WARNING: Don't use foods, plants, herbs, or supplements in any of it's forms if you are allergic, or if you take medication or have a health condition that could react with it. Ask your doctor before using plants, herbs, or supplements in any form. Certain plants in any form are toxic to pets and animals - talk to your veterinarian.

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional. My recommendations are based on research I've done & my own healing successes over the past 15 years. I don't recommend you completely avoid doctors or prescriptions. I believe whenever possible, it's healthier to find healing from foods, plants, and herbs if you understand the ingredients.

* This is not a complete list - but should include the most common toxic & harmful ingredients.

The Toxic Age

Because I care about your health, I'm hoping you'll educate yourself about the toxic age we live in. YES, IT'S SCARY, BUT DON''T WORRY - I'll give you tips so you'll know what products are dirty and filled with toxic ingredients that you don't want to buy. And, I'll show you how to go clean & safe - with products that won't poison you and your loved ones. We'll review products taken by mouth or absorbed thru your skin.

Manufacturing industries are highly profit focused - rather than health & safety minded. Here's 2 facts that aren't well known: the food industry creates addictive & unhealthy foods so you'll crave it, and therefore buy more. Pharmaceutical companies also want you to keep buying their medication - so most will never heal the illness, they only relieve the symptoms. And, they're selling medications even with known dangers.

The primary reason many USA product manufacturers use toxic chemicals & fillers is: they're cheaper to make and the chemicals perform better than natural ingredients. So, for a packaged protein snack, more lather in baby shampoo, or hydrated skin.... they're poisoning us??? OUTRAGEOUS. Take some time to learn about toxic ingredients - it's worth it. All of this is why I choose: Natural Remedies & Ingredients.

Profit Over Health & Safety

Did you know the FDA, Food & Drug Administration (USA) only regulates 78% of food products - excluding some meat, poultry, eggs, all packaged foods less than 12 square inches, coffee, tea, spices. They also regulate drugs (human & veterinarian), vitamins, supplements, cosmetics, tobacco.

We already know manufacturers are not health & safety conscious. So they add toxic fillers to make it appear like we're getting more product, and they add toxic chemicals because they're cheaper and therefore, more profitable.

Another scary fact: many products don't require an ingredient list or FDA approval. Products like some cosmetics, body care products, supplements, and household cleaners. How is it possible manufacturers get to decide what's safe???

The FDA also doesn't have time to monitor everything they regulate. So, when there's been no testing for a couple decades, produce now has 5, 10, or 15 different pesticides/herbicides on them. And generally, the FDA doesn't investigate unless there's been reports of fraud or serious health issues.

FYI: the FDA is finally looking into the connection of destructive behavior in children due to food product ingredients. I guess it takes a national crisis before the American public can get help.

Learn about toxic ingredients, what to look for, what's dirty so you don't buy it, and what options are cleaner. It'll take a little time up front to learn these tips, but they can be life saving - so, 200% worth it.

1. Read the ingredient list for food, drinks, supplements, vitamins, body care products, cosmetics, and over the counter medications.

2. If the ingredients aren't listed - don't buy it.

3. Ingredients are listed with the primary ingredients first which you should be able to understand. Next are the fillers, chemicals, and preservatives which are usually unhealthy and/or toxic. These long chemical sounding words you won't understand.

4. The rule of thumb: long ingredient lists = more toxic. Short lists usually have the main ingredients with maybe a few toxic ingredients.

5. Always check the last few lines of ingredients. Does it say BHA, BHT, sodium benzoate or sodium nitrite? These are toxic preservatives. If it says tocopherols (vitamin E) or rosemary - they're natural preservatives.

6. Always check the "Other ingredients" usually found in supplements & vitamins. Check the "Inactive ingredients" in over-the-counter medicine.

7. If you don't buy fresh, your next safest option is frozen or in jars. The reason is most canned goods have toxic linings on the inside.

8. If the ingredients are toxic - don't buy it. If enough people refuse to buy poison - they'll be forced to CLEAN it up.

9. Wash produce to get rid of the majority of residues from pesticides & chemical washes: Wash for Clean Produce.

10. Try organic for products you use every day. Organic prices are a little higher than non-organic, but with organic you know you're safe. Buy Organic, towards the bottom of the section.

11. Clean Label Project - They test these product types: baby, pet, food, drink, boy care, cleaning, and fitness. They have various certifications & awards given to pure & clean products.

12. Environmental Work Group (EWG). They gather data from USDA & FDA and compile lists of non-organic products that contain the least & most pesticides. They also provide info on tap water, personal care, and household products.

13. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). They test supplements & medications. Look for their seal on approved products.

14. Take a copy of my Toxic Ingredient list before you go shopping. Toxic Food & Supplements. Toxic Body Care & Cosmetics. Toxic Medication.

Environmental Protection Agency: Cleaning Produce

This is NOT my recommendation since it's from the National Pesticide Information Center which comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They say about 90% of the pesticides & chemicals are washed off.

• FYI: tap water is even more DIRTY - it contains hormones, antibiotics, plastics, pesticides, chemicals, PFAS the forever chemicals, heavy metals, etc - isn't that like washing more toxins onto the food?

• Wash hands with soap before/after touching produce. Rinse produce with running tap water, turning to get all sides.

• Firm produce - scrub with a soft bristle brush as you rinse, going over cracks & pits. Then rinse.

• Soft produce - gently rub soft produce like tomatoes with your fingers as you rinse. Then rinse.

• Fragile fruits - put fruits like grapes in a colander and gently spray, turn the produce to rinse all sides.

• Peeling produce - even if you're going to peel the produce like oranges, rinse it before peeling.

• Lettuce & cabbage - remove the outer leaves and throw out, then rinse.

Cook to Remove Toxins

More toxins can be removed if you wash your produce using my method and then cook it. Cooking also helps remove some toxin residue, but it also removes some nutrients.

Steaming, grilling, roasting, stir-frying, and lastly microwaving are cooking methods that loose the least amount of nutrients compared to boiling & blanching. During blanching, the chemicals & pesticides are easily removed, however there's a 10 to 20% loss of nutrients.

Buy Organic

Not only is organic free from pesticides & herbicides, they're also free from other chemicals & toxic fertilizers. All products with an organic label must have at least 95% of it's ingredients certified as organic. Products "made with" organic ingredients must be at least 70% organic. The exception is for any added water & salt. The 5% of non-organic ingredients must be from a list of approved ingredients established by the USDA, United States Department of Agriculture.

USDA certified organic seal applies to: food, body care products, and cosmetics. Products that receive the USDA organic seal must follow strict guidelines and go thru a certification process. The USDA does not allow: pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics or other drugs, toxic chemicals, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge fertilizers, irradiation, or GMO's genetically modified organisms or genetically engineered. Now that's clean.

Produce Tested for Pesticides

The EWG, Environment Working Group provides us with cleaner & safer options. EWG analyzes data collected by the USDA & FDA every year and compiles 2 lists of non-organic produce. One lists produce with the most pesticides and the other with the least. These lists are called: the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15.

2025 EWG's Dirty Dozen (most toxic)

Spinach, strawberries, kale/collard/mustard greens, grapes, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pears, apples, blackberries, blueberries, potatoes.

2025 EWG's Clean Fifteen (most clean)

Pineapples, sweet corn, avocadoes, papayas, onions, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, watermelons, cauliflower, bananas, mangoes, mushrooms, kiwi.

First, it's total insanity in the fried food & processed food market, whether it's frozen prepared food, boxed or packaged, pre-made condiments, cereals, processed meats, etc. These processed & packaged foods are toxic on all levels: from the toxic ingredients that can cause cancer to engineered fillers, sugars, bad fats, and overall unhealthy ingredients that can cause cancer. Read about this astonishing crisis: Huge Health Declines in USA.

Meats & poultry - are harmful because of the hormones, antibiotics, foods riddled with pesticides, and the fattening foods to bulk up the animals receive. Did you know we eat everything put into their body? A cleaner option is to buy organic, or pasture raised, grass fed, cage free, and antibiotic free products.

Fish & seafood - are harmful. Look at wild-caught salmon vs. farm raised. The cleaner option is to buy wild caught fish/seafood - it has less cancer risk and less dioxin & mercury risk than farm raised. However, the toxic pollution in our oceans is on the rise.

Farm raised salmon adds antibiotics & dyes that are harmful. Besides the constant toxic pollutants in the water, farm salmon don't eat shrimp & insects, they eat grain & fishmeal.

Whole foods - are also toxic because of the pesticides & herbicides. Here's a surprising fact: many fruits & vegetables are also coated with toxic chemicals & preservatives to make them last longer, make them ripen faster like bananas, and to look shinier & darker in color like apples.

Toxic Food Ingredient List - take this with you shopping.

PESTICIDES:

Did you know pesticides have caused birth defects, miscarriages and developmental problems in children per the CDC, Centers for Disease Control. Other health issues include: death, blindness, various cancers, DNA mutations, Alzheimer's Disease & Parkinson's disease, ADHD, neurological damage (brain, spinal cord, nerves), endocrine damage (hormones & body parts they support), and more.

Products tested: baby & pet foods, food/drink, personal care, cleaning, fitness. Look up: Clean Label Project.

Products tested: food, water, personal care, household. Look up: EWG, Environmental Work Group.

Products tested: supplements & medication. Look up USP, United States Pharmacopeia.

Many supplements & vitamins contain: toxins like pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, bacteria, banned substances & prescription medication. HOW does that happen? How is that allowed? Did you know that 20% of liver injury in the USA is caused by herbal supplements? Check supplements at: Clean Label Project or USP seal of approval.

TALK with your doctor about the ingredients and your medications & medical conditions prior to taking vitamins or supplements. Follow dosage instructions. Also, many supplements today have higher amounts of the key ingredients than what your body needs for the day, so consider your diet and what you're lacking in before buying a supplement. Too much of something can also be harmful.

I'm a witness: I was taking an iodine kelp supplement to help my thyroid. After a few months, I started having minor issues. The iodine was almost twice what was needed - lesson learned for not checking the amount needed and what I was already getting from the foods I eat. It's interesting that Harvard Health Publishing said that supplements are a waste of time & money. They're referring to people who eat a fairly healthy diet and likely getting the vitamins & minerals needed.

There are common vitamin & mineral deficiencies that many people have:

• Iron, especially for menstruating women or pregnant/nursing women.

• Iodine, for your thyroid and best from seaweed or kelp.

• Vitamin D from lack of sunshine, fatty fish like salmon or eggs.

• Vitamin B6 and B12 for people with digestive health conditions, older adults and possibly vegan dieters.

• Vitamin A, for your vision, reproduction, etc. and found in many foods.

• Calcium, which needs vitamin D for better absorption.

• Magnesium, which needs vitamin D or zinc for better absorption.

Did you know that many illnesses can be cured or significantly decreased by simply eating certain foods? This includes whole foods (vegetables & fruits), healthy grains & fats, free-range chemical free meats & dairy and certain fish/seafood.

Supplements & Vitamins Tested

First, read the ingredients - are there any toxic or harmful ingredients? Next, look if it's been tested and certified by a third party.

There will be a USP, or other 3rd party certification seal if it's been tested and approved according to GMP (good manufacturing standards).

The toxic ingredients in supplements will be similar to food: Take this list shopping with you: Toxic Food Ingredient List.

Prescription Medicine

Prescriptions don't help your mind think happy thoughts or heal the problem except for antibiotics and maybe a couple others. In fact, most prescription medications only help keep the symptoms to a minimum, while carrying serious health risks..... including DEATH. Did you know - some medications require a second one to counteract the side affects of the first one? But don't get me wrong, sometimes prescriptions are absolutely necessary.

Over the past 20 years, I've personally seen an increase in people taking medications, many taking more than 3 or 5. I've witnessed some side effects like liver failure after long term drug use. PETS TOO - please be careful of doses and long-term medication. Research natural cures & talk to your doctor or veterinarian.

In my opinion, too many people rely heavily on the medical field. See a doctor, check. Take a pill, check. Did you know the pharmaceutical strategy is to keep you dependent on their medications? Did you know that many illnesses can be cured or effectively managed with some changes in lifestyle habits? See Natural Remedies that Heal.

Over-the-Counter Medicine

Over-the-counter medicine is also generally designed to provide some relief from the symptom. However, it's mostly a band-aid and won't help you cure the problem. Examples of these can include: cold medicines, heartburn, stomach or digestive medicines, nasal sprays, etc.

First, read the ingredients - are there any toxic or harmful ingredients? Next, look if it's been tested and certified by a third party. There will be a USP, or other 3rd party certification seal if it's been tested and approved according to GMP (good manufacturing standards). USP is a trusted non-profit that tests for quality, safety, and purity of supplements & medications. NSF also has a seal testing for banned ingredients, contaminants, and other harmful ingredients.

Body care products and cosmetics are manufactured with toxic ingredients because it's more cost effective to make and, specific results can be achieved more quickly or better than natural ingredients. But.... is it worth the risk of cancer or other serious health conditions? I think NOT! Some body care products are not even required to list the ingredients.

Cosmetic products do need to list their ingredients, and the good news is - more manufacturers are turning to less toxic and more clean & safe. Costs for the healthier options are similar or slightly higher in what I've seen.

FYI: a note about Palm Oil products (also known as: palmate, palm kernel, palm fruit). Even though they say "from a sustainable source" - DON'T BUY PRODUCTS WITH PALM OIL.... PLEASE.

Read this: Be an Ethical Consumer. Watch this: DEVASTATION to Wildlife, Forests, Indigenous People due to the enormously growing Palm Oil business.

Here's the common toxic ingredients in body care products & cosmetics. Don't forget to take a copy with you when you're shopping: Toxic Body Care Ingredient List.

Questions to Ask Before Taking Medication

Ask your doctor or pharmacist these questions before taking prescription or over-the-counter medications: Is this a curable condition? Can it be cured or managed using foods & other natural remedies? What are the side effects? What internal systems will be damaged? What organs will be damaged? Will it kill the good bacteria in your digestive system? What are the long-term risks and side-effects?

Food & Packaging

• Acetaldehyde - found in alcoholic beverages.

• Aflatoxins - a fungus that contaminates certain crops.

• Aristolochic acid - the Aristolochia plant including wild ginger which grow worldwide are added to herbs. Ground berries, honey, leaves, and roots from the plant are cancer causing.

• Artificial - anything artificial, like additives & flavoring.

• Artificial coloring - food coloring with a number like FD&C Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6. Banned in Europe.

• Artificial sweeteners - aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, the FDA says it's safe in smaller quantities but studies show it can lead to cancer.

• Benzene - can form from benzoate salts or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in beverages. The FDA is working on this.

• Benzo[a]pyrene - found in grilled & smoked meats. The U.K. has serious restrictions on levels allowed.

• BHA & BHT - butylated hydroxyanisole & butylated hydroxytoluene, preservative in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, banned in Europe.

• Chemical washes - Copper sulfate, Rhodamine oxide, Malachite Green, Carbide & Calcium Carbide, helps ripen fast like bananas and mangoes, makes green veggies dark green or cherries deeper red, and helps them last longer.

• Coumarin - found in common Cassia Cinnamon, and 2 others. Get the non-toxic Ceylon or "true" cinnamon.

• Crisco shortening - used mostly in baking or frying and can lead to heart disease. Just like palm/palmate oils, it's destroying our forests, and putting wildlife & indigenous people in danger.

• Ethylene oxide - found in infant formula, dried fruits & dairy, food additives, and sesame seeds. Banned in Europe & the U.K.

• Formaldehyde - a preservative found in several fruits, vegetables, milk, meats, poultry, alcohol, and other products.

• Heavy metals - arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, mercury, and zinc. Choose fish with lower levels of mercury like salmon, pollock, herring, and catfish.

• Hexane - stated as "natural" soy foods including some "organic" like Clif Bars. EPA, Environmental Protection Agency says it's hazardous.

• Hydrogenated Oils - these are chemically altered vegetable oils. Even though the FDA considers them safe in small quantities, they are still unhealthy and full of saturated fats, sugars, and salt. I refuse to buy Palm/Palmate oil: this growing business is devastating huge forests, endangering wildlife & indigenous people forcing them from their homes & food source. Look at the Devastation.

• Nitrites & Nitrates - used to preserve processed meat like hot dogs & deli meats.

• PAH, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - environmental pollutants caused by smoking/grilling meat at high temps, also found in processed meats.

• Petroleum Oil Treatment - rubbed on some vegetables like tomatoes to give them a shiny coat.

• PG, Propyl Gallate or Propylene Glycol - prevents foods, cosmetics, body products from going rancid. It opens pores & allows other chemicals to get in your body. Banned in some countries.

• Phthalates & BPA Bisphenol A - in plastic packaging that can leach into food & drinks, also includes the lining inside metal cans like canned tomatoes.

• Potassium benzoate - in carbonated drinks, dairy, sweets, processed foods. If the product gets warm or is exposed to UV light, it can have a reaction & form benzene which is cancer causing.

• Potassium Bromate - additive in flour and dough, banned in Europe.

• Protein powders - a 2022 report on protein powders by Clean Label Project screened 134 products & found that many contained heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury), BPA bisphenol-A (used to make plastic), pesticides, and other contaminants leading to cancer & other health issues.

• RBGH Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone - given to cows, banned in Europe.

• Titanium Dioxide - generally considered safe by the FDA, but banned in Europe.

• TTBHQ, Tertiary butylhydroquinone - a preservative in food, body care products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Foods to Avoid

• Fast foods - high in unhealthy ingredients, resulting in serious health concerns to cancer causing.

• GM & GMO products - genetically modified or genetically modified organism products are usually made from GM corn. Most corn in the USA is GM corn, and considered high-risk by the Non-GMO Project non-profit.

  • Non-GMO Project says: The toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were made. GMO crops are responsible for new superweeds & superbugs which can only be killed with super toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are developed and sold by the world’s largest chemical companies. Long-term impacts are not yet known. Once these organisms are released into the environment, they can't be recalled.

  • Europe banned GM corn. 65 countries worldwide require GMO to be labeled, the USA requires a few.

  • Most GMO's are made to survive herbicide sprays.

  • Maltodextrin is usually from GMO corn in the USA. Almost all Ascorbic Acid labeled as Vitamin C is from GMO. Get healthy Vitamin C from from Camu Camu fruit or Acerola Cherry.

  • Look for the Non-GMO product butterfly stamp on verified non-GMO products.

• MSG, Monosodium glutimate - generally considered safe in moderate amounts.

• Palm/Palm kernel oil - DO NOT BUY. See Body Care Products above.

• Processed foods - high in unhealthy ingredients, resulting in serious health concerns like cancer.

• Sodium benzoate - in carbonated drinks, processed foods & some canned items. The FDA says it's safe in moderate amounts.

• Stevia - considered safe only if the steviol glycosides are very pure.

• Sugar - words ending in "ose" are types of synthetic sugar: glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, dextrose, and maltose.

• White bread - has large amounts of unhealthy saturated fats & sugars and can lead to serious health concerns.

PSST.....when shopping, take these lists of toxic ingredients.

Ingredient labels start with the main ingredients which you can usually understand. When the words get all chemical looking - then it could be toxic. If there's a long list of ingredients = there's toxic stuff. The shorter the list, the more likely it's OK. Supplements/vitamins - don't forget the "Other Ingredients" on the label. In over-the-counter medicines - don't forget the "Inactive Ingredients".

Read all recognizable "red letter" words like artificial coloring a couple times - they should be easy to remember, then just check the chemical looking words. Once you know the brands to buy, shopping will be a breeze again.

• Alcohols - benzyl, ethanol, ethyl, isopropyl, methanol, SD alcohol. The higher the alcohol concentration, the more toxic. Never use 100% isopropyl alcohol.

• Artificial color - used in hair dyes like D&C Red 27.

• Artificial fragrance - words with ethyl, butyl, propyl. Also harms the environment. Artificial here means un-safe.

• Benzalkonium chloride - found in body care products, soaps, and detergents.

• BHA & BHT - Butylated hydroxyanisole & Butylated hydroxytoluene, used to extend shelf life, banned in Europe.

• Coal tar (m- and o-phenylenediamine) - used in hair dyes, banned in other countries.

• Crystalline silica - present in some body care products. Amorphous silica is generally considered safe.

• DEA, Diethanolamine - found in foaming cleansers, body washes, and shampoos.

• Ethylene Oxide - found in some body care products as well as vehicle exhaust & tobacco smoke.

• Formaldehyde - a preservative in body care products, baby shampoo, cosmetics.

• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives - banned in other countries. Quaternium-15, methylene glycol, Paraformaldehyde, DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea, Diazolidinyl urea, Polyoxymethylene urea, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol), Glyoxal.

• Heavy metals - aluminum or alum, arsenic, chromium, iron, lead, mercury, zinc found in sunscreens, moisturizers, whitening toothpaste, nail polish, cosmetics.

• Hydrogenated Oils - these are chemically altered vegetable oils. The FDA considers them safe in small quantities, they're still unhealthy and full of salt, sugars, and saturated fats. I refuse to buy Palm/Palmate oil: this growing business is devastating huge forests, endangering wildlife & indigenous people forcing them from their homes & food source. Take a look: Devastation.

• Hydroquinone - found in cleansers, moisturizers, skin bleaching/lightening.

• Mineral oils - petrolatum, paraffin, microcrystalline wax, ceresin, ozokerite. Made from petroleum crude oil. Found in after shave, moisturizers, Vaseline, baby oil, antiperspirant & deodorant, etc.

• Oxybenzone, Benzophene or Benzophenone - found in sunscreen.

• Parabens (Isobutyl & Isopropyl) - words ending in -paraben, and parahydroxybenzoates or parahydroxybenzoic acid, found in soap, lotion, body wash & scubs, shampoo, toiletries & cosmetics.

• PEG, Polyethylene glycol - sunscreen, lotion, shampoo.

• PFAS, Perfluoroalkyl & Polyfluoroalkyl - found in moisturizers, nail polish, and cleansers.

• PG, Propylene Glycol or Propyl Gallate - prevents products from going rancid. It opens the pores & allows other chemicals to enter the body - in larger quantity or continual use, it's toxic. Banned in some countries.

• Phthalates (Dibutyl & Diethylhexyl) or Phthalic acid, and Bisphols - they're plasticizing found in perfume, nail polish, lotions, cosmetics.

• PPD, P-phenylenediamine or Paraphenylenediamine - mostly black hair dye or black henna tattoos.

• Propylene Glycol -

• Siloxanes - in baby bubble bath, moisturizers, deodorants, hair conditioner, fragrance. If heated the fumes are toxic.

• SLS or SLES, sodium laureth sulfate - baby bubble bath, baby lotions, baby shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, cleansers, hand soaps, bath bombs, etc. Made from Palm Oil.

• Sulphates - found in shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream.

• Talc - talcum baby powder, possibly contaminated with asbestos. The FDA in 2024 will investigate asbestos in talc cosmetics.

• TBHQ, Tertiary butylhydroquinone - a preservative in food, body care products like moisturizers & colognes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

• Titanium Dioxide - generally considered safe by the FDA, but banned in Europe.

• Toluene or Toluol - found in hair dyes, and nail treatments & polish.

• Triclosan - found in toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shaving cream.

Cosmetics

For a list of harmful, toxic ingredients, see: Front Public Health, The Dark Side of Beauty...., Printed in the National Library of Medicine. See Table 1 right before Section 4.

Prescription Medication

Refer to NIOSH's 2024 list - provided by the CDC, Center for Disease Control, NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health. Table 1, Page 17-24 are toxic drugs. Table 2, Page 25-33 are hazardous drugs.

Over-the-Counter, OTC Medication

Read the label for side affects & warnings. The following are potential hazards of OTC, over-the-counter medicines.

• Mis-use & over-use of OTC medicines can be harmful & toxic. Follow the directions & dosages as instructed.

• Mixing OTC medicines with prescription medication.

• Taking OTC medicines if you have certain medical conditions.

• Some OTC medicines can react badly with older adults.

Avoid these OTC Medicines

• Allergy medicines with pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, or oxymetazoline.

• Antacids & Laxatives with sodium, like Alka-Seltzer.

• Cold & Flu medicines with pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, or oxymetazoline.

• Diet pills & diet supplements.

• Decongestants with pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylephrine.

• Headache/pain NSAIDS medicines, like naproxen & ibuprofen.

• DNP 2,4-dinitrophenol - first used to make bombs, then fertilizer. Now it's a diet pill & sold online - can be deadly.

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