Reduce Toxins For A Happier Marriage
Photo by Jacqueline Munguía on Unsplash
How often do we blame our frustrations and unhappiness on others or on something our spouse does? While that may be the case sometimes, what if something less obvious was the culprit?
The mind-body connection is strong. The mind affects the body, and the body, in turn, influences our thoughts and feelings.
Indeed, when it comes to marital satisfaction and happiness, we must cover topics like communication, finances, religion and spirituality, intimacy, and parenting, to name a few. But we often don’t discuss how physical well-being affects marriage quality.
Take hormones, for instance. When they’re out of balance, there’s a negative impact on the body, mind, and emotions, which affects our relationship with ourselves and others.
Were you aware that exposure to toxins interferes with the production of your happy hormones, such as serotonin and oxytocin?
Although reducing your exposure to toxins might not be the secret to a happy marriage or the cure-all for all your problems, reducing the amount of toxins in your life helps to keep your precious happy hormones firing strong.
Eat Organically, Especially the “Dirty Dozen”
Although it might cost a bit more at the grocery store, the long-term payoff is worth it because protecting your health saves money in the end.
Choosing organic produce, especially the “Dirty Dozen” – produce that scores highest in toxins, helps lower your exposure to chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, which are known hormone disruptors. Consider shopping at farmer’s markets or joining an organic food box delivery service.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Many commercial cleaning brands contain harsh chemicals that contaminate the air and impact your hormones. Swap conventional chemical-filled cleaning products for chemical-free alternatives made with natural ingredients.
Avoid Plastics
Choose glass or ceramic containers to store food rather than plastic containers because they don’t contain harmful toxins such as BPA and phthalates that have been associated with hormone disruption. Also, use good quality stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic because they don’t leach toxic substances into your drinks.
Drink Filtered Water
Drinking and using filtered water reduces the amount of contaminants and chemicals like chlorine, which might disrupt your hormones.
Consider Switching to Natural Skincare Products
Skin is porous; anything applied topically eventually enters your bloodstream. Choose organic skincare brands free from synthetic fragrances, parabens, and other harmful toxins that might interfere with hormone production.
Reduce Stress Levels
Just because stress is unavoidable doesn’t mean you must suffer its crippling effects on your life and marriage. Strive to manage it as much as possible by upgrading your lifestyle to get more sleep, make time for prayer and meditation, add physical activity to your day, or schedule some “me-time” for yourself daily. Reducing stress promotes happy hormones and, therefore, a happier marriage.
Stay Positive
Negativity repels and makes everything seem worse than it is. Nurture your mental health by choosing an optimistic outlook on your life and marriage. Smile more. Look for the silver lining. Be grateful more often. Seek solutions instead of being problem-focused. Look for the good, not the bad. Start by taking a break from negative news! Enjoy activities that make you feel good, like spending time with friends and family, starting a new hobby, or taking leisurely walks outdoors regularly.
Final Thoughts…
Reducing the number of toxins affecting your happy hormones is possible by making simple adjustments to your daily life. Which one of these tips can you experiment with this week? Before long, you should start feeling more content and a little happier.
Don’t underestimate the meaningful impact these small changes can have on how you feel about your life and marriage.
Imagine the effect that feeling calmer and happier will have on the quality of your marriage.
And even if your marriage is facing “bigger” issues, you’ll be in a much better frame of mind to work through them. So, set yourself up for success by making choices that support the kind of life and marriage you desire.