Giveaway: Unacceptable Levels

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

I recently posted a review of Unacceptable Levels, a movie about chemicals in our bodies. I have a chance to run a giveaway as well. To enter, read the tips from filmmaker Ed Brown below and comment with which one is your favorite tip. Deadline is July 15th.

1. Read food labels. Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, nitrates, artificial colors, MSG… if it’s processed, it is likely to contain one or more of these ingredients. Sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate are preservatives that are sometimes added to sodas to prevent mold growth, but benzene is a known carcinogen. Butylated hydroxynaisole (BHA) is another preservative that is potentially cancer causing. If you can’t pronounce it, chances are you shouldn’t be eating it.
2. Purchase organic food whenever possible. Factor in the potential health costs of processed and conventionally grown (read: pesticide rich) foods and organic food doesn’t break the bank. In fact, eating organic food is possible even on a shoestring budget-we can eat out less, reduce meat and processed food consumption, buy in bulk and eat leftovers (Americans, on average, throw away about 23 pounds of perfectly edible food, per person, every month!). Personally, I’d rather put chemical free-foods on the table for peace of mind and fewer visits to the doctor’s office. As we vote for organic with our dollars, the fewer toxic chemicals will be found not only in our food, but in our air and drinking water. Using our purchasing power will also help organic make organic more widely accessible. Already, organic food in the fastest growing sector in agriculture.
3. Switch to non-toxic, biodegradable laundry and cleaning products. This is an easy way to create a safer, healthier home environment for you, your family and your pets. There are so many choices out there today, and they’re becoming more and more readily available at big box stores.
4. Transition to non-toxic personal care products. Public health allows almost any chemical as an ingredient in personal care products. Misleading and incomplete labeling of ingredients, as well as unsubstantiated claims, are also allowed. And our skin is our body’s largest organ! 
5. Say no to triclocarbon, triclosan, parabens, retinol, PEGS, ceteareths, polyethelene… the list is long. If and ingredient isn’t familiar (or can’t be easily pronounced), it’s a good idea to look it up or simply avoid it. 
6. Reuse, reduce, recycle. We’ve all heard this before, but it’s important not just for the Earth, but for our health. Our planet is inundated with plastic products and waste, which end up leaching into our soil and drinking water and even find their way into our oceans and lakes. In one way or another, as the top of the food chain, we’re going to end up ingesting it. Look for the products with less packaging, think twice about upgrading to a new phone; bring reusable bags to the grocery store. It can be that simple.