Coming Clean

Welcome to the 100th post of The Path is Too Deep! 🎉🥳

While I'm sticking to the theme of #TacticalThursday, I've decided to go a bit off-script for this "centenary" post.

For the last three months, I have been ruthless about auditing what I put in my body. I have eliminated the "Arsonists" (Seed Oils), cut the sugar, and focused on whole, anti-inflammatory foods.

But recently, I realized I was ignoring a massive security breach.

While I was meticulously checking ingredient labels for hidden maltodextrin, I was washing my clothes in Phthalates, scrubbing my counters with Quats (Quaternary ammonium compounds), and spraying VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) into the air I breathe.

We often think of "Diet" as just food. But your skin is your largest organ, and your lungs are your primary filter. If you are eating "Clean Keto" but marinating your skin in endocrine disruptors 24 hours a day, you are fighting a war on two fronts.

This week, I conducted a Home Detox Audit. Here is why I fired my household products, and what I hired to replace them.

1. The "Fragrance" Loophole (The Trojan Horse)

The biggest shock of this audit was learning about the "Fragrance Loophole." Legally, manufacturers can hide hundreds of proprietary chemicals under the single word "Parfum" or "Fragrance" to protect trade secrets.

• The Risk: These often contain Phthalates—chemicals used to make scents last longer. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors that can mimic estrogen and mess with your testosterone levels.

• The Fix: If a bottle says "Fragrance" without listing the source (e.g., "Essential Oils"), it won't be entering my house.

2. The Laundry Room (The 24/7 Exposure)

I know that my clothes sit on my skin 24 hours a day. Conventional detergents use Optical Brighteners (chemicals that reflect blue light to make clothes look whiter) and leave a chemical residue on the fabric. Then, we throw in a dryer sheet, which coats the fabric in a layer of wax and synthetic scent.

• The Switch:

• Detergent: I switched to Nellie’s Laundry Soda or Attitude Unscented. No brighteners, no scent, just clean clothes.

• Softener: I replaced dryer sheets with Wool Dryer Balls. They soften clothes mechanically by beating the stiffness out of them, reduce drying time, and contain zero chemicals.

3. The Bathroom (The Aluminum Shield)

Antiperspirants work by plugging your sweat ducts with Aluminum salts. While the link to Alzheimer's is debated, the link to neurotoxicity is known. Plus, most men's body washes are loaded with Sulfates (SLS), which strip the skin of natural oils, and Parabens, which are preservatives linked to hormone disruption.

• The Switch:

• Deodorant: Switched to Green Beaver (Aluminum-Free) or Hello (Tea Tree + Zinc).

• Body/Face: Switched to Attitude Men’s 2-in-1. It cleans without stripping the dermis.

4. The Kitchen (The Chemical Fog)

Many surface cleaners (even the "green" ones) use Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a potent allergen. Furthermore, mixing bleach with other cleaners can release toxic gas.

• The Switch:

• Surfaces: Simple is better. Vinegar + Water + Essential Oils or Attitude All-Purpose.

• Dishwasher: Switched to Nellie's Powder. No film left on the plates I eat off of.

The Takeaway

This isn't about being paranoid; it's about reducing the "Toxic Load." Your liver and kidneys are already working hard to process the waste products of metabolism (especially during weight loss). Why give them extra work by inhaling artificial fragrances or absorbing sulfates through your skin? Living "Clean" extends beyond the plate. It includes the air you breathe and the sheets you sleep in.