Summertime speaks to outdoor fun, backyard barbecues and time in the sun. This summer, we can make some simple shifts inside and out to enjoy a healthier season for ourselves, our families and our environment.
Sun Protection
As we look for protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays, we want to make sure our sunscreen isn’t doing more harm than good. There are two categories of sunscreens: mineral and chemical. Mineral sunscreens, containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, act by sitting atop the skin, shielding and reflecting damaging rays. Meanwhile, chemical sunscreens can get absorbed into the skin and act more like a sponge in absorbing the UV rays.
The critical piece with chemical sunscreens is skin absorption. Recent FDA tests showed that after one application of a chemical sunscreen, active ingredients continued to be absorbed into the skin days later. Of particular concern are some of the active ingredients in the chemical sunscreens that get absorbed into the skin, namely oxybenzone. Oxybenzone has been shown to be allergenic, is a potential endocrine disruptor and may also be damaging to the environment. Oxybenzone, along with other UV-filtering ingredients, has been detected globally in almost all water sources as well as detected in various fish species worldwide.
According to the Environmental Working Group, only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have been classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the FDA, while oxybenzone and other UV-filtering chemicals require further testing.
If you are unsure of what to choose, the Environmental Working Group suggests opting for sunscreen products made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide along with incorporating simple practices to reduce potential for UV skin damage. These practices include wearing clothing and hats that protect skin from excess exposure, planning activities early in morning and late afternoon when the sun is lower, finding shade or creating it, protecting your eyes with sunglasses and checking the UV index before planning your outdoor activities. Remember, sun isn’t all bad—it is our best source of vitamin D for the body—but we must be smart with our exposure.
Nix the Sweeteners
While your thirst for something tasty and refreshing heats up during the summer, it’s time to eliminate the artificial sweeteners for good. While the allure of sweetness with zero calories may sound like a win, these sweeteners have been linked to increased weight gain, increased insulin and blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and diabetes—not to mention their potential cancer risk. In addition, artificial sweeteners are several hundred times sweeter than sugar. As a result, your taste buds and brain get altered by overstimulating sweet receptors in the brain, having you crave greater degrees of sweetness and become desensitized to natural levels of sweetness in whole foods. The result is often being less satisfied with healthy fruits and vegetables and turning to highly sweetened foods.
If you are working to get off artificial sweeteners, products that contain stevia may be a better option, but ultimately allowing your taste buds to return to normal will enable you to taste and be more satisfied with the natural sweetness in foods.
Easy Cleanup
As we track in all that dirt from outside, our cleanup inside can be greener and cleaner too. There can be a whole host of toxic chemicals sitting right underneath your sink. The warning labels on your cleaning solutions give you a clear indication of how toxic they are for you and for the environment.
Greener cleaning products are big business and it can be an overwhelming and confusing prospect in choosing what is truly safe. Unfortunately, simply looking for the labels “non-toxic” or “eco-friendly” is not enough, as there are no standards for either and, therefore, they have no real meaning as to the safety or toxicity of the product. Some things to watch out for in the ingredients are petroleum-based ingredients or solvents, like ethylene or butyl glycol, phosphates and phthalates. Phthalates are often a part of synthetic fragrances and are damaging hormone disruptors. If choosing a cleaning product with a fragrance, check that the fragrance is from organic essential oils.
If all of that seems too much to discern, you can find comfort in knowing some of the best natural cleaning products are already right in your pantry. Baking soda, vinegar and dish soap are a few items that, when used in various combinations, can scrub pots, be an all-purpose cleaner or get your windows sparkling. Add a few drops of a favorite essential oil and now you have your own personal fragrant, truly eco- and wallet-friendly cleaning line. Head to lehighvalleystyle.com to find some of these all-natural recipes!
Mosquito Sprays and Insecticides
Nobody likes to be bitten by pesky mosquitoes—there’s the annoying itchiness, the welts and the potential diseases they can carry. However, using chemical sprays and insecticides also kill bees, pollinators and predatory insects that actually feed on mosquitoes. Bees and other pollinators play critical roles in not only our food supply but are also vital in the natural ecosystem and how it functions.
Esther Salata and her dog, Benny
After spending so much time outside last year, Esther Salata of Allentown became acutely aware of the mosquito, flea and tick issues in her yard; she also became aware of the lack of lawn treatment products that would be safe for her dog, Benny, her family and the environment. “It was then that I knew we could develop something better and make a positive impact,” says Salata. With a degree in environmental science, Salata launched Benesafe Solutions in May 2021. Made from citronella oil and cedarwood, the product is completely safe for pets, children and the environment—and it’s made right here in the Lehigh Valley.
Additionally, Salata suggests incorporating plants and flowers that naturally repel mosquitos and harmful insects—while also adding beauty—into your garden or patio space. Marigolds, often referred to as nature’s insecticide, are a star in this category as they naturally contain pyrethrum, which is a compound used in repellants.
You can also try rubbing mint leaf onto your skin for added protection, and rosemary and sage can be tossed into your fire pit to help ward off those evening pests.
Check Your Lawn
A green lawn can be a great source of pride but also a source of highly toxic chemicals for humans and the environment. Whether it’s through your lawn care service or scoping out your garage, it is important to check what is actually going into and onto your lawn. In addition to harmful chemicals, many commercial fertilizers also contain lead and aluminum, which are especially dangerous to children. As children spend more time in direct contact, their developing organs and immune system are more susceptible to the harmful effects of these chemicals. These chemicals also enter into our water supply, damaging ecosystems. Excessive use of commercial fertilizers on your lawn or garden also makes the soil more acidic, destroying the microorganisms in the soil that are necessary for converting plant material into the essential nutrients the plants and grasses need. It then becomes a vicious cycle as the “dead” soil now requires even more supplemental nutrients. Healthy soil is the source of healthy grass.
Some alternative ways to nourish your lawn and keep it healthy include reusing the grass clippings to provide nutrients back into the soil, composting or introducing clover, which is excellent in fixing nitrogen back into the soil. If purchasing fertilizer, choose organic, from natural sources like manures and fish by-products, as these also release nutrients more slowly over time, keeping your plants and grasses healthy.
Reducing our exposure and use of harmful chemicals is an ongoing process. Simple shifts indoors and out, along with educated, informed purchases, can help reduce the toxic load on you and your family. Each step you take can have a positive impact on the environment and in some cases even lighten the load on your wallet.
