merino sleeping bags are also a great options for bubs moving on from the newborn stage, who move around a lot, so you prefer the ‘bag’. Mattress - There is a divine range of chemical free mattresses and pillows over at Tetra Tea Tree . Nido Organics is a great resource also on the kiddie front. Toppers are great, if you have hand me down mattresses or limited budget and have to go for the foam mattresses (remember to air well if new for a week before using!) There is always something you can do, and these are excellent! Pure Wool Topper for the cot. You will easily be able to resell this once you’re onto the ‘bed’ stage! There’s a more budget friendly organic cotton topper if that’s appealing to you, too. Sheets for kids are easy and you’ll have to keep all the super heroes on the walls and in the books – NOT on the cheap, chemical laden sheets on the bed. Once again Nido is a great resource, as is BIOME for the cot. For older kids in beds, Pottery Barn Kids and Living Eco have some great options. Quilts can also be wonderful if made from natural materials, NOT the stifling synthetic ones that trap heat. Look at this beautiful one.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Otherwise pure wool blankets to complement sheets are beautiful too – go and get some baby blanket envy happening over on ETSY. Go only if you are strong enough to resist ETSY’s charms We need to bring back the mozzie net. It’s such a great way to keep the pests away from the little sleeping human, without needing to put insect repellents on every night or those strange plug in wall slow release repellents. What might seem like an expense initially, might just be a saving after all the creams to stop mozzies and bring down bite irritation, stop being needed! Pillows for little people? No problem. Pure latex and covered in organic cotton, you have this Eco Child option. Remember, kids under 5 don’t need pillows. It messes with their spine development. You can further detox your little one’s sleep space, with these few tips. • Daily fresh air ventilation whenever possible. • Turning off the light at the PowerPoint to reduce electricity in the room at night. • Keep on top of the dust with damp cloths around skirting boards, nooks and crannies. • Choosing non toxic soft toys like these gorgeous ones! • Keeping things like micro plastics (glitter) out of the room (ideally out of the house!) to avoid breathing them in. • No digital clocks near their bed

Buy less stuff. Buy well. Resell. Repurpose! And remember – You do NOT have to buy stuff today. Make a plan and relax, knowing you’re doing the best you can!

So what if you have zero cash to spend on the bedroom? Here are 5 things you can do to make a difference, anyway! 1. Declutter it, making way for a low tox mind and good air flow 2. Get rid of electronics

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation 3. Dust it 4. Air your mattresses and pillows in the sun, with windows open and a fan blowing towards the window. 5. Air the room every day if possible

This will be a brilliant step towards a lower tox bedroom space. Renovating soon? Consider floorboards to reduce dust and mould dramatically. Talk to your builder about eco options for flooring and sealing. DAY 24 TASK IDEAS Spend 30 minutes removing all the things you can from the bedroom and either redistribute or make a plan to sell / swap or giveaway. Give it a dust with a damp microfibre cloth around all the edges. Vacuum or mop (Use a HEPA filter vacuum such as the Dyson) Decide on any replacements you are going to want to make in the short, medium and long term. You spend a massive portion of your life in this room. You are worth it, to have a low tox bedroom, don’t you think? Low Tox. Happy bodies. Happy planet. Is your bedroom looking like this yet? Mine either!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Want to learn more about the furniture in your home in general? Enjoy my interview with “Down to earth mother” blogger, environmentalist and researcher. She offers some wonderful tips! Video - https://youtu.be/QcVUJfaR5o0 Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Johanna- Ashmore.pdf

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 24: Low Tox Clothes

Yet another topic that could have a 30 day course on its own! In learning all of this about each of the rooms and everything in them, it is understandable that you’d want to make radical changes. And then? It’s a question of money, time and priority. So how do we cope? Course alumni Anna Kellerman shared with us on the course round she was a part of, this wonderful tip. This will assist you with refocusing on the good that’s happened, the good that’s happening today and the good you’re planning for and manifesting for the future that’s not as urgent, or a bit more ‘big ticket’. 1. What have you changed in the past 24 days? Write down every single thing you can think of. 2. What are you working on today or what is your next step? 3. What are you still wanting to change? Short term, mid-term and long term? What is the cost? What is the value of what you have that you could sell to put towards it? What ‘strategic vouchers’ could you ask for this Christmas to get you closer to your replacement goals and how can you upcycle or repurpose items that can’t be gifted or sold? Secondly, I wanted to remind you that if there’s one thing I want to achieve through this course, it’s making you a discerning person, not a parrot of whatever I might say is gospel. I want you to be a good investigator who knows and is brave enough to ask the tough questions and make your own decisions, rather than just go off a list of ‘safe brands’. If you gain the technical knowledge, then you are better and better able to scan brands and products and make your own verdict. This will carry you in much better stead over your life time. An example of some of the questions you can now look to ask on your travels • Is it 100% organic cotton or a blend? Is there a hemp version? Do you have GOTS certification? • Is it solid timber?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • What is it finished with? • Is it 100% pure latex or a blend? • Do you use flame retardants? (feigning chemical sensitivity is always a good one to get the truth out of them as no one wants a lawsuit with ‘they said there were no flame retards’) • What’s the thread count of your mattress protector? (Higher the better to protect as a barrier)? No one is able to make this many changes in a month – and I mean NO ONE. This intensive 30 days is to empower you and be a spring board for your journey, so relax. It’s a matter of trying to figure out what is most important to you NOW and then prioritising the rest for when you want to and can make further changes. Now onto today’s topic… clothes I’m going to give you a few things to think about, and then refer you to a wonderful book, To Die For for those that want to learn more deeply about clothing, textiles and fair-trade in this area. There are plenty of articles to click through to gain knowledge today, so enjoy (or don’t. It’s pretty heavy stuff, I must say). You could start with this one, if you’ve not seen it before. Clothes are another part of our lives where we feel bad ‘spending big’ on one item, and feel good getting ‘lots’ for our money. This mentality needs to stop, because it’s totally unsustainable.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

How about we buy half as many clothes, but twice the quality? How about we be proud of our items and care for each of them well, instead of mindlessly staining them, abusing them by washing intensively and tumble drying… how about we see clothes as precious, because they are! Becoming enlightened about clothes is just like becoming enlightened about cosmetics, chemicals, food… More isn’t more. Less is more, and better is best. Those $10 jeans might not have cost you much, but the cost is further down the line – whether it be the sweat shop workers, the chemical dyes and their health impacts… There’s a cost for every artificially cheap item – food, clothes, body lotion… For downsizing Un-Fancy is a wonderful blog to follow to help you feel awesome about the ‘less is more’ theory when it comes to your wardrobe.

Interesting clothing production facts

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Our total water footprint goes WAY further than what type of washing machine we buy or whether we save water by peeing in the shower. Our total water footprint includes our clothes. It can take up to 2,700 litres of water to produce 1 cotton T Shirt. • Skipping the ironing of your T Shirt, can save up to 1/3 of its carbon footprint. I knew I was an eco-warrior by abstaining from ironing at all costs. Anyone else out there super chuffed to read this? • In 2010, China’s textile industry processed 41.3 million tons of fibre and accounted for 52-54 percent of the world’s total production. The Chinese textile industry creates about 3 billion tons of soot each year (source. treehugger.com) • Almost all of the world’s dyes are coal or petroleum based, and synthetic. For anyone wanting to venture into the world of DIY natural dyes, have a look at this gorgeous project and this great resource on natural dyes. • Clothing is often sprayed with formaldehyde for transportation to prevent mildew and wrinkling. • Clothing that boasts “wrinkle free” attributes, could possibly contain PFCs – used in Teflon technology. You know now what’s not so great about that! • Nonylthenol Etholytate is another textile chemical used throughout Asia – without restricted quantity! This is, like BPA and parabens, in the ‘endocrine disrupting’ family. • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and dioxin-producing bleach are used by textile industries, where the materials for clothing are produced. Dioxin is the active ingredient for Agent Orange – the same guys who made Agent Orange are the godfathers of genetic modification believe it or not. See more here on chemicals in clothes. • Thought leadership emerging, suggests that micro fibres from clothes and lint are a massive ocean pollutant and it makes sense. Read more on that here. • PERC is a chemical known as perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene. It’s the solvent used by about 85% of U.S. dry cleaners, but is also used as a metal degreaser and in the production of many other chemical. It is found in the air, in drinking water, and in soil. It can be detected in most people’s blood, as well as in breast milk. What’s the risk? In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation (EPA) suggested that PERC be classified as a “likely human carcinogen.” The EPA found that PERC’s most dangerous non cancer toxicity is brain and nervous system damage — and set safe exposure levels well below levels that cause such damage. Remember though, that chemicals are cumulative and you don’t ‘detox’ from PERC in between uses fully, so it builds, and builds and builds. If you want to find a perc free dry cleaner, it’s actually quite easy thanks to google. I use these guys on the rare occasion I need one. It’s not ideal being silicone, but it’s most certainly better than perc. • Australia has one of the most lax chemicals-in-clothes laws on the planet. Have a read of this Choice investigative piece to see what the situation is and how returning a shipment to China, it might not even be accepted, because of the chemical levels. How scary is that? Peeling back the lid on convenient, fast fashion is actually a bit terrifying – You’re not alone in thinking that. I still have Zara clothes lying about and shoes that I don’t know are cruelty free – This is a process very much still going for me and I’m years into my journey, so take it easy and start being mindful of quantity most of all and see if you can trade up, and buy less. That is a great first step. Then, on the chemicals front, here are some ideas.

So what on earth can we do? 1. We can find brands that make clothes locally. Check out this gorgeous Queensland brand, Sinerji – Hello Audrey Again dress! So pretty. There’s also Blessed Earth and Boody for underwear basics

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

2. 3. We can, without fail, wash our clothes twice before wearing them, to remove some of the chemicals… and put them in our waterways instead, then into the fish, then back into us – See why those petitions that come past your desk from ‘hippies’ are actually mega important to sign? These are big issues and they need us to think BIG to help solve them. Still, as a short term fix, washing twice WILL be a lower tox option at the very least for you and your kiddies. 4. We can seek out brands that make ‘green’ production and materials a part of their story. Supporting the brands who are part of Greenpeace’s Detox our future campaign, removing harmful toxins out of their clothes by 2020, is a great start. 5. We can try sticking to the pure organic cotton, wool, silk or hemp clothing where possible. 6. We can try and avoid rayon, polyester, nylon, acrylic and acetate where possible. 7. If we do buy something synthetic, we can commit to giving it a really long shelf life – sell, swap or gift after you don’t like it so it lives on before going back into the land. 8. We can stop buying new clothes so often and buy second hand – Embrace the OP shops. Everything you buy second hand, exposes you to less chemicals AND the

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation world to less chemicals. The great thing about buying second hand too, is that you can often upgrade to a better brand, as you’re saving on the second hand factor (is my brain the only one that thinks this way?) 9. You can stay away from strange sounding ‘antibacterial / anti sweat’ registered trademarks on clothes – especially common in exercise gear. These are often hiding nano particles of silver or triclosan, both of which wash out after a few washes, anyway, and into our environment. So while a brand is using it as a ‘feature’, it’s a temporary one in terms of effectiveness, that also potentially harms us and then definitely harms the environment. Can’t quite put my finger on a positive here. Can you?

10.We can look for GOTS certification. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria, backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. If fashion and clothing is an area you wish to delve further into, then please grab To Die For. It’s amazing, confronting and empowering all at the same time. If you want to take a look at the status of various ethical, sustainable fashion brands, look no further than SHOP ETHICAL.

Something that can happen as you transition back to natural fibres in clothes, is the moths can come munching. Annoying as it is, it’s a good sign – Everything is something else’s food in the natural world, and when nature ‘is about’ that means nature is, well, about if you see what I mean. Luckily BIOME has us covered there with these natural moth detractors. There are a few great kids clothes and adult clothing & accessories on BIOME’s site too. Like this gorgeous deep red bamboo wrap.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

And for shoes? Do not fear. The best you can do is think ‘pure materials, fair trade where possible, 100% leather upper and soles… As with all other categories, it’s about developing mindfulness and awareness over time and asking questions when you’re not sure. Click here for thongs. Soft Star for kids in the USA and Lil’ Aussie Shoe Co in Australia are both fabulous. I have bought a couple of pairs of shoes for my husband from sustainable Industrial Design shoe studio Seer Footwear in Sydney, too. The guy is so passionate about low tox glues, using natural rubber for soles, natural dyes… Truly committed. I wish there were more women’s shoe stores that cared the same way. When I was in Byron Bay I came across Tsonga shoes – fully traceable fair trade shoes, made with mand stitching instead of glues, pure leather and natural dyes. The sandals are ridiculously comfortable and I highly recommend them.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 24 TASK Make a list of clothes you’re likely to need in the next couple of months and research options local to you. Could you do what I consider as written about on the blog? Consider 50%? That is, be more scrutinizing about what you REALLY need, and buy half as many items and twice the quality? Write and ask questions pertaining to the above points we’ve looked at. Ask about PFC’s / what makes that possible, if they’ve touted themselves as stocking ‘wrinkle free sheets’ or jackets. Secondly, have a new mantra for yourself when it comes to clothes: Halve the quantity, double the quality. Clothing is a very precious thing and while it might feel awesome to get that ‘crazy deal on the $10 pair of jeans, the cost is being paid down the line elsewhere – by you and your health, by the factory worker, by the land. It just isn’t worth it. Halving the amount you buy and doubling the quality not only takes vast pressure off the planet, but also brings us back to appreciating our things more. Mindful, happy appreciation of special things. Keep applying pressure to the textiles industry however you can and eventually things will change. We are seeing it now with more and more in the food industry McDonald’s chains closing down. We see it with Coke’s 5th consecutive sales quarter decline and

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation their desperate attempt at releasing ‘Coke Life‘. Choosing better and applying pressure are the most positive and powerful force we possess as ‘consumers’ (even though I hate that word!) The big guys will stop making what the people stop buying. Here’s to not ignoring textile industry petitions any more. Here’s to finding some excellent local clothing brands to you that promote a more ecological way of doing things. Oh how I love these inspirations. You might like to follow The Minimalists blog.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Final idea: Next time you think you need to buy clothes, go do something else that’s free that you love to do – a favourite walk, a chat with a good friend. Did you really need the clothing, or did you need a feel good hit of “YOU” time, because you time and shopping aren’t mutually exclusive. That’s a marketer’s story, not that of the human spirits’.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 25: A very delicious kind of meditation

Chocolate meditation. Can you do it? I’m a little bit obsessed with the concept of mindful eating. I’ve written about it on the blog. I’m certainly no picture of perfection but it is something I am, well, mindful of. Some days I eat while I watch a Ted Talk / online tutorial / listen to an audio book – especially when I’m working alone. It’s actually quite difficult to do nothing but appreciate your food during the time that you’re eating it. First thing I noticed when becoming a more mindful eater? I wasn’t as hungry and didn’t want as much food – There was other stuff I ‘wanted’ more… Like getting stuff done. I found that really interesting and wasn’t any more hungry as a result. When you do absolutely nothing other than eat chocolate (or whatever substance floats your boat for that matter) it is a blissful experience. You might be surprised to know it will mean that you also digest your food better and register satisfaction sooner, than if you were to be doing something else at the time. So today, I want you to do this: Take 4 little squares of your favourite chocolate. Break off one piece. Sit somewhere quiet where you have ZERO distractions.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Close your eyes and pop the square into your mouth. Eat the piece slowly. Chomp down on it once, then swirl it around and let it melt and coat your entire mouth. Pause and take a deep breath afterwards (with a smile on your face!) and repeat a further 3 times. How was that?

I thought so… From now on, your chocolate deserves mindful eating practice, don’t you think?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 26: A low tox home – Heavy Metals

Heavy metals – yet another big topic. I’m going to share a few key and common exposures as well as reduction to exposure tips, a great heavy metal detox smoothie and then hand over to the chat I had with the awesome Nicole Bijlsma, founder ofwww.buildingbiology.com.au Heavy Metal toxicity is a great thing to have on your radar if you’re someone in the ‘when all else has failed’ category, in terms of feeling crappy, and then adopting a healthy diet / lifestyle changes needed, yet not yielding better health. Some of the symptoms you can experience with heavy metal build up and ‘chronic’ exposure are… • Fatigue – Chronic or sporadic • Digestive distress, and reduced ability to properly assimilate and utilize fats • Aching joints • Depression • Impaired blood sugar regulation • Female reproductive problems such as menstrual difficulties, infertility, repetitive miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension and premature birth Interestingly, when on the journey to bring the body back to balance from heavy metals, it is essential to be properly nourished with vital minerals / metals, because if you’re not, heavy metals will ‘stand in’ and that can be a disaster. According to Dr

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Kaayla Daniel this is what happens when you’re not adequately nourished and have heavy metals ‘floating around’ in your body: • Calcium is replaced by lead, which deposits primarily in bone, and disrupts the formation of red blood cells. Lead contributes to poor bone health such as osteopenia and osteoporosis. • Zinc is replaced by cadmium, which tends to accumulate heavily in your kidneys. Cadmium overload is associated with peripheral neuropathy. • Magnesium is replaced by aluminum, which, among other things, induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s. • Manganese is replaced by nickel, which is carcinogenic. So you can see why it’s a two pronged approach we need to keeping heavy metals in check within our bodies. We need to be well nourished and we need to reduce exposure in the first place. So in this day and age, how are we exposed? Here are some common ways… 1. Lead Paint in some furniture, wall paint and toys – especially old ones. 2. Cadmium in cigarettes (and cigarette smoke) 3. Mercury in Large fish 4. Mercury in “eco” light bulbs (a sad clash between good for the environment / good for us. Incandescent light bulbs are sadly the best for you health wise, followed by LED) 5. Lead in paint dust in the environment – especially renovations on older buildings. 6. Dental amalgam fillings (Mercury) 7. Drinking Water (low level lead but of course cumulative) 8. Frying pans, deodorant, foil used in cooking (aluminum. Neurotoxin. Use alternatives that we have covered already throughout the course) 9. Pesticides (all heavy metals mentioned above) LEAD reduction

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation So how do you find out if your paint, your replica chairs or your old toys contain lead? You can get one of these from a good hardware store near you (Bunnings in my case) they’re about $20-25 each.

And don’t forget to take shoes off as you enter the home to reduce lead dragged in from dust. Get a vacuum cleaner with a Carbon HEPA filter with a motorized head, to ensure dust is properly draped and removed instead of enabling lead containing dust into the air. Most high quality vacuums such as Dyson are HEPA filter vacuums. It’s easy to check though on a manufacturer’s website. This is a situation where selling your current vacuum cleaner if it doesn’t meet the specs (google your model and make to find out or make a quick call to your manufacturer) and reinvest that money into a good one – Remember, we’re buying half as much, and twice the quality, which also means half as often – Thinking long term with those big spend purchases is a tough corner to turn. You might experience tall poppy “My my aren’t we flash” type comments when you get ‘the best’ of something… and you can simply say ‘I’ve done the calculation on buying something better quality, and less often and it just makes sense cost and environment wise’. That usually shuts them up. How do I reduce my mercury exposure? • Eat less ‘big fish’ – swordfish, tuna, marlin, large salmon… It’s often unsustainable, and it’s more likely to also contain microplastics and other contaminants too, so you’re eliminating lots of possible badness here. Go with smaller fish like sardines, mackerel, garfish, small snappers and other small fish, if you’re a fish eater.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Swap back to incandescent lights or LEDs for lighting. These are the ‘eco’ ones that are oh, so dangerous if one were to fall and break. DO NOT TREAT YOURSELF or at the very least without a very protective mask and full gloves. BUT if you do have CFL’s (the eco ones) and one breaks – USE THIS CLEAN UP PROTOCOL to remove it. • Get your mercury amalgams SAFELY removed (Check back towards the end of my chat with Dr Ron Ehrlich where we discuss this) • These might be energy saving, but the mercury in these lightbulbs proves a very dangerous item to have in our homes. On council and metal safety websites, they caution to evacuate children and cut out affected carpet if one of these breaks in your home. Freaky, hey? What are some ideas for detoxing from other heavy metals and minimising damage caused by past / recent exposure? We discuss this at length in my chat with holistic practitioner Shalani McCray. If you missed it! Chelating (the process of ingesting substances that bind to and expel heavy metals from the body) heavy metals, is probably made most enjoyable by a good green juice. Now I’m not talking about kale or spinach. You can read a little more about that here. I’m talking about chlorella and coriander – amazing chelators. Some people don’t do well with Chlorella, so just test for yourself in small amounts or chat to a holistic practitioner to see the best chelation option for you if you have tested high for any of the heavy metals. Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie (serves 2) 1 bunch coriander (whole bunch, stalks and all) 1/2 bunch parsley 1/2 bunch mint 1 tablespoon chlorella or a high quality super greens powder (NON ASIAN ORIGIN due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster) Republica Organic has a great one. 1 cucumber 500ml coconut water, or cooled tea or water

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation The juice of 1/2 a lemon and 1/2 a lime 3-4 ice cubes Blend it all up for a good minute on high (Thermomix is 40secs, sp 9) and enjoy a small glass each as this serves 2-3 people. You could pop leftovers from 1 in a couple of jars to enjoy throughout the day / 2 days and have a few sips each day for a couple of weeks. Super importantly, remember to take time and relax with any detoxifying practice, or you can do the body more harm than good if you do it while stressed.

So please, make some time to enjoy my interview with Nicole. She’s such an inspiring individual. Video - https://youtu.be/1PPfGDymQw0 Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Nicole- Bijlsma-part-1.pdf Or on soundcloud – Go for a walk! https://soundcloud.com/alexx_stuart/alexx-chats- to-nicole And if you’ve renovated and you’re now panicking – head back to Shalani’s interview to put some chelation detoxing in play or start tucking into the green smoothie recipe above every day for a couple of months. Remember to relax because ‘stress’ and detox don’t mix too well at all!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 27: A low tox home – Dust and Mould

What is dust, really? Dust is the collective term used to describe the wide variety of organic and inorganic particles that collect in our homes. What are the most common things found in household dust ? • VOCs from electrical appliances and furniture (volatile organic compounds such as flame retardant PBDEs) • Dead skin cells (dust mite food! yummy ;-)) • Mold spores • Dust mites and mite ‘waste’ • Pesticides (from outside coming in via our shoes) • Hairs and pollens • Particles from our cosmetics • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) • Lead (paint dust, pesticide residue) • Fabric fibres (so if it’s synthetic fabric, you can breath in microplastics this way) • Plant, insect, soil particles Sheesh. Doesn’t feel the same to casually look around the room, does it?

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Here is my chat with Dr Peter Dingle on all things mould and dust. Video - https://youtu.be/IvNn3ekA5w0 Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Dr.-Peter- Dingle-Part-2.pdf Or on sound cloud to chew up less internet – Go for a walk! https://soundcloud.com/ alexx_stuart/alexx-chats-to-peter-dingle-part-2 So how do you keep your household dust to a minimum? Here are 9 tips! 1. Leave your shoes at the door. Get a shoe rack and don’t traipse all of the outdoor stuff into your house. This is your best anti-dust weapon, believe it or not! 2. Opt for wood flooring over wall-to-wall carpets when possible, especially in bedrooms. At the first opportunity, rip up those carpets (with masks on of course if you’re DIYing) and get jiggy with floor boards. The Building Biology website has a great list of eco flooring resources. 3. Clean your house regularly, using a central vacuum or a vacuum with a HEPA filter (Don’t panic if you’ve spent $100s on a Dyson – They’ve got the highest accreditation for their HEPA filters out of all of them!). If you are allergic to dust, wear a face mask while dusting, sweeping or vacuuming. (It can take more than two hours for the dust to settle after a thorough cleaning. So, if possible, clean when any allergic family members are away, and avoid cleaning the bedroom of an allergic person before bedtime.) 4. Wash all bed linens weekly, using hot water for this exercise. A tablespoon of eucalytus oil in each linen wash is helpful too. 5. Keep a HEPA air cleaner running in the allergic person’s bedroom. This is the best air purifier according to building biologist Nicole Bijlsma, if you’re going to use one. 6. Keep pets out of any allergic person’s bedroom at all times. 7. Keep all unrefrigerated food covered; dispose of food waste in a tightly sealed garbage can. 8. Get in the habit of using a hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home during rainy seasons / humid times of the year; keep the humidity level below

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation 55 percent. If you live in a humid or sticky climate, you may find it helpful to use a dehumidifier. You may use a vent fan for removing moisture in bathrooms and the kitchen. Repairing all water leaks will also help keep moisture away. 9. Dust with a damp microfiber cloth. Dusting with a dry cloth / tea towel / feather duster only serves to move most of the dust around and make it air bound again – not what we’re after! Best is to also use a simple dust collecting spray. 1 cup water, 1/3 cup vinegar, 2 tbsp olive oil, 15 drops your preferred essential oil. The small amount of oils in the mix will stop dust from being displaced. What is mould? Mould is a mine field of a topic, that’s what it is! Moulds are simple, microscopic organisms, present virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Together with mushrooms and yeasts, moulds are collectively called fungi. Moulds exist to break down organic material and recycle nutrients in the environment. The colour of mould is influenced by the nutrient source and age of the colony. It is impossible to determine what type of mould is growing by visual inspection only. That’s why mould testing by a professional is the absolute best scenario in terms of long term successful treatment. The experts are also not exactly decided on how one should best treat it, just to make things even more confusing. You’ll hear Dr Peter Dingle talk about vinegar and clove oil for removing basic household mould, but then Nicole Biljsma says regardless of the type, it’s best to get in professionals. I believe that for surface mould caused by a bit of humidity, I’m with Peter. I believe for mould caused by a deeper water leak / chronic moisture issue, I’m with Nicole – call in the big guns. If mould has the opportunity to grow, it will. All it needs is moisture / water. The key to reducing the growth of moulds in your home is to minimize the water. Reduce the ways in which water accumulates in the building structure and mould won’t continue to be a problem. No amount of ‘damp rid’ type of products are going to help you. Just as with all things in the health world, you need to get to the source of the problem. Mould and your health Mould isn’t just an unsightly problem – it’s a serious health risk. The symptom list is long! It can affect the respiratory system, causing sneezing, coughing, headache,

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation chronic candida, fatigue and wheezing, as well as respiratory infections and libido loss – AND, the list goes on! Definitely have a look at my chat with Peter for more. In particular, young children, the elderly, people with asthma and allergies, or people with compromised immune systems are at risk of developing mould-related health complications, so it’s really important to keep mould in check and get to the root of the problem. If you’re an investment property owner, it’s important to keep your rental properties in check now too, as it’s the law. You will also be saving yourself a far more expensive headache down the track. So, what do we do? For a little bit of surface bathroom mould due to the humidity in the bathroom, you can treat it with a simple solution of clove bud oil 20 drops, 1 cup water. Spray onto areas while wearing a mask, leave for 20 minutes, spray again and scrub off. You can also use pure, undiluted white vinegar. For deeper recurring damp problems where you need to have your walls / pipes / building structure checked, you need to work with professionals. You may also need a builder / roofer if the issue is a leak somewhere that’s just going to encourage further growth in the future. Check outSteamatic for low tox mould remediation services across Australia. But can’t I just use bleach? Well, no. Standard domestic and commercial cleaning products often contain harmful or toxic chemicals, and usually only lead to a short-term aesthetic solution. In addition, studies have shown that most household bleach-based cleaners are not effective against mould. Bleach often only treats the visible “symptom” of the mould, and hides it from sight by discolouring it. These toxic chemicals do not address the underlying mould infection which is spread over a wider area and is not always easy to see with the naked eye. In fact the underlying mould “root system” tends to feed on any surface mould killed by bleach, so treating mould with bleach can actually promote further mould growth rather than eliminate it. Hmmm… Isn’t that convenient indeed for a company that needs to sell more and more product year on year? Genius! Let’s sell them something that doesn’t work but at the same time, makes them think they need it more and more! Great job Ken, you’re being promoted to VP! So that’s a little bit on dust and mould, and how to keep both in check. DAY 28 task

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Get a good microfibre cloth – BIOME’s range is great. A damp tea towel will also work well if you’re strapped or minimising ‘stuff’. Key, is to just stop shifting dust around and actually remove it. Then, think about your priorities in dust / mould removal. This might be very different for everyone and might not even be posing an issue for you. Go through the resources, decide on a short term and long term plan.

Day 28: A low tox home – pest epellants – personal, home & garden

This is a topic where again we have the chance to impact our health and the planet’s with the choices we make. Pesticides are mostly thought about in relation to food agriculture, but the host of baits, balls, surface sprays, lure and kills and mozzie repellents are collectively very harmful to us and our planet too. The giants who run pesticide companies are a rather powerful lot. They’re the type that try to sue the European Union for banning their neonicotinoids, for one – Pop your name on this petition while you’re here and learn more about the bee situation. Whole colonies of honey bees are dying all over the world. This has disastrous consequences for our biodiversity and agriculture. If our biodiversity shrinks, so does our health by definition of not being about to access as large a variety of plants to eat and get our nutrients from. Without honey bees 80% of the plants will disappear, so it’s a big deal indeed. Without specific plant species, certain butterflies will be extinct and our fruits and vegetables will diminish. A disaster for nature but also for us people.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Watch this simple little video to know that opting to go chemical free with our insect options, as well as organic and local where possible when buying food, is an amazing contribution to a better today and tomorrow. How neonicotinoids kill bees - https://youtu.be/CLuX5TjRDdg Want to know the chemicals in your day to day home pest products? Beyond Pesticides. Org has a list of all the main ones for you to take a look at. If you want a wonderful resource regarding bees, The Vanishing Bees is where to go. Now, I want to share a story. I grew up terrified of bugs of all kinds. I used to use fly spray for 2 fruit flies buzzing around – madness! This was one of my last low tox convert categories, about 5 years ago now and I’m so, so glad I did. I used so much spray for years and the average house hold sprays can lead to thyroid damage, endocrine disruption, cancer and neurotoxicity – NO THANKS! My last encounter with poisonous bug sprays, was when I was visiting my family in Mauritius (we’re half French Mauritian on Mum’s side) and I was breast feeding my then nearly 5 month old little guy – I didn’t have quite enough milk, so we were also supplementing with an organic goat’s formula, HOLLE. The day after I got there, the little man rejected the boob. He simply would not take breast milk at all and it was quite literally from one day to the next. I know in my heart now as I did about a week later when I figured it out, that it was the Aeroguard coming through me and into the breast milk. I always got mauled in Mauritius, and Aerogard was my summer fragrance without fail back then and growing up. I’d been so low tox on so many fronts by that time, it was easy to pin point the cause. Our babies teach us. Their instincts are pure and they just feel what’s wrong and involuntarily react to such things negatively. Because they can’t talk they protest through tears and screams, and tight lipped mouths. We must listen for their cues. And so, that was it for me and toxic sprays. What’s wrong with a couple of fruit flies anyway, honestly? Or ants? These days, I just don’t mind at all because, again – the stuff once you look into it, is too UGLY to contemplate using. So, here are some tips and I’ve included an AWESOME infographic I’ve referenced several times on natural pest control which covers prevention, home, garden and personal – It’s epically wonderful!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation 1. The best thing you can do to minimize indoor pests is get fly screens. By simply keeping them out, you have far less issues IN. Large hardware stores will stock readymade extendible ones, or you could get them custom made or, if you’re ambitious as my husband was, make them yourself! 2. Pinterest is probably the best resource there is for insect repellent ideas. Check the massive amounts of info out on HERE. PRO TIP: To avoid bogus claims, scroll down to the comments where you will quickly find out if people have loved the remedies or not! 3. Trap large insects like grasshoppers and huntsmans (or get someone to if you’re like me and have a phobia) and place them outside. If you can’t face them, a vacuum cleaner is super effective for sucking them up. 4. For cockroaches, you can mix Borax + Sugar: 3 parts borax to 1 part sugar, because the borax acts similarly to commercial roach killing sprays by dehydrating the pests’ exoskeleton. The sugar just acts as a bait. Though borax is a pretty safe product, I ask that you err on the side of caution and sprinkle the mix only in high up places OR when you’re all going to be out and you can return home and vacuums before risking kids touching it, given it’s an ey / lung irritant, despite being natural. A few hours later, there will be dead cockroaches and you will be happy! 5. A simple weed killer for the garden? Equal parts dish or hand soap (ie a Dr Bronner Castille) with white vinegar and spray on the weeds. Weeds be gone! HERE’S A VIDEO 6. Flies, mozzies, slow spiders and cockroaches? WHACK. Simple as that. Stop spraying them when you could whack them. Check out this fly gun – Some people form past course rounds swear by it!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Note: Where it says boric acid, use Borax from BLANTS to be sure you’re getting the natural one. Need some pest deterrent help with your pets? DOG NATURALLY is a wonderful resource. Need a low tox pest company in Australia? These guys are in demand, but definitely the best option I’ve come across. Easy on Earth Pest Control Want some ready-to-use pest sprays and repellents? BIOME has a mosquito repellent wrist band if you prefer not having skin contact with oils / a specific smell.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Nourished Life has an awesome Vanessa Megan gentle-for-baby one, as well as a couple of other options. I used Bug off my baby when the little man was a bub in the tropics twice, and it was fantastic!

And then you have Redecker red cedar which naturally repels moths from your closets! Also from BIOME.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

And how about a completely ‘substance free’ repellent for the home? Try this wall plug in natural pest deterrant with a 60 day money back guarantee from BIOME.

And there you have some ideas! The most important thing here is again, that in making these changes we help our health and the planet’s health. No more sending these chemicals out into the atmosphere and the waterways. We are smarter than that now.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 29: Electromagnetics & WFi

We’re so enmeshed with our technology these days, aren’t we? Do you panic for that few seconds you think your phone might be lost? Thought so. Me too! So let’s hook into this rather epic topic, with an initial look at the main things we’re dealing with. Please know, that given this is one of the newest fields of concern, it’s also one with the least amount of evidence behind it. This is not designed to alarm, but to inform and incite questions for you to ask yourself… ideas for you to explore. Just think about this however: How do you feel after a day out in nature vs a day at the computer? One makes us feel better, so broadly speaking while the evidence might be contested, there’s no question that less technology and electricity around us = better feeling of wellbeing. What are the most common exposures? (in no order of magnitude) Microwaves Wireless Tech Baby monitors Electrical wiring in the house (lighting / cooking) Electric blankets (see my tip below!) Phone towers Power lines Mobiles & Cordless phones Radioactivity Smart meters I’ve hyperlinked the above exposure points directly to Nicole Bijlsma’s site, for any topic you want to read more on. She has such generous, free and evidence based information on there, it’s truly worth spending some time looking into those which interest you to learn more about.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Let’s just quickly equalize with some hippy gardening thoughts at this point before we go further. Ahhh. That’s better. Those of you living rurally are thinking: “Good decision” right about now, am I right? So, according to the best experts in the field, we MUST start to reduce our exposure levels – especially Australia and the USA who’s ‘safe’ limits of wireless technology exposure are up to a million times higher than other countries (like Austria, for example). Over 25,000 articles and studies have been posted suggesting caution on this subject, calling EMFs carcinogenic and yet we recklessly – at every opportunity – introduce Wi-Fi at every turn. Now I’m not coming from a higher than thou place here. I am slave to Wi-Fi like the next person as someone with an online business, but I am mindful, and really do try to fully ‘switch off’ more and more, at the very least for a couple of 2 hour blocks of time per day. There are other parts of our lives that demand presence. Germany outwardly recommends its citizens to use Ethernet cabling over Wi-Fi in offices and schools. France has banned Wi-Fi in schools. Large countries like this don’t do such things on a whim – they look at the evidence. If there’s doubt as to safety, don’t wait until that doubt is certain and has cost people’s health. We’ve already done that with our food ‘science’ and look at what is happening there? As Nicole Bijlsma can attest, after bravely turning her 10 miscarriages into a valuable contribution to the better health of 1000s of Australians… the changes you make will benefit you with better health. Fact. Now, you might not be experiencing as severe an impact to your health as Nicole’s but any of these symptoms can be linked to EMF sensitivity or over exposure and so often are misdiagnosed as an autoimmune condition. Scary stuff! • Foggy brain • Fibromyalgia • Chronic Fatigue • Restlessness • Poor concentration • Learning difficulties • Infertility / Trouble maintaining pregnancy

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation • Insomnia • Muscle tremors • Flu feelings that never turn into an acutal flu • Ringing ears (tinnitus) • Body aches and pains • Anxiety So how do you find out if high exposures might be affecting your health? You might want to engage a building biologist to come and measure your exposure levels at home. You might also want to just rent a kit to test them yourself. EMR Australia is a wonderful resource and allows you to hire the home testing kits. The alternative is to do a few simple things to reduce your exposure, which would be wise anyway, and then see how you feel. Remember this important fact: As you double the distance away from the source, you reduce your exposure by 75%. So, to that end here are my top 8 super simple tips for reducing your exposure in your bedroom and house. 1. Your phone won’t emit anything in airplane mode, so if you want to have it in your room, have it on flight mode and use the alarm that way. Get rid of clock radios. 2. If you must use an electric blanket, then switch it on 15 minutes before bed, and when you get into bed, switch it off – not on standby, but OFF and unplugged from the wall. 3. If you iron in your bedroom, unplug from the wall after a session. 4. Switch your Wi-Fi router off at night for the whole house and consider getting an Ethernet cable for your computer. 5. If you *MUST* have a baby monitor, move it to the other side of the nursery so it’s at least more than a metre from your baby’s head and have it to a voice activated setting, so that it isn’t constantly emitting frequency. I will say

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation though, trust your parental instinct. I tossed my baby monitor once I realised that I could hear that child roll over in the night down the hall in his room, I was so tuned into him. It’s one of those rare last glimpses at our animal instinct I find, have you found that? 6. When it comes to kids and iPad… let them use a computer that’s connected with Ethernet cable instead (APPLE sell converter plugs for their laptops to accept Ethernet). Allow children only to watch movies on mobile devices, so that you can have them on airplane mode. 7. Make sure your bed isn’t lined up to a wall whereby there are electrical objects on the other side. If it is, just do a bedroom shuffle, and get the mattress to the other side. 8. DO NOT PLAY ON YOUR PHONE with Wi-Fi enabled, next to your baby’s head whilst breast feeding. Stop it right this minute and go back to the days of either quiet meditation with the bub OR trashy TV and sitting a good 3 metres from the screen. Do any of those ‘blocking’ metals work? Tourmaline? The stones? The plug-into-the- walls? The stick-on-the-phone? Some say yes and others say no. Feel free to experiment and see how you feel. While everyone argues about whether the ‘reduction’ technology works or not, I believe it’s important to actively reduce our home levels regardless. This is the phone case I have. I can definitely feel a significant reduction in hot ear syndrome after a call, and my hand doesn’t go ‘fuzzy’ if doing a lot of Facebook replies as normally can take me a good hour, since I’ve had it. I consider that to be a good sign, but again – you be the judge here! Pong Sleek IPhone Anti-radiation Case – The words here are promotional product words describing the product, NOT my words. They’re available through Nourishing Hub. Discover Minimalist Style and Maximum Protection for You The Pong Sleek iPhone 6 Case takes protection to the next level– it redirects radiation away from you while improving your iPhone’s signal strength.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Features • Built-in Antenna Technology instantly pairs with your iPhone 6 when you snap it on • Reduces exposure to radiation – 89% below the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit • Transmits a stronger outbound signal with an increase of up to 75% • Proven by the same labs that certify devices for the US (FCC), European (CE), Canadian (CA) and Australian (ACA) governments • Protection from 4’ drops and certified to U.S. military specifications • Access to all iPhone 6 ports and functions • Designed in Encinitas, California • 60-day money back guarantee Pong Technology Reduces Your Exposure To Harmful Wireless Radiation. Total Radiated Power is a measure of the radiation your mobile devices are emitting. TRP isn’t bad. In fact, it’s what gives you a strong mobile connection. Pong’s patented antenna is unique in that it doesn’t decrease the TRP of your mobile device. It just redirects that radiation away from your head and body. That’s good for your phone and even better for you.

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation How Pong Technology Works… Pong cases contain a micro-thin, gold antenna that redirects radiation away from you. This redirection reduces your exposure to mobile device radiation by up to five times below the FCC Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit without compromising your device’s ability to communicate. Plus, Pong is the only technology proven in FCC- certified laboratories. What’s more, it was verified in an extensive, independent test by WIRED MAGAZINE. What Parents Should Know About Radiation. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states, “In theory, children have the potential to be at greater risk than adults for developing brain cancer from cell phones.” According to the NCI, this is due to the still-developing nervous systems and smaller heads of children. Pong cases give you an easy way to proactively protect your children from exposure to radiation.

Pong Research US-based Pong Research Corporation is the world’s first and only maker of technologically-advanced iPad and smartphone cases that improve device performance and protect users against cellular and Wi-Fi radiation. Independent certified laboratories have proven that Pong’s mobile phone cases reduce users’ exposure to potentially harmful mobile phone radiation by up to 95 percent below international safety limits, and can improve reception and conserve battery life. And, compared to other cases, Pong’s iPad case not only reduces cellular radiation exposure up to this level and Wi-Fi radiation exposure by up to 72 % percent but also can improve cellular signal strength by 10X, increase range, improve Wi-Fi reception, and accelerate cellular upload speeds. Developed by a team of PhD scientists trained at MIT, Princeton, Harvard and UCLA, all Pong cases are embedded with a multi-patented, ultra-thin flexible printed circuit board antenna that redirects and diffuses the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that would otherwise be absorbed by the user’s head and body. Now protecting people in more than 100 countries, Pong cases are easy to put on and take off, come in a rainbow of fashionable colors and styles and work anywhere in the world. We will be giving one away tonight on the Facebook page so hang tight – You may be the lucky one!

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Remember after work, if you’re in an office, that the best thing you can do is head into a patch of nature for some earthing afterwards to re-calibrate. I’d like to recalibrate like this, please. Anyone?

So there you have it. Our second last module – what a doozy, right? It’s a frustrating one in many ways because of the inconclusive science behind it at this stage, but as with many hastily added things to our world, I believe we should be cautious. If we can take a few simple steps to reduce radiation exposure, then why wouldn’t we do that just in case, right? No need to stress or panic or cry out to the world to be terrified and that we’re all doomed. Just remember your airplane mode and to switch off the electric blanket before hopping into bed. Done! Simple small things make an impact, which is all the reason to take those small steps. Just an innocent little course to help you choose better lipstick and cleaning products, you thought, right? Enjoy my interview with Nicole Bijlsma, as I get her back to help us demystify Wi-Fi and tech.. Video - https://youtu.be/7prXnb_5mRk Transcript - http://courses.alexxstuart.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Nicole- Bijlsma-part-2.pdf Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/alexx_stuart/alexx-chats-to-nicole-bijlsma

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Day 30: Low Tox Wap – Resources, course book & further eading recommendations

You did it! You are officially a Low Tox Fox Thank you so much for joining me on this course. It has been amazing to read your stories, challenges, successes, frustrations, joys, discoveries, realisations, progress, change… All of it. Remember our mantra. Don’t feel guilty about what you didn’t know yesterday, feel excited about what you’re going to change today. This course was NOT designed to make you feel inadequate, guilty or ashamed of what you’ve been doing or the way you’ve been doing it or what you can’t afford to buy. Do not freak out. Phase out. I’m a girl who used to microwave eggs and sleep with an electric blanket on all night. I used stinky fake make up & skincare, doused myself in chemicals cleaning down bars for 7 years in hospitality and had few pennies to scrub together with a newborn nearly 6 years ago, when I wanted to make way more changes than I could at the time. I could beat myself up about how those things are why I used to get sick, got PCOS, had a lazy thyroid, OR I could get upset about not ‘getting everything sorted’ sooner or, I could chuck an Elsa along with the rest of the 5 year-old girl population and Let it go

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

When you learn all this stuff, dissatisfaction, anger or sadness can all be harnessed into an amazing springboard for change. Take it at your pace. Do what’s most important to you and what resonates – not what someone else says their priorities are. If you’re stressed, you’re doing it wrong. Go get a massage, have a tea and write down that one thing you want to focus on. Have a single focus at a time so you can really appreciate the progress you make on the way. I cannot begin to explain what a deep deep sense of happiness and hope it brings me, to have spent this past 30 days with you. I feel super blessed to have people join me in believing that WE – You and I – can make a real difference to our health and the planet’s health by making these simple changes and I cannot wait to see this community continue to grow over time. What happens now? 1. We have a digital detox for a couple of days – deal? I will be managing my Facebook page with the full, big community there, but I’m going to take a break from group management and answering questions over the weekend! 2. You have full access until May 24th of this course portal. 3. In two weeks after my little team and I have updated all resources, added new ones from the forum threads that are low tox approved and done an almighty

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation 39,000 word spell check, you will receive your shiny, digital course PDF book. This will have every module in it and all of my recommendation links. 4. Next week I have a couple of little bonuses and I shall still personally be trying to get to as many questions as possible until you receive your pdfs. 5. On Monday you shall receive a list of discount codes that will continue on through our amazing course supporters along with still $400 WORTH OF GIVEAWAYS yet to give away. We’ve been too busy talking! So, stay tuned either in the Facebook group or if the winner isn’t in the group, you’ll be notified privately.

How can I share this course with my friends and family? Hang tight. Our next enrolment intake is coming up soon, and you will be the first to know and be able to share it with your friends. I so appreciate you spreading the word. Lastly, hopefully, if I did my job, you might have experienced a few shifts over the past month. • Mindful • Connected to nature • A sense of place in the world and a drive behind your new found responsibility to your health and that of our amazing planet earth. • Excitement for discovery rather than fear of the unknown

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation

Low Tox. Happy Us. Happy Planet. Thank you so much for joining me and a massive congrats for all the brilliant changes you’ve made and will make into the future. We’re changing our lives and the planet by making better choices. How cool is that? Alexx x

Here are some of the best books to keep you learning and clarifying things for yourself, on your journey Slow Death by Rubber Duck To Die For What’s Got Into Us TOX IN TOX OUT The MoneyLessMan The Joy of Less

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation No More Dirty Looks Ted Talks and Documentaries to watch The Disappearing Male Toxic Baby – Ted TALK The Human Experiment Microbirth The Story of Stuff (whole site) Bag It – The Movie Planet on a Plate Chemical Valley Mercury Undercover Unacceptable Levels – A must watch!

Here are all the additional links to things YOUR COMMUNITY has found doing the course, with your own research. Enjoy!

Day 5: Low Tox home cleaning http://www.naturallyhome.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701516/COCAMIDE_DEA/?hc_location=ufi http://www.kitchenandresidentialdesign.com/2010/06/whats-in-magic-eraser.html? m=1&hc_location=ufi

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation https://t.cfjump.com/t/12335/14846/kitchenware/8918-if-you-care-reusable-fsc-certifed- rubber-gloves-medium-770009250286.html?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/bymehome?hc_location=ufi http://liagriffith.com/make-your-own-organic-castile-hand-soap-printable-labels/? hc_location=ufi http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/university-of-melbourne-study-warns-of-harmful- compounds-found-in-cleaning-products/story-fni0fit3-1227246831566 http://www.vitafutura.com/mats/details.asp?fam=00301&hc_location=ufi Essential Oil awareness & Young Living reconnaissance interview https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=oS0Qa_AkZfc and private facebook group started to learn more about how you can use them and get access to the wholesale pricing. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 411907632314615/

Day 7: skincare. https://www.gourmetsoapkitchen.com.au/?hc_location=ufi

Day 10: Personal Hygiene – Pits, time of the month, sexy time https://www.facebook.com/paleoskincareaustralia http://www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au/?hc_location=ufi

DAY 13: Make Up. http://www.mokosh.com.au/mokosh/Home.htm?hc_location=ufi http://bit.ly/zuiiblush?hc_location=ufi

DAY 14: Low Tox KIDS http://liagriffith.com/make-your-own-organic-castile-hand-soap-printable-labels/? hc_location=ufi

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153066108201206&set=p. 10153066108201206&type=1 http://www.ecotoys.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.etsy.com/au/HinterlandMama?hc_location=ufi http://www.dragonflytoys.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.spiralgarden.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.apikali.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.montessorichild.com.au/ http://www.ecosak.com/?hc_location=ufi http://www.questforlife.com.au/meditation-children?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/PegAndDot?hc_location=ufi

Day 16: http://www.exchangestores.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.saison.com.au/?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/GrassRootsUrbanButchery?hc_location=ufi http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/?hc_location=ufi https://m.facebook.com/bymehome?hc_location=ufi http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/aussiegus_05?hc_location=ufi

Day 19 http://www.tm-essentials.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.alycealexandra.com/kitchen-helpers/keep-leaf-reusable-baggies?hc_location=ufi

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Day 20: Food storage http://www.packmyproduct.com.au/ https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/10-piece-glass-bowl-set-lids/?cm_email=sherrie %40saltmotion.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20150320+-+EDM+-+1+-+AU+-+KITCH +-+CAPL+-+Food+Storage+BARGAINS+Vacuum+Sealer+Airtight+Storage+Glass+Bowl+Sets+ +more&utm_content=20150320+-+EDM+-+1+-+AU+-+KITCH+-+CAPL+-+Food+Storage+BARGAINS +Vacuum+Sealer+Airtight+Storage+Glass+Bowl+Sets++more+Version+A +CID_414a3b9013f7a07c73a6ffa12231bc78&utm_source=MailList&utm_term=Ovela+10+Piece +Glass+Bowl+Set+with+Lids https://www.house.com.au/ProductDisplay.aspx?ProductSearch=cosmopolitan %20canister&hc_location=ufi http://www.lessismorefestival.org.au/workshop-handouts.html http://www.rodalenews.com/food-storage?hc_location=ufi

Day 21: Minimizing waste http://www.foodknowhow.org.au/waste-know-how/bokashi-bins/?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/TreadingMyOwnPath?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/ZeroWasteHome?hc_location=ufi http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-19/volunteers-collect-rubbish-from-as-far-away-as- madagascar/6333508

Day 22: Low Tox Conversations http://time.com/3742871/bpa-free-health/?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/OpenHeartMum/photos/a. 519447934765378.1073741825.494701500573355/862964937080341/?type=1&fref=nf http://lifehacker.com/how-to-program-your-mind-to-stop-buying-crap-you-don-t-1690268064? %3Futm_source=thestoryofstuffprojectFB https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hKgS0PA3E7s&hc_location=ufi

Day 23: Bedding http://www.bedsrus.com.au/our-range/sleepyhead/natural%20latex/?hc_location=ufi

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation http://www.pillowtalk.com.au/bedroom/pillows/latex-pillows/p/SLEBSENSA07? hc_location=ufi http://www.blessedearth.com.au/categories/Organic-Bedding/Organic-Cotton-Bedding/ Fabrics%2C-Mosquito-Nets-%26-Curtains/Fabrics/?hc_location=ufi http://www.organature.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://tetrateatree.com.au/ http://www.blessedearth.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://www.potterybarnkids.com.au/

Day 24: http://www.certton.com.au/ http://www.ecohaven.com.au/?hc_location=ufi http://sunshadowslippers.com.au/sunshadow-shop/?hc_location=ufi http://www.ethical.org.au/get-informed/clothing/clothing-alternatives/

Goodonyou.org.au http://www.un-fancy.com/capsule-wardrobe-101/what-is-a-capsule-wardrobe-anyway/

DAY 26: Heavy Metals http://www.buildingbiology.com.au/index.php/Hazards/Energy-Saving-Lamps-have-we-been- Green-Washed.html?hc_location=ufi http://www.earth911.com/home-garden/broken-cfl-clean-up/2/?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/MisleadMovie?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/LeadSafeAmerica?hc_location=ufi http://fitlife.tv/cilantro-and-chlorella-can-remove-80-of-heavy-metals-from-the-body- within-42-days/?hc_location=ufi http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/mad-as-a-hatter/?hc_location=ufi http://nourishingplot.com/2013/08/02/the-brain-is-a-storage-site-for-heavy-metal- poisoning/?hc_location=ufi

30 days to your Low Tox Life - Class of March 2015 End of Course PDF compilation Day 28: Natural pest strategies http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-bug-spray/?hc_location=ufi https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152861043188871&set=p. 10152861043188871&type=1 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152861042943871&set=p. 10152861042943871&type=1 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152861038903871&set=p. 10152861038903871&type=1