For sure, when Taylor Dukes was recognized with a mind tumor it modified her total life. The expertise triggered her to audit each single factor in her life, particularly her house. After doing her personal analysis, Taylor has constructed a whole model primarily based on more healthy decisions for all areas of your life.
Taylor is a board-certified household nurse practitioner and the founding father of Taylor Dukes Wellness, a practical drugs apply and academic platform. Taylor focuses on serving to people overcome persistent well being points by addressing intestine well being, hormonal imbalances, cleansing, and general life-style. Via her apply, complement line, she empowers shoppers with personalised protocols and evidence-based methods to help long-term wellness.
Forward of shifting into a brand new house and renovating, Taylor is sharing with us the highest issues she’s maintaining in thoughts for a non-toxic house.
From cookwear to pantry staples, to bedding and completely free tricks to make your own home a cleaner, more healthy place, Taylor’s ideas are accessible to anybody. With that, let’s welcome Taylor to the weblog.
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Hey y’all! I’m Taylor Dukes, a practical drugs supplier, board-certified household nurse practitioner, spouse, and mama with a loopy well being historical past.
In my 20s, I used to be coping with all the thriller signs – weight acquire, bloating, fatigue, pimples, mind fog, hormonal imbalances, joint ache, and extra. I used to be an ICU nurse, but I couldn’t work out how you can heal myself. Each typical specialist I noticed needed to slap a Band-Help on my difficulty with prescription drugs, weight-reduction plan, or invasive remedies.
Nothing labored till I gave practical drugs a shot as a last-ditch effort. It modified my life by serving to me get to the foundation reason behind my points, which pushed me to pivot my profession path.
I skilled underneath high practical drugs docs, opened my very own personal apply, constructed a wellness product line stuffed with more healthy pantry staples, nutritional vitamins, dietary supplements, and extra (shoutout to the TDW Store), and created an on-line VIP neighborhood that has taken the confusion and stress out of navigating wholesome residing and practical drugs for hundreds of individuals.
In 2022, I used to be delivered the shocker of a lifetime and recognized with a mind tumor – by the way in which, I had zero signs. I used to be gifted a full physique preventative scan that exposed a mind tumor. I used an integrative strategy – I mixed the perfect of practical oncology and western drugs to beat it! I did have mind surgical procedure, however opted out of chemo and radiation. By the grace of God, I’m now cancer-free. We have been in a position to decide that the tumor had been rising probably 8-10 years and began after I was sick years in the past. Despite the fact that I used to be feeling effectively and had no signs, that have made me double down on clear residing – particularly within the house the place we spend 90% of our time.
I’m on the point of transfer, so it’s the proper time for me to share the easy house swaps and ideas I’m utilizing to create my household’s more healthy house atmosphere. Whether or not you’re model new to this or have been making non-toxic adjustments for some time now, these are real-deal suggestions that may really make a distinction.
Taylor Dukes’ Ideas & Swaps for a Non-toxic Dwelling
Bed room
Do you know your physique enters its strongest state of detox and restore whilst you sleep? Your liver, mind, hormones, lymphatic system, and digestive organs all work to flush out toxins and reset.
I can’t stress sufficient the significance of creating positive your bed room is a chemical-free secure haven to help your physique in detoxifying and resetting.
Mattresses & Pillows:
You’re both touching or respiration into these surfaces all night time, so it’s important they’re created from supplies which are clear and secure and won’t offgas chemical compounds equivalent to VOCs. VOCs are sadly present in every thing from rugs, paints, furnishings, and hearth retardants to hairsprays, air fresheners, and cosmetics. I really like Savvy Relaxation (use code TAYLORDUKES) and Avocado for all my household’s mattress and pillow wants.
Sheets & Bedding:
Go for 100% natural cotton or pure linen. Fortunately, these are broadly accessible at a wide range of value factors – Goal, Pact, West Elm, Coyuchi, and Parachute all have good choices.
Space Rugs:
Attempt to keep on with pure fibers like cotton, jute, or wool to keep away from chemical compounds.
Rest room & Private Care
Rest room Paper:
Most are stuffed with dyes, chlorine, perfume and different chemical compounds. Not the sort of belongings you need to be wiping on such delicate and absorbent areas of the physique! I really like TSC bamboo rest room paper.
Female Merchandise:
Search for 100% licensed natural cotton that doesn’t embody perfumes, dyes, colours, or added chemical compounds you possibly can’t pronounce. Simply plain cotton! Alternatively, you possibly can go together with a medical grade silicone cup. Some favourite manufacturers for each natural cotton female merchandise in addition to cups embody: Rael, Viv, Natracare, Cora, Organyc, Saalt, and Flex.
Razors:
Give it some thought – most typical razors have security strips that include all kinds of chemical compounds. And also you’re swiping these chemical compounds (even nicking your self!) throughout areas which are loaded with lymph nodes (underarms, groin, and so on.). For the physique, I really like one thing tremendous easy like Leaf or Zomchi.
Towels and Washcloths:
Wrap your physique in 100% pure natural cotton washcloths and towels. Goal, West Elm, Coyuchi, and Pact have strong choices.
Instruments:
Physique brushing, pure sculpting, and non-toxic anti getting old instruments are the place it’s at. No judgement ever, however I’ll all the time select a pure methodology equivalent to these talked about above over invasive remedies or chemical-laden Botox and fillers. A few of my favorites embody TSC’s Ice Curler (after I’m not at house, the Mint Curler travels with me in all places) and the Butter Brush.
Cleansing & Laundering
Indoor air might be 2-5x extra polluted than outside air – in some circumstances as much as 100x greater (supply)! Indoor environments are stuffed with all kinds of artificial chemical compounds and different indoor air contaminants from typical cleansing or laundering merchandise.
Candles:
Swap out typical candles with endocrine-disrupting chemical compounds and artificial fragrances, for cleaner choices like The Skinny Confidential one. I really like that Lauryn formulated the TSC candle with pure soy wax and pure important oils.
Air Freshening:
Toss the plug-ins and air fresheners which are laden with endocrine-disrupting chemical compounds for a diffuser and pure important oils equivalent to Pranarom important oils.
Cleansing Options & Sprays:
DIY with vinegar, baking soda, and water for almost any cleansing want. Or use Department Fundamentals like me for actually all facets of home cleansing, from bogs to tubs to kitchens to flooring.
Laundry Detergent:
Go for non-toxic alternate options – Molly’s Suds detergent or Department Fundamentals powdered laundry detergent are nice choices.
Material Softener:
Do you know you should utilize distilled vinegar as non-toxic cloth softener?
Dryer Sheets:
Wool dryer balls are the proper dryer sheet various. Add a pair drops of important oils to every laundry ball should you’re on the lookout for that “clear scent” impact.
Kitchen
As a big-time label reader and mother, I used to be so disillusioned with the shortage of unpolluted meals and beverage choices on the market, which led me to create my very own wholesome variations of on a regular basis dietary merchandise. I can’t let you know what a reduction it’s to not have to fret about discovering a clear choice for protein powder, sports activities drinks/electrolytes, espresso, and extra. All of our merchandise are made with natural and/or actual meals substances. You may use code SKINNY for a ten% low cost on any TDW Store order (excluding subscriptions).
Not solely is your meals essential, however so is your cookware, your storage — all of it provides up. Right here’s what I preserve in my low-tox kitchen.
Pantry/Fridge:
Inventory your own home with natural, entire meals. This implies avoiding extremely processed meals, refined sugars, and unhealthy fat. All the time learn labels! If the ingredient checklist is a mile lengthy – or should you can’t pronounce/don’t know among the substances – toss it!
Lauryn and I are one in the identical in our perception that we must always all eat high-quality protein at each meal for lean muscular tissues, balanced hormones, glowing pores and skin, and fewer cravings. Whether or not it’s grass-fed beef, pastured hen, wild-caught seafood, or a clear protein powder like Taylor Dukes Wellness Bone Broth Protein.
Another staples along with the clear proteins talked about above embody:
Wholesome fat: ghee, grass-fed butter, additional virgin olive oil, tallow, avocados, macadamia nuts.
Natural produce: A range! I am going for antioxidant-rich berries, all of the leafy greens, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussels sprouts.
Cleaner swaps for typical merchandise: That is the place I am going for issues like my clear and handy mixes for Protein Pancakes, Electrolytes, Sizzling Chocolate, and Lemonade. I additionally love Siete tortillas, Masa chips, Chomps or Paleovalley jerky, and Solely fruit to call a couple of.
Meals Storage/Water Bottles:
Trash your plastic, particularly these with “ceaselessly chemical compounds” like PFAS that may leach into your meals. Go for glass or chrome steel as a substitute. Silicone baggage equivalent to Stasher are good for snacking and storing meals, simply as long as it’s not sizzling!
Cookware:
I encourage you to do an overhaul and eliminate something Teflon/nonstick. Listed here are the surfaces I like: forged iron, chrome steel (like All Clad), enameled forged iron (like Le Creuset), and non-toxic ceramic. I really like my Caraway set.
Wrap/Baking Sheets:
As an alternative of aluminum foil or plastic wrap, which might contaminate your meals with heavy metals and/or PFAS, select non-toxic choices like Bee’s Wrap or unbleached parchment paper.
Dish Cleaning soap/Detergent:
The residue from no matter you utilize will most definitely stay in your dishware. I really like ATTITUDE unscented dish cleaning soap or utilizing my Department Fundamentals all goal spray, plus I additionally love their dishwasher tablets.
Basic Dwelling Ideas (together with budget-friendly concepts)
One of many largest objections I hear from others in opposition to transitioning to a more healthy life-style is the price. However transitioning to a more healthy life-style is feasible, even on a price range. No change is just too small that it doesn’t make an affect.
Beneath are inexpensive adjustments you may make with no whole house renovation required:
Open home windows each day to enhance air flow and air high quality.
Moist mud and vacuum (with a HEPA filter vacuum) often to rid your own home of VOCs, which journey on mud.
Spend money on an air air purifier (first, for the bed room, and subsequent, for widespread residing areas). If a high-end air air purifier isn’t your price range, you possibly can DIY an air air purifier with a field fan and a filter for tremendous low-cost. I define the method in this text.
Use the toilet exhaust fan earlier than, throughout, after bathing and showering to scale back the chance of mould.
Observe humidity (optimum aim is underneath 45%) – you’ll find humidity displays for underneath $10 on Amazon! If mandatory, buy a transportable dehumidifier.
Take your sneakers off indoors. Hold a shoe tray and/or shoe rack by the entrance door as a delicate reminder for all who go to.
Spend money on a water filter to take away contaminants out of your consuming water. This may vary from a comparatively cheap gravity filter to an under-sink RO system to an entire home system. We use Aquasana filters at my house (use code AQTDW50).
All the time select strong wooden at any time when attainable over particle board, mdf, or artificial wooden supplies. This additionally consists of every thing from cupboards to flooring to furnishings.
Think about the supplies you’re utilizing in your house. Go along with pure fibers like cotton, jute, or wool at any time when attainable. Go along with actual hardwood. Select OEKO-tex, Made Protected, and GOTS licensed natural supplies at any time when attainable.
What I’m Specializing in in My New Dwelling
I’m nonetheless within the means of packing and planning for my transfer, however I’m excited to include all of the aforementioned non-toxic issues into my new house. Right here’s a couple of different top-of-mind issues:
Flooring and paints are massive ones to me to not have offgassing of chemical compounds. We’re sanding and re-finishing all of our new house’s flooring and repainting. We’re additionally doing all ECOS paint, which is water-based, non-toxic and has zero VOC.
We’re mitigating EMF publicity when attainable by hardwiring Web-installed ethernet cords. When you may not be capable to hardwire your total house, turning your Wi-Fi off at night time is a superb begin.
We’re on effectively water, so a whole-house water filtration system is a non-negotiable for me. That is the model we’re utilizing. Additionally they have just below the sink filters with reverse osmosis and remineralization and bathe head filters.
Keep tuned for all of the wholesome house transform content material coming to my IG quickly – I shall be sharing unique content material with my insider checklist, too.
I hope the following tips and product suggestions encourage you to create a house that promotes true restoration and well being for you and your loved ones. Keep in mind, small adjustments make an enormous distinction!
If you need extra personalised steering in your wellness journey, I’d love to ask you to hitch my VIP on-line neighborhood for unique help, assets, and common stay calls with me. It’s additionally so enjoyable to attach with like-minded folks.
You can too discover me on IG and my weblog for tons of free assets, recipes, and swap solutions. And don’t neglect you possibly can save 10% off my wholesome residing merchandise – collagen protein powder, electrolytes, detox baths, dietary supplements, and extra – with code SKINNY.
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There you go. Tons of tricks to steadily and slowly make your own home a more healthy one. It’s simple to get overwhelmed with all of the non-toxic swaps accessible to you so begin small, and concentrate on the issues which are most relevant to you.
We hope you really liked this publish, and keep tuned for extra coming quickly from Taylor.
x, The Skinny Confidential crew.
+ Lauryn’s non-toxic being pregnant necessities.
++ More healthy bodycare swaps with The Natural Bunny.
