Evidently, when Taylor Dukes was identified with a mind tumor it modified her complete life. The expertise brought on her to audit each single factor in her life, particularly her dwelling. After doing her personal analysis, Taylor has constructed a complete 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 useful medication follow and academic platform. Taylor focuses on serving to people overcome power well being points by addressing intestine well being, hormonal imbalances, detoxing, and general way of life. Via her follow, complement line, she empowers purchasers with personalised protocols and evidence-based methods to help long-term wellness.
Forward of shifting into a brand new dwelling and renovating, Taylor is sharing with us the highest issues she’s holding in thoughts for a non-toxic dwelling.
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 useful 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 how you can heal myself. Each typical specialist I noticed needed to slap a Band-Support on my difficulty with prescribed drugs, weight-reduction plan, or invasive therapies.
Nothing labored till I gave useful 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 skilled below prime useful medication medical doctors, opened my very own non-public follow, 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 dwelling and useful medication for hundreds 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 very best of useful 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 once 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 dwelling – particularly within the dwelling 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 dwelling swaps and suggestions I’m utilizing to create my household’s more healthy dwelling surroundings. Whether or not you’re model new to this or have been making non-toxic modifications 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 not stress sufficient the significance of constructing 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 respiratory into these surfaces all night time, so it’s important they’re comprised of supplies which can be clear and secure and won’t offgas chemical substances akin to VOCs. VOCs are sadly present in all the things 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 extensively accessible at quite a lot 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 substances.
Toilet & Private Care
Bathroom Paper:
Most are filled with dyes, chlorine, perfume and different chemical substances. Not the type of belongings 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’ll be able to’t pronounce. Simply plain cotton! Alternatively, you’ll be able to 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 comprise all kinds of chemical substances. And also you’re swiping these chemical substances (even nicking your self!) throughout areas which can be 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 getting older instruments are the place it’s at. No judgement ever, however I’ll at all times select a pure technique 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 (once I’m not at dwelling, 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 out of doors air – in some circumstances as much as 100x increased (supply)! Indoor environments are stuffed 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 can be 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 practically any cleansing want. Or use Department Fundamentals like me for actually all facets of home cleansing, from bathrooms 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.
Cloth Softener:
Do you know you should utilize 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 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 dissatisfied 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 inform you what a aid it’s to not have to fret about discovering a clear possibility for protein powder, sports activities drinks/electrolytes, espresso, and extra. All of our merchandise are made with natural and/or actual meals substances. You possibly can use code SKINNY for a ten% low cost on any TDW Store order (excluding subscriptions).
Not solely is your meals vital, 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 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 checklist is a mile lengthy – or should you can’t pronounce/don’t know a few 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 tissue, 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, additional virgin olive oil, tallow, avocados, macadamia nuts.
Natural produce: A spread! I’m 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’m 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 number of.
Meals Storage/Water Bottles:
Trash your plastic, particularly these with “without end chemical substances” like PFAS that may leach into your meals. Go for glass or chrome steel as a substitute. Silicone baggage akin 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 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 an alternative 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 definitely stay in your dishware. I like ATTITUDE unscented dish cleaning soap or utilizing my Department Fundamentals all function 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 way of life is the price. However transitioning to a more healthy way of life is feasible, even on a funds. No change is just too small that it doesn’t make an impression.
Under are reasonably priced modifications you may make and not using a complete dwelling renovation required:
Open home windows every day to enhance air flow and air high quality.
Moist mud and vacuum (with a HEPA filter vacuum) commonly 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 frequent dwelling areas). If a high-end air air purifier isn’t your funds, you’ll be able to 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 lavatory exhaust fan earlier than, throughout, after bathing and showering to cut back the probability of mould.
Monitor humidity (optimum objective is below 45%) – yow will discover humidity displays for below $10 on Amazon! If crucial, 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.
Spend money on a water filter to take away contaminants out of your consuming water. This will vary from a comparatively cheap gravity filter to an under-sink RO system to a complete home system. We use Aquasana filters at my dwelling (use code AQTDW50).
All the time select stable wooden each time doable over particle board, mdf, or artificial wooden supplies. This consists of all the things from cupboards to flooring to furnishings.
Contemplate the supplies you’re utilizing in your house. Go together with pure fibers like cotton, jute, or wool each time doable. Go together with actual hardwood. Select OEKO-tex, Made Secure, and GOTS licensed natural supplies each time doable.
I’m nonetheless within the strategy of packing and planning for my transfer, however I’m excited to include all of the aforementioned non-toxic issues into my new dwelling. Right here’s a number of different top-of-mind issues:
Flooring and paints are massive ones to me to not have offgassing of chemical substances. We’re sanding and re-finishing all of our new dwelling’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 doable by hardwiring Web-installed ethernet cords. Whilst you won’t be capable of hardwire your complete dwelling, 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 dwelling transform content material coming to my IG quickly – I will likely 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 modifications make an enormous distinction!
If you need extra personalised steerage in your wellness journey, I’d love to ask you to hitch my VIP on-line group for unique help, sources, and common dwell calls with me. It’s additionally so enjoyable to attach with like-minded folks.
You may also discover me on IG and my weblog for tons of free sources, recipes, and swap ideas. And don’t overlook you’ll be able to save 10% off my wholesome dwelling 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 give attention to the issues which can be most relevant to you.
We hope you really liked this put up, and keep tuned for extra coming quickly from Taylor.
x, The Skinny Confidential staff.
+ Lauryn’s non-toxic being pregnant necessities.
++ More healthy bodycare swaps with The Natural Bunny.
