Why I'm Passionate About Reading Labels: What We Eat, Breathe and Put Into Our Bodies Matters

Have you ever stopped to read the ingredients on the back of the products you use every single day?

I'm talking about the food you feed your family, the cleaning products you spray around your home, the laundry detergent you wash your children's clothes in, your skincare products, and even the medicine inserts that come inside your medication boxes.

For me, reading labels has become so much more than just checking what's inside a product. It's about understanding what we're bringing into our homes, what we're exposing our families to, and making informed decisions about our everyday lives.

As a mother of three girls, a homeopath and a wellness counsellor, this is something I'm genuinely passionate about.

I don't believe we need to live in fear of everything around us. But I do believe we should be curious, ask questions and understand what we're choosing whenever we can.

Because sometimes, the things we use without a second thought deserve a closer look.

1. Reading Food Labels: Looking Beyond the Front of the Packet

Food packaging is designed to catch our attention. Words like healthy, natural, high in protein and made with real ingredients can make a product sound like the obvious choice.

But the front of the packet tells only part of the story.

The ingredients list can tell us much more about what we're actually buying.

When I read a food label, I like to look at:

• The ingredients list: What is the product primarily made from?

• Added sugar: Is sugar appearing under different names throughout the ingredients list?

• The level of processing: Is this a simple food, or is it a highly formulated product with many ingredients?

• Allergens: Are there ingredients that someone in my family needs to avoid?

• Serving sizes: Do the nutritional values reflect the amount we would realistically eat?

This doesn't mean every unfamiliar ingredient is dangerous or that every packaged food is bad. It means learning to look beyond the marketing and understand what we're putting into our bodies.

Sometimes, the simplest choice really is the best one: a meal made from ingredients we recognize, prepared at home and shared around the table.

The Hidden Complexity Behind Words Like "Flavors" and "Natural Flavors"

There are a few words on ingredient labels that I think deserve a closer look: flavors, natural flavors and artificial flavors.

At first glance, these words can sound harmless. Natural flavors, in particular, can give us the impression that we're looking at something simple and wholesome.

But flavorings can be complex mixtures of substances. Some formulations contain many individual components, potentially dozens or more.

Depending on the product and the applicable food-labelling regulations, manufacturers may be permitted to declare flavorings under a collective term rather than list every individual component on the consumer label.

This means that when you see the word flavor or natural flavor on a food packet, you may not see a complete breakdown of every substance used to create that flavor.

I think this is important for consumers to understand.

The word "natural" doesn't automatically tell us everything about an ingredient's composition or safety.

This doesn't mean that all flavorings are harmful. Flavorings have legitimate uses in food production, and their safety depends on the substances involved, their use and the levels of exposure.

However, if you're someone who wants to understand exactly what you're bringing into your home, these collective terms are worth paying attention to.

For me, reading labels is about looking beyond the marketing and asking questions when something isn't clear.

2. What We Breathe Matters, Too

One of the things I think we often overlook is the air inside our homes.

We tend to think about pollution as something outside — traffic fumes, smoke and industrial emissions. But our indoor environment deserves attention as well.

Cleaning sprays, air fresheners, fragrances, candles and other household products can release substances into the air we breathe. Depending on the ingredients, concentration, ventilation and how a product is used, these substances may irritate the eyes, skin or respiratory system.

This is particularly worth considering in homes with young children, people with asthma or those sensitive to fragrances.

When I look at a household cleaning product, I want to know more than whether it leaves my kitchen sparkling.

I ask questions like:

• What are the active ingredients?

• Does the product contain added fragrance?

• Are there ventilation requirements?

• Does the label include warnings about inhalation or skin contact?

• Can I choose a simpler product that does the job effectively?

A clean home should also be a home where we think carefully about the products we use to achieve that cleanliness.

What If Cleaning Your Home Also Affects the Air You Breathe?

Something that really makes me think is how much time we spend cleaning our homes, often without giving much thought to what we're breathing in while we do it.

We spray our kitchen counters, scrub our bathrooms, wash our floors and use fragranced products to make our homes smell fresh and clean. But have we ever stopped to consider what happens to those ingredients once they're released into the air?

Some cleaning products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can evaporate into the air we breathe. Depending on the substances involved and the level of exposure, these compounds can contribute to indoor air pollution and may cause irritation or other health effects.

Research has also raised concerns about the effects of repeated exposure to certain cleaning chemicals, particularly among people who clean frequently or professionally.

I once came across the claim that a day of cleaning with conventional household products could be equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes. Although I haven't been able to verify that exact comparison in reliable scientific research, I do think it raises an important question:

Are we paying enough attention to the air inside our homes?

We often associate the risks of smoking with what we breathe into our lungs, yet we may give very little thought to the fumes released by products we use every week.

Of course, cleaning products and cigarette smoke are not interchangeable exposures, and their risks cannot be compared simply without knowing which chemicals were measured, at what concentrations and over what period.

This isn't about being frightened of cleaning or assuming that every conventional product is dangerous. It's about understanding that the ingredients in our household products matter, and that repeated exposure is worth considering.

We can open windows, improve ventilation, avoid unnecessary sprays and fragrances, and look for alternatives that suit our family's needs.

For me, this is another reminder that a home can look and smell clean without needing to be filled with strong fragrances.

Clean shouldn't just be about what we can see. It's also worth thinking about the air we breathe while we're cleaning.

3. Your Laundry Detergent Deserves a Second Look

Think about how often your family comes into contact with freshly washed clothing, bedding, towels and pyjamas.

Laundry products are a regular part of most households, yet many of us choose them based on scent, price or how effectively they remove stains.

Have you ever turned the packet around and read the ingredient list?

Fragrances, cleaning agents and other ingredients can affect people differently. Some people experience skin irritation or fragrance sensitivity, while others have no noticeable problems. Just because someone isn't experiencing any physical symptoms does not mean the product isn't harmful to your health. 

Reading the label helps you make a more informed choice based on your household's needs.

This is one of the reasons I'm passionate about developing more mindful household options through Family Wellness Co and EarthKind. I want to encourage people to think about everyday choices that often go unnoticed.

4. What About the Word "Fragrance"?

Another word I pay attention to when reading labels is fragrance, sometimes listed as parfum.

We see it on everything from laundry detergents and dishwashing products to body lotions, shampoos and household sprays.

A fragrance formulation can contain numerous individual substances. In some cases, the full composition of the fragrance mixture may not appear on the consumer label because ingredient-disclosure requirements vary by product category and country.

Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies or sensitivities in certain people. Others may be well tolerated.

The important thing to understand is that the single word fragrance doesn't necessarily tell us everything about the mixture.

If you or someone in your family experiences fragrance sensitivity, skin irritation or respiratory symptoms around fragranced products, it may be worth exploring fragrance-free options and seeking professional advice where appropriate.

And just as with food, the word natural doesn't automatically mean an ingredient is harmless.

Essential oils and naturally derived fragrance ingredients can also cause irritation or allergic reactions.

I don't believe we need to fear every fragrance. I simply believe we should understand that a lovely smell doesn't automatically tell us whether a product is suitable for our household.

Sometimes, less fragrance is exactly what a family prefers.

5. Even Medicine Inserts Deserve Our Attention

This is another area that matters to me.

When we receive medication, it's easy to focus only on what the medicine is intended to treat. We may not always take the time to read the patient information leaflet that comes with it.

Yet that leaflet can contain important information about:

• What the medicine is used for.

• The recommended dosage and how to take it.

• Possible side effects.

• Interactions with other medicines.

• Warnings, precautions and circumstances in which medical advice is needed.

Understanding this information helps us use medicines more safely and know when to ask questions.

I believe that being an informed patient is a positive thing. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist why a medicine has been prescribed, what side effects to watch for and whether it is suitable alongside other treatments you use.

Reading a medicine insert isn't about becoming afraid of medication. It's about understanding what you're taking and using it responsibly.

And please, never stop or change prescribed medication simply because something in the leaflet concerns you. Discuss your concerns with a qualified healthcare professional first.

As a homeopath and wellness counsellor, I believe that supporting our wellbeing includes being curious, asking questions and making informed choices — while recognising when conventional medical treatment is necessary.

6. We Can't Control Everything, But We Can Change What We Can

One of the reasons I'm so passionate about this is that there are so many things in our world that we simply cannot control.

Living here in the Western Cape, we're surrounded by beautiful vineyards and apple orchards. But agricultural production can also involve the use of pesticides and other crop-protection products.

We can't personally control every farming practice, every chemical used in the environment, or every substance we might encounter as we go about our daily lives.

We can't control everything in the air we breathe, the environment around us, or the choices made by the industries that produce the food and products we rely on.

And sometimes, thinking about all of this can feel overwhelming.

But I don't believe the answer is to live in fear. I believe it's to focus our energy on the things we can change.

We can become more conscious of the food we buy. We can learn about where it comes from and how it's produced. We can wash our fruit and vegetables under running water, read the labels on our household cleaning products, reconsider unnecessary fragrances in our homes, and become more informed about the medicines we use.

We can ask questions, seek reliable information and make different choices when alternatives are available to us.

For example, we might choose to buy certain foods from growers whose farming practices we understand, or compare options when our budget allows. We might decide to grow some herbs and vegetables ourselves.

We don't have to change everything at once, and we don't need to assume that every exposure carries the same level of risk.

These choices might seem small when we look at the bigger picture, but they are practical steps towards creating a home and lifestyle that better reflect our values.

We don't have to control everything to make meaningful changes.

For me, this is what mindful living is really about. It's not about achieving a perfectly toxin-free life — because that's neither realistic nor necessary. It's about recognising where we have a choice and using that choice thoughtfully.

Rather than becoming overwhelmed by everything we cannot change, let's start with the things we can.

One label. One product. One small decision at a time.

8. Small Changes Can Make a Difference

When you first start reading labels, it can feel overwhelming. You might look around your kitchen or bathroom and suddenly want to replace everything.

Please don't feel that you have to do that.

You don't need to throw away every product you own or completely change your lifestyle overnight.

Start with one thing.

Perhaps the next time you buy breakfast cereal, you compare two ingredients lists. Maybe you look at the cleaning products under your kitchen sink. Perhaps you finally read the information leaflet that came with a medicine you use regularly.

Why This Matters to Family Wellness Co

Family Wellness Co was born out of my passion for helping families explore more conscious, informed ways of living.

As a mother, a homeopath and a wellness counsellor, I'm interested in the bigger picture of wellbeing — not just one symptom or one product, but the everyday choices that form part of our lives.

That includes the food we eat, the products we use in our homes, the information we have about our medicines and the habits we build as a family.

Through Family Wellness Co, I want to share knowledge, practical resources and thoughtfully considered products that help families make choices with greater confidence.

It's also why I'm developing EarthKind household products. I want to explore alternatives that align with a more mindful approach to everyday cleaning and laundry, while being transparent about ingredients and encouraging people to use products responsibly.

For me, this isn't about being perfect or telling other families how they should live. It's about empowering people with information so they can decide what works for them.

I know that families have different budgets, needs and circumstances. Not everyone can afford to replace all their household products or buy every item from a specialist supplier. That's okay.

Making informed choices isn't about spending more money. It's about learning, asking questions and making changes where we reasonably can.

Because when we understand what we're choosing, we can make those choices more intentionally.

Start Turning the Label Around

My challenge to you is simple.

The next time you pick up a product, don't just look at the front. Turn it around.

Read the ingredients. Look at the warnings. Ask what the product contains and whether it meets your family's needs.

If you see words like natural flavours or fragrance, remember that these may represent mixtures of substances rather than a single ingredient. If you're concerned about a particular product, seek further information from the manufacturer or a reliable source.

You don't need to know everything today. You just need to be willing to learn.

You don't need to control every environmental exposure, change every product in your home or become the perfect example of healthy living.

You can simply start by paying attention.

Awareness is where informed choices begin.

And sometimes, one small question — What's actually in this? — can be the beginning of a much more conscious way of living.

With love & healing,

Danette
Homeopath & Wellness Counsellor
Family Wellness Co

Helping families make more informed, mindful choices for everyday wellbeing.