In the past week, I’ve heard the term “detox” from three highly intelligent people whom I fear have been bamboozled by the wellness industry. They were spending money on teas, supplements, and meal plans to jumpstart their new year with a “cleansing.” One was detoxing with her adolescent daughter (which could actually create toxicity by encouraging restrictive eating).

There are a lot of ways I could have replied to that, but I took a deep breath and just shared MY favorite detox pointers.

• There is no supplement, diet, or drink that will detox her body better than her own liver and kidneys. 
• Her liver and kidneys can use some detox support, but it doesn’t come from herbs or liquid diets.
• The best ways to detox her body and support her natural detoxing organs are to help her establish healthy habits around sleep, movement, nutrition, and emotional coping. 

I know. An herbal tea would be so much easier. 

But if the new year is motivating you to create positive change in your life, it’s a great time to take an assessment and make a plan together. If you truly want to help her detox from things that are harming her or holding her back, here are 4 sure ways to do that:

• Help her detox from unhealthy friendships
• • • As our daughters leave childhood behind, it’s common for their friendships to shift. Help her understand that “friends” that don’t make her feel respected, heard, or cared for, are not true friends. Many of the mental health issues that affect adolescent girls stem from friendship (or “frenemy”) challenges. 
    • To detox from unhealthy friendships, start conversations about what she needs and hopes for as she makes new friends or carries old friends into the new year and beyond. 
    • Normalize friendship “break ups” as sometimes necessary and liberating. 
    • And help her learn how to be a good friend to others. If you’d like help with this, our Friendship Matters class and workbook, are great resources and conversation guides. 

• Help her edit her social media influences to boost the positive and reduce the negative

• • Encourage her to unfollow accounts that leave her feeling like she’s not good enough or thin enough or popular enough. Instead, simply adding 2-3 new accounts that are uplifting or inspiring can help boost her confidence and happiness.
  • Self-criticism is clearly toxic, but self-acceptance requires practice. For tips on HOW to start that practice, THIS Girlology TV episode offers great information!
    

• Talk with her about avoiding known toxins like vaping and other substance use. 

• • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends we talk with our kids about substance use starting at age 11. Substance use disorder experts say 9 is a better age. Either way – there are age appropriate chats you can have at any age.
  • Even though we think our kids KNOW better than to vape, try alcohol, or eat THC gummies, our kids gather a LOT of ideas from what they see in their families and communities.
  • If you have kids or teens, do not keep pain meds or other unneeded prescription medications in your home. Here’s why and how.
  • Make sure your kids know not to consume any “candy” that they find or that someone gives them without checking with you. From marijuana gummies to fentanyl, accidental ingestion of substances by children and teens has skyrocketed over the past few years resulting in vastly higher rates of emergency room visits, overdose treatments, and deaths. 

• Reduce her exposure to environmental toxins 

• • This sounds overwhelming, but most environmental toxins are attributed to exposures that are not that difficult to avoid or remove. Simple changes, like eliminating plastic food storage containers, changing air filters, and washing hands can have a big impact.
  • Check out THIS TIP For more information on WHY this matters (especially for girls) and other ways to reduce her exposures.

So, forget the herbal teas, the sweatboxes, and restrictive diets. The best detoxes happen when we rid ourselves of unhealthy relationships, negative self-talk, unrealistic influences, and known threats to our health.

Cheers to a safe and healthy year ahead. We’re here to help all along the way.

Did you know Girlology has grade-by-grade video on demand playlists to support her and you through all things puberty and adolescence. Our doctor-moms cover topics like this and lots others! Learn More HERE. 

If you’ve never considered that question – I’m so sorry for even putting it in your head. Unfortunately, I hear it too often, so I want to give it a thoughtful answer. 

First, let me address WHY this question comes up pretty regularly: 

As moms, we already have plenty of worries. We’re fiercely protective, and any threat to our children’s well-being puts us in mama-bear mode.

As women, for too many centuries, society has [wrongly] centered our value around our ability to reproduce. We have internalized that message for generations, and instinctively, that makes any threat to our reproductive health feel especially terrifying.

So when fear or shame enter conversations about products related to our reproductive system, we go on high alert. 🚨

Marketers totally take advantage of these factors. They suggest that our vulvas are “dirty,” and then tell us their product will “fix it.” They tell us the products we use are dangerous, but that their product is “safer,” “cleaner,” or “more natural” (in marketing, none of these labels require any proof). Similarly, anyone aiming for viral attention on social media can do the same. These messages get our attention despite almost always being downright lies or unsubstantiated claims. 

I admit it; I’m vulnerable, too. I have three daughters. I provide reproductive healthcare for girls and women. I am motivated to get this right, so I’ve done a lot of research. I’ve talked with microbiologists, toxicologists, and know more about the manufacturing of period products than a lot of gynecologists. So, let me step off my anti-fear-mongering soapbox, and provide answers to some of the common questions we hear: 

Are there toxic chemicals in pads, tampons, menstrual cups or period underwear?

Everything is made of “chemicals.” And all chemicals can be toxic – even water (yes, it’s a chemical). So without advanced degrees in organic chemistry and physiology, it’s really difficult as a consumer to determine which chemicals should be of concern. When it comes to disposable pads and tampons which get the most “toxic” attention, they are primarily made of cotton or rayon (did you know rayon comes from wood pulp?), and they have other ingredients that have been thoroughly tested and deemed safe. Many of the ingredients are things used in other products we use and trust, like band-aids and diapers. 

Specifically, the chemicals that concern me most in personal care items are classified as “endocrine disruptors.” They are commonly found in certain plastics and many fragrances (even natural lavender oil). The most popular pads and tampons (including the pad liners and tampon plastic applicators) do not have those types of plastics in them. So my general rule is to avoid any scented products, and consider them safe.

Who makes sure they’re safe? 

All period products are regulated by the FDA as medical devices. That means ALL period products sold on the shelves of your local stores have been through a detailed process of research, development, safety testing, and ongoing monitoring for harmful effects. Those products also undergo routine testing that specifically monitors ingredients that have caused concern in the past like dioxins and chlorine bleach (which you won’t find in any products today).

Large consumer product companies spend billions of dollars on research and development. I have had opportunities to consult for global brands like Always and Tampax (no, they are not paying me nor sponsoring this content). I have talked with members of their giant team of experts and PhD researchers who are fiercely dedicated to science and data. They do important research that not only improves the products we use, but advances health science. And heck, many of them are women and/or parents, and they trust these products for themselves and their families. If my favorite toxicologist believes they’re safe, so do I. 

Aren’t organic pads and tampons safer? 

There are some things I use or consume that I prefer to be organic, but pads and tampons aren’t on that list. Here’s why. Organic cotton and conventional cotton both require a process using scalding hot water to remove the natural waxy coating (where pesticide and herbicide residue is held). That super hot process removes pesticides & herbicides so well, that they are no longer detectable even in non-organic cotton. Furthermore, there are zero studies to indicate that organic period products are healthier or safer for humans. All tampons (organic or conventional) carry the same risk for toxic shock syndrome, which is by far the most concerning, although very rare, tampon-related risk.  

Can pads or tampons cause ovarian cysts, endometriosis, or other reproductive health problems?

The reproductive system is complex, and there is no identifiable single cause of any diseases or abnormalities. Yet, it’s human nature to identify the root cause of problems we experience and point fingers at what we believe to be the cause. A recent case in point is the viral Tik Tok claim that titanium dioxide used as a whitener in tampon strings caused a young woman’s ovarian cysts. Period products simply can’t do that; it’s not biologically possible. Furthermore, titanium dioxide is a whitening ingredient used in toothpaste, sunscreens, and many foods. The amount in tampon strings is tiny compared to other uses, and it has never been considered unsafe. Just because we can identify something we did or used when we developed a problem, doesn’t mean it’s the cause of the problem. In science and medicine, we say correlation is not causation. Determining the actual root cause of a health problem is much more complicated than just relating it to a random event.

Perspective matters. 

At some point, we have to accept that everything we consume and everything we do carries risks. Some are more serious than others. Riding in a car is far more dangerous than the potential risks associated with the regulated consumer products we use on a daily (or monthly) basis. 

As mama-bears and concerned consumers, we should absolutely continue to pay attention, but it’s critical that we and our daughters figure out who to believe, understand where the claims come from, and stop getting our health information from random social media accounts. That’s the best way to fight fear-mongering, protect our kids, and prepare them to be smart consumers.

Did you know Girlology has grade-by-grade video on demand playlists to support her and you through all things puberty and adolescence. Our doctor-moms cover topics like this and lots others! Learn More HERE. 

In almost every one of our Girlology Live programs, when we’re talking about hygiene, moms ask about deodorant. Specifically, they want to know if “natural” deodorants are safer or healthier for their daughters.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Is “natural” always better? (No, I’ll explain)

🙋🏻‍♀️ What chemicals should I avoid? (The research may surprise you)

🙋‍♀️ How do we balance harmful exposures versus keeping her comfortable and confident?

When it comes to managing sweat and body odor in growing girls, there are 4 things I like to share with concerned moms. I’ll never tell you what to buy, but I will share what I know from science and medicine. With these facts in hand, YOU can make the choice that’s best for your family — which is ultimately what we all have to do, right?

1️⃣ Soap & deodorant reduce stink. Anti-perspirant reduces sweat. 😅

Our body has sweat glands on nearly every skin surface, but we get “sweatiest” in areas where there is less “ventilation,” more hair, and thus more bacteria (armpits, groin creases, feet). Body odor is caused by bacteria digesting that sweat plus oils to release the scent we call “body odor.” The relationship between sweat + body odor is the reason most people choose deodorant with antiperspirant.

Why both? The active ingredient in antiperspirants is an Aluminum compound that reacts with water from sweat to form a plug that physically blocks sweat glands wherever the product has been applied. Less sweat in bacteria-heavy areas = less body odor. Deodorant works by either absorbing odors or preventing skin bacteria from digesting sweat and oils, but it doesn’t do anything to the volume of sweat.

2️⃣ Aluminum does not worry me, but other chemicals do. 🙀

Aluminum is the main ingredient left out of “natural” deodorants. It got a bad rap many years ago with some unsubstantiated claims that it was linked to Alzheimer’s Disease and possibly breast cancer. Nope and nope. There is no such link – never has been, even after extensive research into the possibility of each.

But I understand the mom-worry. For my own daughters, I definitely like to steer clear of products that contain chemicals we recognize as “endocrine disruptors.” These chemicals can act like hormones in the body to alter the way our natural hormones work – especially reproductive hormones.

There are many known endocrine disruptors, but when it comes to deodorants (and many other personal care products), one of the biggest offenders is artificial fragrances. If you see the generic term “fragrance” as a listed ingredient, you may want to look for  something else (preferably “fragrance-free,” not just “unscented” because that can mean it has fragrances to cover-up other fragrances).

Parabens are another endocrine disruptor, but most deodorants no longer contain them.

3️⃣ She will never sweat more than during puberty and adolescence. 💦

She also may never be as self-conscious as she is during puberty. That might mean that helping her reduce sweating and pit stains becomes the priority. Life is a balance. Based on mental health and scientific research, there are more harmful long term effects from bullying and extreme self-consciousness than anything we know about antiperspirant.

4️⃣ Capitalism is capitalism. 💸

The “natural” product industry uses the same marketing tactics as large corporations to get you to spend your money on their (often more expensive) products. Natural or not, be a wise consumer. If a company makes claims that sound too-good-to-be-true OR that create fear or shame for you, don’t accept that! You deserve better. Instead, let it raise a red flag to dig deeper and look to trusted science, not media-hype, for guidance. We’re always here to help you Know MORE & worry LESS.  

Did you know Girlology has grade-by-grade video on demand playlists to support her and you — on topics like this and lots others? Learn More