Get Grounded in the Basics! Healthy Living Starts With These Simple Tips.
Tips and TricksGet Grounded in the Basics! Healthy Living Starts With These Simple Tips.
Since Kindhumans’ inception, our mission has been about making it easier to do good. We set out to create a business that puts people + planet over profit by sharing all the life-changing information we’ve learned about non-toxic, sustainable living, conscious consumption and the amazing brands breaking industry standards for a better future.
We think the New Year is a great opportunity to re-assess your routine, to help evolve our lifestyle habits surrounding our physical, mental and spiritual health goals. For us, this means eating real whole foods, using products without harmful ingredients that are better for our homes + the planet and incorporating movement into our daily schedule. These basics are the foundation for living and feeling our best!
A busy lifestyle can easily steer you off track, which is why re-evaluating in the new year can give you a fresh perspective and commitment to hitting your goals. In this article, we will be focusing on our physical health and how to optimize it in the year ahead.
We started off 2023 with a cold plunge in the Pacific Ocean with our friends at Our Breath Collective and our goal is to keep this rolling by integrating some old and new healthy habits in this fresh, new year.
So let’s dive into the basics of physical health:
It’s not just about exercise, so much of it is determined by our personal environment and what goes in and on our bodies.
Physical health is actually where our sustainable journey began, when 8 years ago, we uncovered that our 1yr old had multiple food allergies and a chemical sensitivity. I began learning all that I could from labels – researching each ingredient in our food and its impact on our health.
Eating whole foods is arguably one of the most important steps, the foundation, to feeling good. Most packaged, “convenience foods” are loaded with sugar, preservatives and artificial food colorings that can throw off your gut microbiome and lead to health issues. It can be tricky reading labels and determining which ingredients to avoid. That’s why planning, prepping and cooking at home with whole foods can be really helpful. Make it a point to follow food bloggers that inspire, so you can get excited to cook. A few of our faves that put together easy + delicious meals include: Half Baked Harvest, Jessica in the Kitchen, Minimalist Baker and Danielle Walker. For an amazing compilation of plant based recipes, download #8meals, by our friends Habits of Waste.
Meal planning apps, like Plan to Eat, allows you to store favorite recipes, calendar meal planning and create grocery lists.
Thankfully, we were able to help our daughter grow out of the food allergies and by eliminating chemicals in our home, we all felt healthier and more vibrant with less of a toxic burden on our bodies.
Using products without harmful ingredients that are better for our home + the planet has been the foundation of our marketplace. Unfortunately, a lot of people are suffering because they simply aren’t aware of the harmful chemicals in traditional cleaning products, personal products and other home goods. If you are looking to evaluate the products you use in your home, start small and go room by room. Remember that this can be an evolution and doesn’t happen overnight.
We began with food, from there, we addressed other basic needs that are linked to physical health:
Sadly, most of the water in the US is contaminated and needs to be filtered in the home. The good news is, EWG has a free Tap Water Database that allows you to look up the contaminants in your zip code. They also have a Water Filter Guide that helps you find the right filter for your needs and budget. My favorites are Berkey, Aqua Tru and Culligan.
Uncertain about your water on the go? Grab a Kindhumans Hydration Kit, which includes a reusable water bottle and a GOpure Pod Portable Water Purifier – so you won’t have to worry wherever you are!
Harsh, chemical cleaners can be found in most conventional cleaning and laundry products. To help reduce the amount of chemical pollutants in your home and on the planet, opt for natural cleaners like Force of Nature, a true all-purpose cleaning powerhouse with reusable vials to cut down on plastic waste. Our other top picks are No Tox Life, Meliora and Branch Basics.
(For more info on the toxins commonly found in cleaners, and why we avoid them, check out our Everyday Toxins and How to Avoid Them).
Hopefully, by now everyone is avoiding non-stick cookware, which can emit PFAS into your food and air. A recent review from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines a host of health effects associated with PFAS exposure, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease. So it is best to avoid these “forever chemicals”.
But, what I’ve learned is that there isn’t a 100% perfect cookware so I switch it up depending on what I am cooking. Cast iron is my go-to, but I try to avoid it with acidic food, because it actually increases the leaching of iron in food. Other great options are stainless steel (I like All-Clad) and Xtrema Cookware.
When choosing your utensils, avoid chemicals from plastics and opt for wooden! We love Billet + Blade spoons and John Boos wood cutting boards, because they are made to last a lifetime.
Our skin is our largest organ, so what we put on our skin is super important. Harmful chemicals have no place in skincare or personal care products, but like food, decoding labels can be difficult and overwhelming. That’s where Kindhumans comes in to help. We only work with brands whose products adhere to our strict credo and whose products are free of chemicals on our No thank you list. This means that none of our products contain BHA, 1,4-Dioxane, Parabens, Formaldehyde, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances, SLS, SLES, or Triclosan, ensuring that the products you purchase are safe to use.
For more information on cosmetics and chemicals, check out The Truth About Cosmetics + Chemicals. To shop our popular beauty and care products, check out Beauty + Care.
Get on a healthy restorative sleep schedule and make sure your sleep products, like mattresses and sheets are non-toxic. Some clean sleep brands we love include Avocado mattress and Coyuchi.
If you need a little help unwinding, we suggest trying some Cast of Stones Pillow Spray in conjunction with the Ariana Ost Tuning Fork, right before bedtime.
Studies show that a tuning fork has the power to provide a deep state of relaxation within seconds. Benefits include a balanced wholeness, deep meditation and a centered body and mind. Let the ‘Om’ vibrations move gently through your energy field for a sense of grounding.
Lastly, incorporating movement into your daily schedule has so many benefits. It can boost your digestion and metabolism, help you sleep better and improve immunity. This year, we are going to also include breathwork and cold plunge to capture the many benefits, including:
Mood enhancement
Reduce inflammation
Boost the immune system
Improve focus
Strengthen the cardiovascular system
Build metabolic efficiency
Weight management
And so much more
We have so much potential for an epic year ahead if we get grounded in these basics. Our hope is that you find inspiration, like we did and feel the power of a healthy home and lifestyle.
