A CLEANER WAY OF LIVING
For Pakiri author Debbie Baumgarten, a growing concern about everyday chemical exposure has led to a practical new guide for Kiwi homes.
The inspiration for Debbie’s new book, Clean Kiwi: A Practical Guide to Non-Toxic Living, began close to home. Living in Pakiri and regularly shopping throughout Matakana, Warkworth and Wellsford, Debbie began noticing an increasing number of chemical-based products making their way into everyday Kiwi homes.
From the food people eat and the water they drink to personal care products, household cleaners and furnishings, everyday life can involve exposure to a wide range of chemicals. While individual exposures may be small, repeated exposure over time is an area of growing concern, particularly around its potential effects on hormones, immunity and long-term health.
Clean Kiwi was created to simplify navigating this complex subject. Grounded in well-researched facts, the book explores common sources of unnecessary chemical exposure and offers practical, affordable alternatives designed to help readers reduce their overall toxic load.
Debbie's interest in the subject is deeply personal. Through education, research and deliberate lifestyle changes, she worked to detoxify her own environment and restore her health – an experience that convinced her many chronic health issues can potentially be prevented, improved, and in some cases even reversed, when people have access to accurate information and practical tools.
At the heart of Clean Kiwi is a simple message: knowledge truly is power. Awareness of everyday exposures gives people the ability to make informed choices, and making the switch to less toxic alternatives, Debbie believes, is often far simpler – and less expensive – than people expect.
Rather than promoting perfection, Clean Kiwi encourages small, achievable changes that can make a meaningful difference. It's a practical guide for New Zealanders wanting to create healthier homes, make more informed choices, and live a cleaner, more natural life.
Clean Kiwi: A Practical Guide to Non-Toxic Living will be released in early December, available through bookstores and online – and makes a thoughtful Christmas gift for anyone looking to start the new year with a cleaner home. Pre-orders are available now.