How to Live a Non-Toxique Lifestyle
My hack to avoid scams...
On January 3rd, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a *sobering* warning about alcohol in an Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk. The report states that consuming even less than one drink a day is linked—particularly for women—to multiple forms of cancer. As someone working in beauty and wellness, I am constantly exposed to concerns about endocrine disruption. For once, it feels like the cannon is pointed in the right direction.
I’m no stranger to the concept of “non-toxic living.” Having worked in women’s media and wellness for over a decade, I’ve been bombarded with claims about juice cleanses and “clean living” reducing my so-called “toxic load.” It wasn’t until I started following science communicators, dietitians, and experts in their fields that I learned the truth: wealth tends to beget wellness, clean living is often a dog whistle for dieting, “detoxes” are scams, and alcohol is pretty bad for you. If you care about endocrine disruption, the first thing you should cut isn’t Red 40 food dye—it’s alcohol.1
The difference between alcohol and so-called “non-toxic products” is familiarity, marketing and perception. Alcohol is an incredibly normalized drug. Remember, Prohibition only lasted 13 years. Americans love alcohol so much that when a 60 Minutes segment in the 1990s suggested red wine was good for heart health, we didn’t ask many questions—leading to a 40% spike in red wine sales.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that it is a known carcinogen, drinking and getting drunk remains widely accepted. It’s popular and as such, it gets a pass. In 2022 the WHO issued a statement that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” It is decidedly not breaking news. Rather than calling out the alcohol industry in 2021 and 2022, what did wellness influencers in the U.S. focus on? Benzene in skincare. If you want to understand why this was not worth the breathless headlines, I recommend reading this post from Michelle Wong. The sad reality is it’s easier to convince people that sunscreen (which prevents cancer) is more toxic than that a daily glass of wine. That’s the thing with beliefs, they aren’t always rooted in fact. Especially when we don’t want them to be true.
Judging by the reactions to Dr. Murthy’s report (my own mentions on Threads are concerning), it’s going to take more than facts, data, and overwhelming evidence to change minds about alcohol. I keep going back to a Pew Research study that shows, year over year, how Americans’ trust in scientists continues to decline. Science and self-correcting institutions are proven paths to progress, but to change minds about experts, research, and what truly constitutes “wellness,” science is going to need better marketing. In the near future, we’re going to need Steve Jobs-level marketing to drive real change.
Which brings me to my point: it’s important to discuss harmful substances so we can better regulate them—whether in food, beauty, or packaged goods. What isn’t helpful? Wasting time fearmongering over ingredients repeatedly proven to be safe or intentionally misinterpreting toxicology (looking at you Yuka app) just because it generates clicks and engagement.
So, here’s my ultimate non-toxic life hack for 2025: follow science communicators. Follow experts in their fields. Follow people who correct themselves when they’re wrong. Follow those who examine bodies of evidence and present balanced, measured takes. It’s the easiest way to avoid scams (and to make better, more informed decisions).
I’ll continue enjoying a glass or two of wine a week, but, like all my choices, I prefer to be informed. And when it comes to my favorite carcinogen juice (wine), less truly is more.
For those unaware, Red 40 isn’t banned in Europe, it’s just called Allura Red AC. Misinformation is never empowering.
Thank you for all you do to communicate science based truth. Any other like minded folks that you suggest following? I personally love Dr. Jen Gunter and her Vajenda newsletter.
One thing I’ve been reflecting on when it comes to the things people hyper fixate on versus proven unhealthy things that get ignored—how much is related to what people feel they can change as individuals monitoring their consumption versus what would require broad systemic change and regulation? I see people focusing on the former and although it’s frustrating, I feel a lot of compassion because we often feel like big change is impossible, so fixating on small things to feel safe in an unsafe world makes sense as a coping response. Along with good marketing, I believe we need to teach people about the ways in which collective action has and can lead to improved regulations that could make us all healthier and safer in the long run!