Ask yourself this: how often do you actually read the labels on things? For me, the answer is realistically, not often enough. I recently read my friend Marie’s blog, where she discussed a mobile app called Think Dirty. It’s quick and simple and allows you to scan most of your at-home products (such as cleaning products, lotions, shampoos, etc.) and determine how “dirty” they are, or how bad they really are for you.

Honestly — I was shocked by the results as I scanned some things in my bathroom. Both the oatmeal avocado face mask I’ve been using, and the Neutrogena hair mask, rated as 9 – meaning they are super dirty and filled with chemicals that can have negative effects, especially in the long-run. I was surprised to learn that these products contained such things that have been linked to a number of health issues, including cancers, reproductive issues, and the like. Even my shampoo ranked a 7! It looks like I need to revamp a lot of what I’ve been putting on my body and use things that are healthier and “cleaner.” In the short-term, these products might end up being a little more expensive, but I’d rather pay a few more dollars now and save my health going forward.

So many people focus on their diets and what they’re putting in their bodies that way, but how many of us think about the chemicals and other bad stuff that we’re putting on our bodies in other ways?

In addition to downloading the aforementioned app, I’ve also been starting to make it a point to actually read the labels on food products. Not just for ingredients – many of which go right over my head unless I Google them – but also specifically to look at serving sizes, which are all too often ignored. I had bought a little $1 container of graham crackers the other day. In the past, I might eat a lot of it in one sitting, maybe even the whole thing, in lieu of a proper lunch. It turns out that container actually has 2.5 servings in it! It’d be easy to fall back into old habits and ignore serving sizes or proper portion sizes, but these are important! (Of course, equally important is my attempt to try and introduce more fruits & vegetables into my life on a more regular basis. The worst part of this is forgetting about something that *was* fresh and finding it only when it’s gone rotten. Yuck!)

At any rate, this is where I’m at right now! Just trying to do my best and be my best. And again, I’m so glad I read Marie’s blog where she talked about the Think Dirty app and introduced me to it. It’s crazy to see just what’s in the products we use on a regular basis, without even thinking about it. You can download the Think Dirty app in the App Store!