I'm An MD Toxicity Expert & These Are 5 Things You'll Never Find In My Bathroom

According to one estimate from the Environmental Working Group, the average American woman is exposed to 168 chemicals a day—from her personal care routine alone.

With this in mind, here are the top five things I stay away from in my bathroom. Reducing toxins in the home can feel daunting, but it's important to remember that little steps can make a huge difference over time. To combat overwhelm, decide on just one thing from this list to swap at a time:

But did you know that dental floss can also contain PFAS? A 2019 study in Nature found that using coated floss4 was associated with higher levels of PFAS markers in the blood. That said, it is important to floss for oral health. When you do, just avoid marketing terms like "glide," "smooth," and "slide," and instead, look for PFAS-free brands. (Boka and Cocofloss are my two favorites.)

I am picky about body lotion because the presence of water naturally requires preservatives to avoid microbial contamination, some of which are problematic. Some names to know: Parabens are associated with endocrine disruption5, while DMDM hydantoin and Quaternium-15 both release formaldehyde, an IARC class 1 carcinogen6. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can be added to thicken and emulsify, but it acts as a penetration enhancer (i.e., it helps the other harmful chemicals penetrate the skin easier). If you use lotion, I recommend one that is made without these potentially harmful preservatives. 

In fact, anything with the term "fragrance" in the ingredient list begs further investigation and questioning because this is an umbrella term that can describe any number of ingredients.

If you like taking baths (who doesn't?), I recommend opting for Epsom salt baths instead. And if you like a relaxing scent, diffuse some high-quality essential oils into the air during your soak.

Our oral microbiome plays an important role in the health of our gums and teeth, but most mouthwashes wreak havoc on it. Think of mouthwash as an inappropriately prescribed antibiotic that kills both bad and good bacteria at the same time. Sometimes antibiotics are necessary and lifesaving, but we wouldn't want to use them every day for no good reason!

If you want to learn how to reduce toxins in your homes with me in an easy, step-by-step way and support your detox organs using science-based methods (without the gimmicky quick fixes that don't work), join my signature course Detox Right. Use code MBG200 to get $200 off.