My Journey to a Less Toxic Life

When I look back at where I started, I realise my idea of 'healthy' eating wasn’t so healthy after all. Like many people, I was drawn to products marketed as low-fat, low-sugar or high-protein, things like protein bars, diet yogurts and other foods wearing a shiny health halo. I later discovered that many of these were ultra-processed foods packed with additives and fortified with synthetic vitamins that our bodies can’t use as effectively as the nutrients naturally found in real food. A big eye opener for me was realising that overweight people are actually starving. Their bodies get more than enough calories but they are being starved of nutrients.`

I’m an avid reader and the more I learned, the more I realised how much the food industry shapes our choices. So much so, that I have come to really dislike big food companies! I’ve shared a few book reviews on my Instagram and I’ll be adding some to my website soon. In fact, this passion for learning more has led me to start training as a nutrition coach because it’s amazing how small changes can create a huge impact.

One of the first big changes I made was cutting out ultra-processed products and focusing on whole, real foods such as full-fat dairy, fresh vegetables and naturally nutrient-rich ingredients without added protein powders or synthetic vitamins. The amount of sugar hidden in UPFs shocked me and made me even more determined to avoid them. Don't even get me started on flavour! Flavours, both natural and artificial, are made by people in white coats, mixing up a cocktail of chemicals in a laboratory, to trick your body into thinking that it is getting nutrients...when it isn't.

Next, I started thinking about how food could be contaminated even before it reached my plate. I began soaking fruit and veg in bicarbonate to remove pesticide residues, then moved towards buying organic and non-GMO produce whenever possible, along with wild-caught fish and grass-fed beef. I now try to shop local and buy seasonal, supporting small producers while reducing the risk of contamination. Local, seasonal, organic food tastes much better, I learnt that where there is taste, there are nutrients!

I also started growing my own herbs, and more recently, vegetables. There’s something deeply satisfying about eating food you’ve grown yourself, knowing exactly where it came from and how it was cared for.

Along the way, I have become a much better cook and my family love it! I started experimenting in the kitchen, even baking, which I was never great at before. Did you know that you can cut sugar in recipes by about half and add a pinch of cinnamon, it tastes just as good and helps reduce sugar intake.

I also turned my focus to my kitchenware. I replaced all plastic tupperware with glass containers, switched to stainless steel cookware instead of non-stick pans (cooking with stainless steel takes a little getting used to as you have to prime the pan before cooking). I also swapped out my plastic chopping boards to avoid microplastics, I now use wood and granite. Where possible, I choose food packaged in glass rather than tins.

I moved on to look at household products. I switched to natural cleaning solutions, often making my own inspired by Nancy Birtwhistle’s Clean & Green recipes. It is amazing what you can clean with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar mixes. My beauty routine also changed I now use natural deodorant, rice water shampoo, natural cleanser and moisturiser, free from harsh chemicals, though I don’t make these myself.

I installed a water filter to help remove unwanted chemicals from our tap water, the water tastes noticeably different (and Scottish water tastes pretty good anyway!). It’s another small but important step in reducing my family’s daily toxin exposure.

This journey has taken over five years, one step at a time. I’m still far from perfect, but I’ve learned it’s not about doing everything at once, it’s about lightening the toxic load one step at a time. Has it made a difference? Absolutely! I no longer suffer from migraines. My immune system is strong, if I do get ill (which is rare), I recover quickly. My weight has stabilised, my energy is high, my sleep is deep and restorative, I love food and most importantly my family and I simply feel well.