Choosing safe and effective Sunscreen

by Christina Vanvuren writer at WholeFamily MD

Do you stand in front of the sunscreen aisle with your eyes wide and mouth slightly agape? There are so many choices! What’s best for adults? What’s best for kids? What is non-toxic for coral reefs and aquatic animals? Luckily our friends at Because Health have put together excellent tools like product round-ups and articles that will help you protect yourself and your family and the planet. Enjoy the sun — safely!

Why mineral sunscreen is best

Top 10 Tips for Going Toxic-Free

Here are 10 easy ways you and your family can remove toxins from your day-to-day life and improve long-term health:

  1. Take your shoes off at the door. From all the places you walk in a day, your shoes can pick up all kinds of dust including lead and pesticides. If you leave your shoes at the door, that dust won’t get on everything else. It’s a super easy change and makes a huge difference right away. Invest in some cute slippers!
  2. Stop eating lunch at your desk. And wash your hands every time before you eat, that includes for the kids, too. This way, you won’t accidentally get anything that may be on your hands such as flame retardants and other harmful chemicals into your body when you eat. 
  3. Store leftovers and pack your lunch in glass or stainless steel containers. Glass containers can go straight from the fridge to the microwave (win!), and all of these containers are easy to clean and don’t contain any plastic additives (like BPA) that have been linked to changing hormone levels. 
  4. While you’re at it, check your water bottle. Instead of buying bottled water or refiling a plastic bottle, consider getting a glass or stainless steel reusable bottle. They’re pretty, and better for both you and the planet. 
  5. Rethink what makes a food choice healthier; it’s not just about how processed it is or how much sugar or fat it contains. The way it’s packaged matters too. Prioritize your organic produce choices by looking for these 3 types of items, go for frozen or boxed options over canned, and try shopping for staples in the bulk section. 
  6. Ditch non-stick pans. Whether you are baking something special or just making dinner, there are a bunch of options that are still easy release without the nasty PFAS chemicals that are often added to give pans a non-stick coating. 
  7. Clean your house more often (whatever that means for you) and more effectively with our 6 tips for healthier cleaning. No matter how often you are cleaning, each cleaning session should probably at least include a quick wipe down with a wet microfiber cloth (it’s like magic and works on everything from book shelves, to kitchen counters, to windows) and a pass of the vacuum cleaner. 
  8. Did you know that using traditional cleaning products on a regular basis can be just as bad for your health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day? So, if you are going to try to clean more often, you might want to check out some of our recommended healthier cleaning supplies and laundry detergents or DIY cleaning hacks. 
  9. When you are getting ready in the morning, make one swap to your look that will have a lasting impact. Whether that’s choosing a new, non-toxic makeup item, switching up your sunscreen, or trying a new deodorant, even just one little change can have a pretty big impact on your long-term health. 
  10. Consider upgrading your old couch to one that’s more in style, comfier, and definitely doesn’t have flame retardants. Why? Because if you got your couch before 2013, chances are pretty much 100% that it contains added flame-retardants so that it could meet the regulations at the time. But, since then, regulations have changed and we’ve learned a lot about flame-retardants and now know they don’t break down and can cause health problems like cancer, infertility, compromised immune system, especially in kids. It’s a big purchase, but one that will truly impact everyone in your home.

Because Health is a non-profit environmental health initiative, bringing you everything you need to know about how the places where we live, work, and play impact our health. Karen is the editor-in-chief for Because Health content and the Director of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment. (Learn more about Because Health).