There Are Toxins All Around You—in Your Food, Water, and Air. Dr. Aly Cohen Shares How to Stay Safe, Including Tips for People Evacuated in the L.A. Fires
Everywhere around us in our day-to-day lives, we come into contact with toxins that impact our health. But there are practical ways to protect ourselves, according to Dr. Aly Cohen, author of the upcoming book Detoxify: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them.
"You have the power to change how many chemicals you ingest, consume, absorb, touch, and even breathe in," says Cohen, who is triple board-certified in rheumatology, internal medicine, and integrative medicine and has been practicing clinical medicine for more than 20 years.
Modern conveniences, born from innovations of the mid-20th century, have introduced thousands of unregulated chemicals into our environment, from nonstick cookware to cleaning products and cosmetics. There are about 95,000 chemicals in our everyday products, many of which have never been tested for safety, Cohen tells us. "The U.S. lags in regulating chemicals. The Safe Drinking Water Act, for instance, only regulates 91 chemicals out of those."
To help us stay vigilant and safe, Dr. Cohen shows us where to look and what to do.
Take Inventory of Your Environment
It starts with a personal environment check that Cohen calls the four A’s: Assess, Avoid, Add, Allow.
First, assess. “Take into account your current environment. You want to think about what's in, on, and around your body,” Cohen says. “Assessing is important because you're looking around at what you're already purchasing and buying. Ask yourself, Do I have too much stuff like cleaning products? Maybe there are safer alternatives. If you can, change out your cleaning products, which often aerate chemicals into our home environments and end up on the floor." She says to also look at the makeup you're using and if you're spraying pesticides on your lawn—all things that can be reduced or swapped for cleaner alternatives. "You’re assessing the situation,” she says.
Next is avoid. “When you walk into your home is it air freshener that hits you? Is it candles? Are there things in the air that we can think about removing and avoiding because they're usually not healthful and contain phthalates, a group of chemicals that can affect hormones and the immune system?” asks Cohen. Avoiding is critical, she says. One of the cheapest, most important ways to avoid toxins is to have fewer products. “Why do we need a door cleaner, a window cleaner, and an oven cleaner? It's like we've been marketed to buy so much," she adds. Cohen points to several apps like Clearya, Yuka, Think Dirty—Shop Clean, and EWG's Healthy Living. These let you scan the barcodes of food and personal care products and instantly see their impact on your health.
Thirdly there’s adding, which Cohen says is about eating nourishing foods that help cells and organs work and aid the body in detoxification. Think nutrient-rich organic produce and plenty of water.
The last tip is allow because, as Cohen says, “you need to allow yourself some leeway in this process.” “We all live life. The ‘allow’ really opens up a window for the fluidity of life. That's how I look at it. You want this journey to be reasonable.”
Water In, Water Out
One of Cohen’s main focuses is the quality of the water we drink. “Unfortunately, it’s far under regulated,” she says. To begin, consider the water you're using and drinking daily. Where does it come from? Is it filtered? "You don't have to be overly aggressive to start," Cohen says. She recommends investing in a reverse osmosis filter, which can significantly reduce contaminants. And if that’s not doable, even a basic pitcher with a filter can be a step in the right direction.
You Are What You Eat
Food quality is also essential. Cohen advises prioritizing USDA-certified organic products whenever possible, as that agency’s standards help us to reduce our exposure to pesticides and other harmful chemicals. This is “the only tool that really keeps our food clean in order to detoxify correctly,” she says.
Reducing processed and ultra-processed foods is another way to lower your chemical intake. “These foods often contain unregulated additives that can disrupt hormones and immune function,” she says.
Cohen is a big believer in food helping to detoxify and break down environmental chemicals. Protective foods like omega fish oil and green leafy vegetables help in metal detoxification, she tells us. And organic vegetables and berries “actually reduce heavy metal loads that's been studied in terms of lead, cadmium, mercury.”
Storing our foods in proper containers is also key, Cohen says. She suggests using glass and stainless steel containers for food storage instead of plastic to reduce microplastic exposure. “In this day we really don't have to have plastic everything,” she says.
The Air You Breathe
Find out what the air quality in your home is. Cohen suggests apps like AirNow.gov or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help. “You can also get a pocket meter for CO2," she adds. One way to help reduce the toxins in your air is to purchase an air filter. Cohen suggests one that has a HEPA filter—a high efficiency particulate air filter—because it can potentially remove 99.97 percent of particulate matter. Harvard Healthy Buildings program has a site with helpful resources like a portable air cleaner sizing tool to see what size filter you need.
Returning Home After Wildfire Evacuations
“If you are living in an area that's affected by smoke, check the air quality outside using air quality apps,” such as AirNow.gov, Cohen suggests. She also says to consider wearing gloves, N95 masks, and covered footwear to avoid direct contact with debris or toxic particles. “If you have an underlying respiratory condition, such as asthma, COPD, if you're pregnant, immuno-compromised, or you're elderly, you may want to consider a N100 respirator.”
Particulate matter can cling to clothing and shoes, Cohen reminds us. Leave these items outside or wash them immediately after returning indoors. “You can use a plastic bucket or bag for clothing exposed to outdoor contaminants to avoid bringing toxins into your home,” she says. She suggests using water wipes or damp paper towels to clean surfaces so as to avoid chemical cleaners that could introduce more chemicals.
Also, vacuum surfaces like couches using a HEPA-filter vacuum to remove embedded particulates and wash linens and bedding thoroughly. “Watch tracking contaminants back into your car or temporary residence and change clothes and clean footwear thoroughly after outdoor activities,” she says. And Don’t forget pets. "Clean their paws after exposure to outdoor areas. And make sure kids wash their hands after coming in from outside, too.”
Stay Hopeful
Despite the daunting scope of toxins everywhere, Cohen is optimistic we can stay safe and healthy. “The human body is remarkable. With small, intentional changes, you can lower your exposure and support your body’s natural detox pathways,” she says. Simple shifts in habits can make a big difference.
“It’s not about being perfect," adds Cohen. “It’s about being informed and taking manageable actions to protect yourself and your family.”
For more resources and tips, you can follow Dr. Cohen on social media @thesmarthuman and check out her podcasts and educational resources for all ages at thesmarthuman.com.
Celeste McCauley is a writer and editor who lives in Brooklyn, New York. She looks for everything inspirational in our everyday lives.
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