Thousands of types of chemicals and synthetic ingredients can be found in foods and consumer goods. Many people are concerned about the use of such synthetic ingredients and look for organic alternatives, which are made without chemicals.
Eat Organic Vegetables
Mass-produced vegetables are often raised with pesticides and herbicides to control insect pests and weeds. Health magazine warns that ingestion of these chemicals can "set the stage" for a higher risk of a variety of health problems, including cancer. The magazine suggests only eating organic vegetables to cut back on your pesticide intake. If you're growing vegetables, the magazine says organic alternatives to pesticides include neem oil sprays, while plastic tarp laid on the ground can help keep weeds from growing.
Buy Organic Meats
Animals grown for meat on mega-farms are dosed with antibiotics and growth-enhancing hormones. Those chemicals can increase your risk of cancer and also expose you to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to Princeton University. This is especially common in poultry and beef. Instead, either reduce the amount of meat you eat or only buy meat taken from animals raised on organic farms.
Read Your Skin-Care Product Labels
Skin-care products, such as anti-wrinkle creams and sunscreens, might cause a buildup of chemicals in your body that could have negative health effects. The Northwestern Health Sciences University warns that, because your skin is your body's largest organ, topical chemicals can get into your bloodstream. For potentially healthier skin, use organic skin-care products. Many organic ingredients can work just as effectively as synthetic ingredients. For example, the Northwestern Health Sciences University says organic oils such as coconut oil can work just as effectively as synthetic moisturizers, while soapwort and soap bark extract can work just as well as synthetic skin cleansers such as sodium stearate or ammonium lauryl sulfate.
Switch to Organic Household Cleaners
Many popular, common household cleaning products are made with chemicals that are toxic to your health if touched, ingested or inhaled, according to Michigan State University. Many stores sell household cleaners formulated with organic, natural products that clean effectively without the toxic effect of chemicals. For example, baking soda helps deodorize and clean while sodium borate helps disinfect.
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