Ignorance Is Not Bliss
For most of my life, I never gave much thought to the ingredients in the products I used—whether food, cleaning supplies, or personal care items. And given that I was a chain smoker for sixteen years, that probably won’t surprise you. I was simply ignorant. Not just careless—but actively unaware of how my choices affected my health, and the health of those around me.
Back then, I didn’t know there was a direct link between what you eat and your long-term health. That kind of ignorance is still widespread, especially in modern Western societies where junk food, fast food, and ultra-processed products dominate daily life. I wrote My Weight Loss Journey: How I Lost 44 Pounds and Never Gained Them Back Using a Plant-Based Diet to help break that cycle—to help others discover what I learned the hard way.
Fifty years ago, diseases like type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease, and even stroke were considered rare. Today, they’re so common we call them “chronic.” What changed? Not our genes. Our diet did. We traded fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and occasional animal products for highly processed junk loaded with salt, sugar, fat, chemicals, and cholesterol.
My grandfather used to say, “To eat chicken, either the person had to be sick—or the chicken had to be sick.” Meat was rare and valued. It wasn’t an everyday indulgence.
Modern affluence means people can afford more meat. But epidemiological studies—like The China Study by T. Colin Campbell—show us that as meat consumption increases, so do rates of chronic disease.
As a child, I had a deep fear of growing old and getting sick. I believed genetics ruled our health—that DNA was destiny. I expected high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and fatigue by the time I turned forty. That fear was rooted in ignorance.
But in 2013, when I adopted a plant-based lifestyle, I saw the truth: DNA may account for about 25% of our health outcomes. The remaining 75% is shaped by what we eat. My health transformed. Ulcers vanished. Chronic constipation ended. My skin cleared. My energy soared. My libido returned. I needed less sleep. I thought more clearly. I lived more fully.
All that came from changing my food.
This shift didn’t stop with my diet. It became a mindset. I started questioning everything—not just food, but also the products I used every day.
What about the toothpaste I put in my mouth? The shampoo I rub into my scalp? The chemicals I use to clean the very plates I eat off?
It hit me one day as I was doing the dishes. I glanced at the label on my dishwashing liquid and realized: I didn’t know what any of those ingredients were. Words like “sodium hydroxide” and “methylisothiazolinone” meant nothing to me.
So, I did what I always do now: I researched.
Here’s what I found in the dishwashing liquid I had been using:
- Sodium Hydroxide (highly caustic chemical)
- Phenoxyethanol (synthetic version can be toxic)
- Methylisothiazolinone (linked to neurotoxicity)
- Diethylenetriamine pentamethylene phosphonic acid (chelating agent)
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (known skin irritants)
- Colorants and “Parfum” (unknown chemical mixtures)
Most of these are irritants. Some are pollutants. Others have been linked to more serious health risks. The point isn’t that you’ll drop dead from doing the dishes. But long-term exposure? Repeated skin contact? Residues left on your plates?
It adds up.
I decided I had to switch. I found an organic dishwashing liquid at a local health shop and started using it. For a few days, I felt better—until that little voice in my head whispered, “Check the label.”
Even the organic product had:
- Sodium Coco Sulfate
- Lauramine Oxide
- Phenoxyethanol
It had fewer ingredients, yes. And many were coconut-derived. But it still wasn’t perfect.
So, is it healthier? Probably. Perfect? No. But it’s a step in the right direction.
The truth is, we live in a world saturated with chemicals—in our food, water, air, and cleaning supplies. But we still have choices. We can take small steps. We can reduce our exposure. We can try.
I’ll keep researching. I’ll keep switching. I’ll keep learning.
Because ignorance is not bliss. Awareness is freedom.
And the more I choose what goes into and onto my body, the more I reclaim my health and my life.
It all comes back to mindset. Once you wake up to how your daily habits shape your life, you can never unsee it. Whether it’s your food, your shampoo, or your dish soap—everything matters. And every informed choice is a step toward the life you actually want.
Stay curious. Stay skeptical. Stay Thirsty for Health.
Discover my full story in Thirsty for Health, where I share the grit behind quitting smoking, adopting running, and embracing a plant-based life.
Disclaimer: This article shares personal opinions and experiences. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. Use this information at your own risk.
