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Caitlin Reinhart will speak at The Link Sunday July 20 at 7pm on reducing toxins in our homes and the environment. The impact of toxins – from heavy metals to man-made chemicals to micro-plastics – can be severe. Depending on the toxin, exposure can lead to reproductive harm, asthma, weight gain, cancer, neurological and behavioral problems, immune system issues, and more. And according to Reinhart, “...with many of the substances – such as micro-plastics – we don’t even know the extent of the harm they may be doing.” Reinhart says her interest in the topic began back in 2016 when she made changes to her diet, “I started looking at ingredient labels, that’s when I realized ‘Wow, there’s a lot of stuff here that’s not food.’ One thing led to another.” She says America is kind of the “wild west” when it comes to chemical exposure, because there are many substances in use here that have been banned in much of the rest of the world, “I started thinking about water, about products I put on my body, about the clothes I wear. I wanted to make choices that would better my health and the environment. Then when I started a family, I wanted to make choices that would protect my children.” Learning about the many threats to our health and environment can be overwhelming, but Reinhart says it’s empowering to be able to make choices that have a positive impact. Her talk will walk attendees through the typical home room-by-room, discussing commonly used products and practices and the risks involved. She’ll share strategies to reduce exposure, like swapping harmful products for safer ones or eliminating those that are simply unnecessary. Some populations, such as infants, children, and pregnant women, are especially vulnerable to the impact of household toxins, and this will be addressed too. Reinhart points out that she is not a specialist and doesn’t have any certifications or degrees. “I’m just a mom who has taken an interest in this topic and explored a lot of information over the years. I follow and listen to a number of health experts and toxicologists on podcasts and other formats. I’ve also spent a lot of time looking up the health impacts of ingredients I encounter on food and product labels.” She believes that individuals and families need to educate themselves, and welcomes participation and input from those who attend her talk “we can’t trust our culture or big corporations to protect us.”
