Evidently, when Taylor Dukes was identified with a mind tumor it modified her whole life. The expertise precipitated her to audit each single factor in her life, specifically her house. After doing her personal analysis, Taylor has constructed a whole model based mostly 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 medication apply and academic platform. Taylor focuses on serving to people overcome continual well being points by addressing intestine well being, hormonal imbalances, detoxing, and total life-style. By means of her apply, complement line, she empowers shoppers with customized protocols and evidence-based methods to assist long-term wellness.
Forward of shifting into a brand new house and renovating, Taylor is sharing with us the highest issues she’s conserving in thoughts for a non-toxic house.
From cookwear to pantry staples, to bedding and completely free tricks to make your house 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 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, zits, mind fog, hormonal imbalances, joint ache, and extra. I used to be an ICU nurse, but I couldn’t determine learn how to heal myself. Each typical specialist I noticed wished to slap a Band-Assist on my difficulty with prescription drugs, food regimen, or invasive therapies.
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 behind my points, which pushed me to pivot my profession path.
I educated underneath prime practical medication medical doctors, opened my very own non-public apply, 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 group 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 method – I mixed the most effective 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 probably 8-10 years and began after I was sick years in the past. Although I used to be feeling nicely 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 right time for me to share the straightforward house swaps and ideas I’m utilizing to create my household’s more healthy house surroundings. 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 truly make a distinction.
Taylor Dukes’ Ideas & Swaps for a Non-toxic House
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 not stress sufficient the significance of constructing positive your bed room is a chemical-free secure haven to assist your physique in detoxifying and resetting.
Mattresses & Pillows:
You’re both touching or respiratory into these surfaces all night time, so it’s important they’re constructed from supplies which are clear and secure and won’t offgas chemical substances akin to VOCs. VOCs are sadly present in all the pieces from rugs, paints, furnishings, and fireplace 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 extensively accessible at quite a lot of worth factors – Goal, Pact, West Elm, Coyuchi, and Parachute all have good choices.
Space Rugs:
Attempt to persist with pure fibers like cotton, jute, or wool to keep away from chemical substances.
Rest room & Private Care
Bathroom Paper:
Most are filled with dyes, chlorine, perfume and different chemical substances. Not the type of stuff you wish to be wiping on such delicate and absorbent areas of the physique! I like TSC bamboo bathroom paper.
Female Merchandise:
Search for 100% licensed natural cotton that doesn’t embody perfumes, dyes, colours, or added chemical substances you possibly can’t pronounce. Simply plain cotton! Alternatively, you possibly can go along 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 substances. And also you’re swiping these chemical substances (even nicking your self!) throughout areas which are loaded with lymph nodes (underarms, groin, and so on.). 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 stable choices.
Instruments: Physique brushing, pure sculpting, and non-toxic anti growing older instruments are the place it’s at. No judgement ever, however I’ll at all times select a pure methodology akin to these talked about above over invasive therapies 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 all over the place) and the Butter Brush.
Cleansing & Laundering
Indoor air will be 2-5x extra polluted than out of doors air – in some circumstances as much as 100x increased (supply)! Indoor environments are crammed with all kinds of artificial chemical substances and different indoor air contaminants from typical cleansing or laundering merchandise.
Candles:
Swap out typical candles with endocrine-disrupting chemical substances 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 are laden with endocrine-disrupting chemical substances for a diffuser and pure important oils akin 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 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 right dryer sheet different. Add a pair drops of important oils to every laundry ball in case you’re searching for that “clear scent” impact.
Kitchen
As a big-time label reader and mother, I used to be so upset with the dearth 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 inform you what a aid it’s to now 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 hold in my low-tox kitchen.
Pantry/Fridge:
Inventory your house with natural, complete 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 in case 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 should always all devour 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, 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, Sizzling Chocolate, and Lemonade. I additionally love Siete tortillas, Masa chips, Chomps or Paleovalley jerky, and Solely fruit to call just a few.
Meals Storage/Water Bottles:
Trash your plastic, particularly these with “perpetually chemical substances” like PFAS that may leach into your meals. Go for glass or chrome steel as a substitute. Silicone luggage akin to Stasher are good for snacking and storing meals, simply as long as it’s not scorching!
Cookware:
I encourage you to do an overhaul and do away with something Teflon/nonstick. Listed below 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 employ will most actually stay in your dishware. I like ATTITUDE unscented dish cleaning soap or utilizing my Department Fundamentals all goal spray, plus I additionally love their dishwasher tablets.
One of many largest objections I hear from others in opposition to transitioning to a more healthy life-style is the fee. However transitioning to a more healthy life-style is feasible, even on a finances. No change is simply too small that it doesn’t make an affect.
Under are inexpensive adjustments you may make and not using a whole 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) frequently to rid your house of VOCs, which journey on mud.
Put money into an air air purifier (first, for the bed room, and subsequent, for frequent residing areas). If a high-end air air purifier isn’t your finances, 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 chance of mould.
Monitor humidity (optimum purpose is underneath 45%) – you will discover humidity displays for underneath $10 on Amazon! If obligatory, buy a conveyable 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.
Put money into a water filter to take away contaminants out of your ingesting 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 stable wooden each time potential over particle board, mdf, or artificial wooden supplies. This contains all the pieces from cupboards to flooring to furnishings.
Take into account the supplies you’re utilizing in your house. Go together with pure fibers like cotton, jute, or wool each time potential. Go together with actual hardwood. Select OEKO-tex, Made Secure, and GOTS licensed natural supplies each time potential.
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 just a few different top-of-mind issues:
Flooring and paints are large ones to me to not have offgassing of chemical substances. 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 potential by hardwiring Web-installed ethernet cords. When you won’t be capable of hardwire your whole house, turning your Wi-Fi off at night time is a superb begin.
We’re on nicely 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 rework content material coming to my IG quickly – I shall be sharing unique content material with my insider checklist, 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!
If you would like extra customized steerage in your wellness journey, I’d love to ask you to affix my VIP on-line group for unique assist, sources, and common reside calls with me. It’s additionally so enjoyable to attach with like-minded folks.
It’s also possible to discover me on IG and my weblog for tons of free sources, recipes, and swap strategies. And don’t overlook 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 step by step and slowly make your house 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 are most relevant to you.
We hope you liked this put up, 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.