One of the simplest - but most powerful - habits you can build for a healthier home is learning to read ingredient labels.

It can feel a bit overwhelming at first (and yes, sometimes a little mentally taxing), but once you start getting familiar with what's actually inside the products you eat, drink, and use on your body or in your home, you'll never look at labels the same way again.

Our bodies are designed to process and eliminate toxins through our colon, kidneys, liver, lungs, lymph, skin, and spleen - and they're incredibly efficient when supported well. But toxins can enter the body in a variety of ways, and when our systems are overloaded, it can compromise how effectively these detox pathways work.

How Toxins Enter the Body

There are three main ways toxins get in:

• Absorption - through the skin and eyes
• Inhalation - through the nose or mouth
• Ingestion - through food, drinks, supplements, or medications

By understanding what we're putting on and around our bodies, we can make more conscious choices that lower our total toxic load.

Some Ingredients to Watch For

When you start reading ingredient lists, a few common words might surprise you. Let's look at some of the most common ones and what they really mean.

Flavour

"Flavour" sounds harmless - but this single word can represent dozens or even hundreds of undisclosed ingredients. These are proprietary formulas designed to enhance taste and smell in processed foods.

Whether it's listed as natural, artificial, or organic flavour, the actual composition can include additives such as BHA, BHT, diacetyl, or polysorbate 80, all hidden under that one simple word. Because these formulas are considered trade secrets, manufacturers don't have to list what's inside.

Artificial Flavour

Artificial flavours are synthetic compounds created in labs to mimic natural tastes. They're often cheaper and more chemically stable, which makes them popular with manufacturers. Unfortunately, this also means you're consuming man-made chemicals that your body wasn't designed to recognise or process easily.

Natural Flavour

Natural flavours sound better, but they're not always as "natural" as they seem. These ingredients are derived from substances found in nature - which could mean animal by-products, wood pulp, or even petroleum-based sources. They can also include emulsifiers, preservatives, and stabilisers that you might prefer to avoid.

Organic Natural Flavour

This is a slightly cleaner option. To meet organic standards, at least 95% of the ingredients must be organic, and they can't include synthetic solvents or additives like BHA, BHT, or Polysorbate 80. Still, it's worth remembering that even "organic" flavour blends can include hidden components.

Fragrance: The Sneakiest

"Fragrance" or "parfum" is another umbrella term that can hide hundreds to thousands of chemicals. These combinations may include both natural and synthetic ingredients - and companies don't have to disclose them because they're considered proprietary recipes.

There are more than 5,000 known fragrance chemicals, often found in air fresheners, candles, cosmetics, detergents, cleaning products, and personal care items. Many contain compounds linked to health concerns, including:

• Carcinogens - substances that may cause cancer
• Endocrine disruptors - chemicals that interfere with hormones
• Neurotoxicants - substances that affect the brain and nervous system
• Phthalates and VOCs - volatile compounds that contribute to indoor air pollution

Awareness, Not Fear

This isn't about panic or perfection - it's about awareness and curiosity. Once you start noticing these terms on labels, you begin to understand what you're really bringing into your home and onto your skin.

Every small choice - like swapping one product for a cleaner version, or choosing unscented over fragranced - helps lower your body's overall burden. Over time, these small shifts can make a big difference in how your body feels and functions.

Support for Your Detox Pathways

If you've been feeling sluggish, heavy, or easily fatigued, it could be a sign that your body's detox systems are working overtime. Chiropractic care helps support your nervous system - which plays a key role in coordinating all of your body's detox pathways. When your spine and nervous system are balanced, your body can better regulate and release what it no longer needs.

Help your body do what it's designed to do with ease.

Support your body's natural detox pathways and help your system function more effectively.