Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark: The Shocking Reality of ‘Safe’ Baby Wipes & Candles—What You Must Do | Branch Basics' Allison Evans

Episode Overview In this enlightening episode of Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, host Alex Clark welcomes Allison Evans, co-founder of Branch Basics, to discuss the hidden dangers of everyday household products. Allison shares her personal journey of overcoming severe health challenges by eliminating toxic chemicals from her environment and embracing a clean lifestyle. The conversation delves into the broader implications of toxic exposure on health, particularly for children, and provides practical advice for maintaining a non-toxic home.

Allison Evans' Personal Health Journey

Battling PCOS and Chronic Illness Allison begins by recounting her struggle with a severe case of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosed during high school. She shares a poignant moment at the fertility clinic where she was told, “[...] there’s nothing that I could do about it [...] you won’t be able to have children naturally” (02:04).

Healing Through Clean Living Rejecting the bleak prognosis, Allison embraced a clean lifestyle, leading to remarkable health improvements. By removing toxic products and adopting real food, she was able to eliminate her PCOS symptoms and conceive four children naturally:

“I still can't believe I have four children. He's only six months old [...]” (01:59)

Founding of Branch Basics

Environmental Health Advocacy Allison co-founded Branch Basics alongside her aunt and best friend, inspired by her own healing journey. She emphasizes the company's mission to help others achieve similar health benefits by removing toxic substances from their homes.

Allison’s Aunt Marilee’s Influence Allison highlights her aunt Marilee's pivotal role in founding Branch Basics. Marilee's own battle with kidney failure and her son's recovery from pesticide exposure underscored the profound impact of environmental toxins on health:

“[Marilee] was like, I know there's another way. I'm not going to do this right now [...] her son [...] fully recovered” (08:56)

The Hidden Dangers of Household Toxins

Toxic Cleaning Products Allison discusses how conventional cleaning products, often laden with EPA-registered pesticides, contribute to widespread health issues:

“They’re undermining our immune system [...] virtually every single disease, symptom and malfunction of the body can be traced back to toxic accumulation” (08:06)

Impact of Disinfectants and Sanitizers Challenging the necessity of disinfectant wipes, Allison argues that they do more harm than good by killing beneficial bacteria and disrupting the microbiome:

“Regular soap and water will remove germs and still keep intact the good bugs [...]” (20:13)

Laundry Products and Endocrine Disruptors She explains how laundry detergents contain obesogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can lead to weight gain and hormonal imbalances:

“These chemicals have a metabolic impact in the body [...] create fat cells to buffer toxins” (19:59)

Health Implications for Children and Adults

Greater Vulnerability in Children Allison emphasizes that children are more susceptible to toxins due to their developing bodies and higher intake relative to their size:

“Their immune systems are not yet fully developed [...] damaging their health” (30:11)

Genetic Expression and Epigenetics She discusses how even minimal exposure to toxins can trigger genetic expressions related to diseases:

“Having a predisposition to something [...] regular exposure to a chemical can turn on that genetic expression” (23:56)

Practical Tips for a Non-Toxic Home

Simple Substitutions Allison provides actionable steps for reducing household toxins without breaking the bank:

• Cleaning: Replace conventional cleaners with vinegar, baking soda, and Branch Basics concentrate.

“You just remove everything. You don’t need to buy anything non-toxic” (31:15)

• Diapering: Use water-based wipes or homemade solutions instead of commercial wet wipes.

“I do not use a wet wipe on my child [...] use water and spray Branch Basics” (46:50)

Budget-Friendly Alternatives She encourages starting with easy changes, like eliminating scented products and using glass bottles to reduce plastic exposure:

“Laundry is number one. [...] your blood could trace back your laundry products” (29:08)

Branch Basics: Product Insights and Availability

Product Versatility Allison details the versatility of Branch Basics products, highlighting their safety and effectiveness for various cleaning needs:

“[Branch Basics] has zero irritation [...] I bathe my babies with it” (53:05)

Expansion to Target Exciting news is shared about Branch Basics' availability in Target stores, marking a significant step in reaching a broader audience:

“We are officially in Target. [...] educate people through our products” (49:48)

Faith and Mission

Integrating Faith into Health Advocacy Allison shares how her Christian faith drives her mission to promote non-toxic living, viewing it as stewardship of the body:

“I have Jesus. I believe that this is my calling [...] present our bodies as living sacrifices” (34:18)

Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Empowerment Through Removal Allison’s primary remedy for healing a sick culture is empowering individuals to take charge of their health by removing toxic substances from their environments.

Community and Education Branch Basics emphasizes building a community focused on health and sustainability, offering practical solutions and educational resources to foster a non-toxic lifestyle.

Final Thoughts Alex and Allison conclude by reinforcing the importance of making informed, health-conscious choices and supporting each other in the journey toward a toxin-free life.

Notable Quotes:

• “We are not the victim of our genetics. We're not the victim of some diagnosis or disease. As long as we are breathing, we can heal.” — Allison Evans (00:02)

• “The quickest source of healing is to remove the thing that is keeping you, that is holding you back.” — Allison Evans (07:32)

• “If you have a predisposition to something, regular exposure to a chemical can honestly turn on that genetic expression.” — Allison Evans (23:56)

• “Branch Basics is as clean as water. I bathe my babies with it.” — Allison Evans (53:05)

Resources Mentioned:

• Branch Basics Products: Available at BranchBasics.com and now in Target stores.
• Facebook Group: Cuteservatives for like-minded individuals to discuss episode topics.
• YouTube Channel: Watch the episode on the Real Alex Clark YouTube channel.

Join the Movement Adopting non-toxic practices not only improves personal health but also contributes to healing a broader, culturally ingrained acceptance of harmful chemicals. Allison Evans and Branch Basics provide the tools and knowledge necessary to make impactful changes in everyday life.

Timestamps

• 00:02 Introduction to Allison Evans and her approach to avoiding diaper rashes
• 01:59 Allison reflecting on having four children
• 02:04 Allison discusses her PCOS diagnosis and initial medical advice
• 07:32 Allison emphasizes removal of toxic elements for healing
• 19:59 Discussion on how cleaning chemicals act as obesogens
• 23:56 Allison explains the impact of small chemical exposures on genetic expression
• 29:08 Allison shares the hardest conventional cleaning product to give up
• 30:11 Allison on how toxins affect children differently
• 31:15 Allison provides budget-friendly tips for non-toxic living
• 34:18 Allison discusses the role of faith in her non-toxic living
• 49:48 Allison announces Branch Basics' availability in Target
• 53:05 Allison describes the versatility of Branch Basics products
• 46:50 Allison explains her diapering method without wet wipes

This summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, highlighting Allison Evans' journey, the dangers of common household toxins, and practical steps towards a non-toxic lifestyle. For a deeper dive, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode on the Real Alex Clark YouTube channel or Spotify.