Evidently, when Taylor Dukes was identified with a mind tumor it modified her total life. The expertise brought about her to audit each single factor in her life, particularly her house. After doing her personal analysis, Taylor has constructed a complete model primarily based on more healthy selections for all areas of your life.
Taylor is a board-certified household nurse practitioner and the founding father of Taylor Dukes Wellness, a practical medication observe and academic platform. Taylor makes a speciality of serving to people overcome power well being points by addressing intestine well being, hormonal imbalances, detoxing, and total life-style. By her observe, complement line, she empowers purchasers 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 preserving 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 suggestions 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 medication 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 achieve, bloating, fatigue, pimples, mind fog, hormonal imbalances, joint ache, and extra. I used to be an ICU nurse, but I couldn’t work out the best way to heal myself. Each typical specialist I noticed needed to slap a Band-Support on my problem with prescription drugs, weight loss plan, or invasive remedies.
Nothing labored till I gave practical medication a shot as a last-ditch effort. It modified my life by serving to me get to the basis reason for my points, which pushed me to pivot my profession path.
I educated beneath high practical medication docs, opened my very own non-public observe, constructed a wellness product line filled 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 medication for 1000’s of individuals.
In 2022, I used to be delivered the shocker of a lifetime and identified with a mind tumor – by the best way, 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 very best of practical oncology and western medication 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 had been capable of decide that the tumor had been rising possible 8-10 years and began once I was sick years in the past. Though I used to be feeling properly 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 brink of transfer, so it’s the proper time for me to share the straightforward house swaps and suggestions I’m utilizing to create my household’s more healthy house setting. 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’ Suggestions & Swaps for a Non-toxic Residence
Bed room
Do you know your physique enters its strongest state of detox and restore when 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 constructing certain your bed room is a chemical-free secure haven to help your physique in detoxifying and resetting.
Mattresses & Pillows:
You’re both touching or respiratory into these surfaces all evening, so it’s important they’re created from supplies which might be clear and secure and won’t offgas chemical compounds corresponding to VOCs. VOCs are sadly present in the whole lot from rugs, paints, furnishings, and hearth retardants to hairsprays, air fresheners, and cosmetics. I 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 worth 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.
Lavatory & Private Care
Bathroom Paper:
Most are filled with dyes, chlorine, perfume and different chemical compounds. Not the type of stuff you wish to be wiping on such delicate and absorbent areas of the physique! I 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 might be loaded with lymph nodes (underarms, groin, and so forth.). For the physique, I 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 at all times select a pure technique corresponding to these talked about above over invasive remedies or chemical-laden Botox and fillers. A few of my favorites embody TSC’s Ice Curler (once I’m not at house, the Mint Curler travels with me all over the place) and the Butter Brush.
Cleansing & Laundering
Indoor air might be 2-5x extra polluted than outside air – in some instances as much as 100x larger (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 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 might be laden with endocrine-disrupting chemical compounds for a diffuser and pure important oils corresponding to Pranarom important oils.
Cleansing Options & Sprays:
DIY with vinegar, baking soda, and water for practically any cleansing want. Or use Department Fundamentals like me for actually all points of home cleansing, from bathrooms to tubs to kitchens to flooring.
Laundry Detergent:
Go for non-toxic options – Molly’s Suds detergent or Department Fundamentals powdered laundry detergent are nice choices.
Cloth Softener:
Do you know you should use 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 when you’re in search of that “clear scent” impact.
Kitchen
As a big-time label reader and mother, I used to be so upset with the shortage of fresh 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 inform you 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’ll be able to use code SKINNY for a ten% low cost on any TDW Store order (excluding subscriptions).
Not solely is your meals necessary, however so is your cookware, your storage — all of it provides up. Right here’s what I maintain in my low-tox kitchen.
Pantry/Fridge:
Inventory your own home with natural, complete meals. This implies avoiding extremely processed meals, refined sugars, and unhealthy fat. All the time learn labels! If the ingredient listing is a mile lengthy – or when you can’t pronounce/don’t know a number of the substances – toss it!
Lauryn and I are one in the identical in our perception that we must always all devour high-quality protein at each meal for lean muscle tissues, balanced hormones, glowing pores and skin, and fewer cravings. Whether or not it’s grass-fed beef, pastured rooster, 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, further virgin olive oil, tallow, avocados, macadamia nuts.
Natural produce: A spread! 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, Scorching 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 “without end chemical compounds” like PFAS that may leach into your meals. Go for glass or chrome steel as a substitute. Silicone luggage corresponding 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 like my Caraway set.
Wrap/Baking Sheets:
As a substitute of aluminum foil or plastic wrap, which may 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 actually stay in your dishware. I like ATTITUDE unscented dish cleaning soap or utilizing my Department Fundamentals all objective spray, plus I additionally love their dishwasher tablets.
One of many greatest objections I hear from others in opposition to transitioning to a more healthy life-style is the associated fee. However transitioning to a more healthy life-style is feasible, even on a price range. No change is simply too small that it doesn’t make an affect.
Beneath are inexpensive adjustments you can also make and not using a complete house renovation required:
Open home windows day by day to enhance air flow and air high quality.
Moist mud and vacuum (with a HEPA filter vacuum) repeatedly to rid your own home of VOCs, which journey on mud.
Put money into 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 cut back the probability of mould.
Observe humidity (optimum objective is beneath 45%) – you will discover humidity screens for beneath $10 on Amazon! If vital, buy a conveyable dehumidifier.
Take your sneakers off indoors. Hold a shoe tray and/or shoe rack by the entrance door as a mild reminder for all who go to.
Put money into 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 each time attainable over particle board, mdf, or artificial wooden supplies. This consists of the whole lot from cupboards to flooring to furnishings.
Contemplate the supplies you’re utilizing in your house. Go along with pure fibers like cotton, jute, or wool each time attainable. Go along with actual hardwood. Select OEKO-tex, Made Protected, and GOTS licensed natural supplies each time attainable.
I’m nonetheless within the technique 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 large 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 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 evening is a good begin.
We’re on properly water, so a whole-house water filtration system is a non-negotiable for me. That is the model we’re utilizing. In addition they have slightly 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 will likely be sharing unique content material with my insider listing, too.
I hope the following pointers 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 a giant distinction!
In order for you extra personalised steerage in your wellness journey, I’d love to ask you to affix my VIP on-line neighborhood for unique help, sources, and common reside calls with me. It’s additionally so enjoyable to attach with like-minded individuals.
You may as well discover me on IG and my weblog for tons of free sources, recipes, and swap strategies. 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 deal with the issues which might be most relevant to you.
We hope you liked this submit, and keep tuned for extra coming quickly from Taylor.
x, The Skinny Confidential group.
+ Lauryn’s non-toxic being pregnant necessities.
++ More healthy bodycare swaps with The Natural Bunny.
