There’s a lot in life we can’t control.
But what we bring into our homes? That’s one place where small choices can add up to meaningful change.
This week’s New Year resolution is Less Toxicity — not perfection, not fear, not overhauling your entire life — just a gentle shift toward fewer toxic contaminants and more peace of mind.
Why “Less” Matters
Toxicity isn’t always loud or obvious. More often, it’s quiet and cumulative — trace amounts that build up over time through daily habits like breakfast and coffee.
And here’s the thing:
You don’t need to detox your whole life. You just need to start with the things you do every single day.
What’s Actually Showing Up in Coffee & Cereal
Independent testing has found that some conventional coffees and cereals can contain contaminants like:
Heavy metals (including lead and cadmium)
Pesticide residues
Glyphosate
Mycotoxins (mold-related toxins)
One of the most well-known organizations studying this is the Clean Label Project, which evaluates products based on what’s actually inside — not just what’s listed on the label. Their coffee testing has shown wide variability between brands, with some testing significantly cleaner than others.
👉 Check out the Clean Label Coffee Study here
What to Look for Instead
If you’re trying to reduce toxic exposure without making life harder, here’s where to start:
1. Third-Party Testing
Brands that invest in independent testing are showing you they care about more than marketing.
2. Meaningful Certifications
Not all certifications are created equal. Look for:
Clean Label Project Certification
USDA Organic (especially important for grains and beans)
Non-GMO Project Verified
These don’t guarantee perfection — but they dramatically raise the bar.
3. Plastic-Free Brewing
Hot water + plastic = a recipe for microplastic exposure.
Recent research suggests that brewing coffee with plastic components (including many traditional pods) can release microplastics into your cup. Switching to plastic-free coffee pods or non-plastic brewing methods is one of the easiest low-effort swaps you can make.
Less Toxicity Can Be Easy
This isn’t about fear or restriction.
It’s about choosing brands that do the work for you so you don’t have to become a food scientist to feel confident feeding yourself or your family.
Less toxicity looks like:
Cleaner coffee, brewed without plastic
Breakfasts made from thoughtfully-sourced ingredients
Trusting the brands you bring into your home
And most importantly: it looks like lightening your mental load, and the load on your body.
