Jeff, you can just skip this one...
(I've been told I should filter my posts for him.
)
I found the list below when reading a story about the mysterious disappearance of bees in the last couple of years. There are tons more ways to rid your home environment of toxins, but these are definitely a great start.
btw...beekeepers normally report a 5 to 10 percent loss in their colonies every year. The past two years, that number has increased significantly - this year the loss was 36 percent! They haven't determined, specifically, what is happening, but there are several theories and many of them revolve around the many toxins that the bees are being exposed to in their everyday lives, to include the HFCS being fed to them by some beekeepers.
I've added a few websites to the list if you're interested in looking up alternatives. Anything in parenthesis and italics are my words.
13 Tips to Avoid Toxins
You can limit your exposure to environmental contaminants, and live as pure a life as possible, by:
1. Buying and eating, as much as possible, organic produce and locally raised, free-range, organic foods. (There are a ton of websites offering organic and/or grass fed beef - being where you guys are, you might have places that offer it locally - but here is a good website that gives you the reasons why you should make the switch.)
2. Rather than eating fish, which is largely contaminated with PCBs and mercury, consuming a high-quality animal-based omega-3 fat like krill oil. (Here is a website that offers wild Alaskan salmon, though it's probably easier for you guys to find this in your local grocery store than it is for me.)
3. Avoiding processed foods -- remember that they're processed with chemicals!
4. Only using natural cleaning products in your home. (WalMart has just started carrying a "green" line of cleaning products made with citrus ingredients and I've found they work just as well as the brands I used to use and, of course, good old fashioned baking soda and vinegar can clean a lot more things than you might think.)
5. Switching over to natural brands of toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics.
6. Not spraying insect repellents that contain DEET on your body. There are safe, effective and natural alternatives out there. Natural pest repellents(I've read a lot about eucalyptus oil helping with all kinds of insects. It does a great job of keeping mosquitoes away and, if you spray a diluted mixture on your bed and pillow, it will kill dust mites - a common cause of many allergy symptoms.)
7. Removing any metal fillings, as they're a major source of mercury. Be sure to have this done by a qualified biological dentist. Although nearly any dentist is technically qualified to replace your amalgam fillings, far less than 95 percent have any concept on how to do it properly to insure your risk of mercury exposure is minimized. Please avoid the mistake I have seen THOUSANDS of patients make, and have your fillings replaced by a qualified dentist.
8. Avoiding using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances as they can pollute the air you are breathing. (Dryer sheets Dryer balls - you can find these at Target)
9. Avoiding artificial food additives of all kind, including artificial sweeteners and MSG.
10. Getting plenty of safe sun exposure to boost your vitamin D levels and your immune system (you'll be better able to fight disease).
11. Having your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, installing an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or bath).
12. Limit your use of drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) as much as possible. Drugs are chemicals too, and they will leave residues and accumulate in your body over time.
13. Avoiding the use of pesticides around your home and garden.