Welcome to the Nervous System Nurture Guide - your curated directory filled with better-for-you product swaps to reduce your daily toxin exposure and support a more balanced and harmonious life.
Nervous System Nurture Guide
Personal Care
What?
Next time you’re replacing a personal care product, consider choosing a better-for-you alternative. Our skin is our largest organ and it absorbs most of what we put on it, so what goes on it matters! Many conventional personal care products contain ingredients that can disrupt our nervous systems and contribute to our overall toxic load, which can play a role in the development of disease over time. Small, intentional swaps to better-for-you products may seem simple, but over time, they add up to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
Why?
We come into contact with chemicals on a daily basis. They are everywhere, and in all of us. The Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) is the world's largest database with over 275 million chemicals registered, and this number is constantly growing. Most of the man-made portion of these chemicals have never been tested for their impact on human health. In Australia, chemical exposure standards aren’t based on health risks. Our regulatory system assumes a chemical is safe until there’s solid proof it causes harm. Because the health effects of chemicals aren't investigated, chemicals that are suspected to be harmful - like BPA and phthalates - remain in the market for decades. Countries like the EU, Canada, and Japan take a more precautionary approach to chemical exposure and have banned many of the chemicals that are still permitted for use in Australia today. Regulations may lag behind, but we have the power to take a precautionary approach in our own lives by limiting exposure where we can. Why wait for something to be proven harmful, when you could be using products that are proven to be safer?
SKINCARE:
MAKE-UP:
HAIRCARE:
HOLISTIC BEAUTY RETAILERS:
RED LIGHT THERAPY:
BODY BRUSH:
Clothing
What?
Check your clothing labels like you check your food labels and start to curate a more conscious wardrobe where possible.
Gentle tips for a conscious wardrobe:
- Choose natural fibres like organic cotton, linen, wool, hemp, bamboo, silk, and tencel
- Look for clothing dyed with low-impact reactive dyes
- Seek out trusted certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or Oeko-Tex Standard 100
- Wash new clothes before wearing - they may have been exposed to chemicals during production or transport
- Switch to plant-based, low-tox laundry detergents and skip the fabric softeners
Try to minimise where possible:
- Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, lycra, rayon, etc.
- Items with stain-resistant or waterproof coatings
- Harsh laundry products that leave chemical residues on your clothes
Why?
Our skin is our largest organ. It absorbs most of what we put on it, so what we wear matters. Many of us go about our daily lives wearing plastic, or other synthetic materials treated with harsh chemicals. These synthetic fabrics can contain carcinogens, microplastics, and endocrine disrupting chemicals that are harmful to human health and the health of the planet. Every small shift towards a more conscious wardrobe is a step toward a healthier body, and a more sustainable future. It’s not about perfection, just about making choices that feel a little better, one garment at a time.
Cleaning
What?
Switching conventional cleaning products to better-for-you alternatives is a simple way to reduce the chemical load in your home and improve indoor air quality. And don’t underestimate the power of a good vacuum! Carpets can hold twice as many allergens as hard floors, so give them extra attention when vacuuming. When choosing a vacuum, opt for one with a HEPA filter and motorised head. And choose a bagged model if you can, as bin-style vacuums can release dust back into the air when emptied. When dusting, try to damp dust with a microfiber cloth to trap particles, dry dusting just recirculates them.
Why?
Just because something sits on a supermarket shelf doesn’t always mean it’s safe. Cleaning products aren’t overseen by a regulatory body, so companies aren’t required to share what’s inside. If you’ve ever wandered down the cleaning aisle and tried to find ingredient lists, you’ll know how rare they are. Conventional cleaning products are a significant contributor to poor indoor air quality. Many contain ingredients that can disrupt our nervous systems and contribute to our overall toxic load, which can play a role in the development of disease over time. Household dust often contains a mix of allergens (like dust mites, fungi, pet dander, and pollen), harmful chemicals (including pesticides, microplastics, and flame retardants), heavy metals (like lead from old paint), and bacteria from dirt, food debris, even feces. How you manage dust plays a key role in creating a healthy home, and is especially important for little ones, who spend more time close to the ground.
Bedding
What?
When it comes time to update your bedding, you might like to explore natural materials:
- Mattresses and pillows made from 100% natural latex without springs
- Mattress and pillow protectors in organic cotton, instead of synthetic fabrics
- Sheets in natural fibres like organic cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo, or silk
- Certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for added reassurance
Why?
We spend about a third of our lives in bed, so the space we sleep in naturally has a big impact on our wellbeing. And yet, it’s easy to overlook what our mattresses and bedding are made of. Many conventional mattresses can release VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene, along with phthalates and flame retardants - especially when they’re new. Bedding can also become a comfortable home for dust mites and microbes over time. Given how close we are to these surfaces while we sleep, it makes sense to be mindful of what surrounds us night after night, especially during the hours when our bodies are focused on rest, repair, and regeneration. Small shifts towards more natural materials can gently transform your bedroom into a cleaner, calmer space - one that truly supports rest, restoration and a more balanced nervous system.
BEDDING:
ORGANIC COTTON MATTRESS AND PILLOW PROTECTORS:
AUSTRALIAN MADE NATURAL LATEX MATTRESSES & PILLOWS:
Kitchen
What?
A few simple kitchen swaps to consider:
- Cook with stainless steel, cast iron, heat-proof glass, porcelain, or ceramic cookware and avoid ‘non-stick’.
- Avoid non-stick or plastic utensils - opt for stainless steel instead
- Store food and water in glass, stainless steel, paper bags, or waxed fabric wraps
- Ditch cling wrap, plastic cutting boards, and aluminium foil where possible
- Avoid heating or freezing anything in plastic
- Choose food packaged in glass over cans when you can
- Switch to a glass blender and a stainless steel kettle (with no plastic parts exposed to boiling water)
Why?
Cookware can be a source of PFAS (also known as ‘forever chemicals’, heavy metals and microplastics. Items promoted as nonstick likely contain PFAS chemicals, or a next generation chemical that’s just as harmful. Aluminium or copper pots, as well as lead and aluminium in glazed ceramics can expose you to heavy metals. And plastics contain chemicals that can wreak havoc on human health and the environment. Plastics can leach when they come into contact with certain foods, and heating or freezing food in plastic will increase the amount of microplastics leached. Cutting on a plastic cutting board can also release microplastics into the air and contaminate your food. There is no safe plastic. While it’s nearly impossible to avoid plastic entirely in today’s world, we can reduce our exposure in small, meaningful ways. By being a little more mindful, we can minimise the toxic load on our nervous systems and the planet, one everyday choice at a time.
COOKWARE:
FOOD & WATER STORAGE:
KETTLES:
GLASS BLENDER:
Indoor Air Quality
What?
- HVAC Maintenance: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems can become a source of mould, bacteria, and indoor pollutants if not maintained. Aim for a professional clean at least once a year, following manufacturer guidelines.
- Candles, Incense & Perfume: Burning candles, incense, and using synthetic fragrances releases VOCs and other harmful compounds linked to dysregulation and disease in the body. Avoid burning indoors where possible, especially around pregnant women, babies, and children. If you use candles, choose 100% beeswax or coconut wax and untreated wicks. Avoid scent, but if it’s a non-negotiable opt for pure essential oils.
- Humidity & Mould: Ideal indoor humidity should stay between 40–60% (optimal 45–55%) to prevent mould and dust mites. Consistently high humidity may signal moisture issues or poor ventilation. Hygrometers can help you monitor levels.
- Fresh Air & Ventilation: Unless you're in a high-pollution area, open windows daily to improve air quality. Good airflow and ventilation is essential for a healthy home.
- Air Purifiers & Plants: HEPA air purifiers trap dust, mould spores, VOCs, and pollutants, and can be a useful option to consider if budget allows. Indoor plants also help purify the air and bring a calming, natural element to your space.
- Shoes Off Policy: Shoes bring in bacteria, pesticides, heavy metals, and allergens, which is especially concerning for babies and toddlers on the floor. A shoes-off rule indoors can help keep your home cleaner and healthier.
Why?
In Australia, outdoor air pollution kills significantly more people than the road toll each year, and indoor air is estimated to be at least five times more polluted than outdoor air. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and are a significant contributor to poor indoor air quality. They’re commonly found in everyday household products and can become particularly concerning during renovations or when building. Indoor air quality plays a big role in how we feel, rest, and function - but it's something we often overlook. With a few mindful habits, you can create a home environment that supports cleaner air, a more balanced nervous system, and better health.
Water Quality
What?
In my view, a water filter isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. If you’re not using a filter, then your body becomes the filter. That said, not all water filters are created equal, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best system for you will depend on your household’s needs, water source, and budget. Please get in touch if you’d like support in choosing the right filtration system for you, I’d be more than happy to help!
Why?
It’s often said that Australia has some of the cleanest drinking water in the world. This assumption could potentially be true if you were to drink directly from the catchment, however, this is not the water that ends up coming through our taps. Tap water can contain a variety of contaminants. Chemicals are added to treat and purify the water. Treated water then travels through the hundreds of kilometres of mains that makes up the distribution system. These processes ultimately affect the quality of the water that comes out of our taps. In addition, the presence of various man-made (anthropogenic) contaminants have been found in drinking water, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as disinfection by-products, fluorinated compounds (PFAS), bisphenols, phthalates, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. These substances have raised concerns due to their potential impacts on human health, particularly reproductive health.
P.s. Change doesn’t happen overnight - and that’s okay!
Start by making small, intentional swaps when you’re next replacing an item. Over time, these choices will add up and improve your overall health and wellbeing.
-BEC xx