Hi, I’m Jada Winckler, and my journey into a cleaner, healthier lifestyle started from sheer necessity and frustration. For years, I lived with unexplained health issues—chronic fatigue, gut troubles, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune complications—until I finally received a life-changing diagnosis of type 1 diabetes at 34.
It wasn’t until I started digging into my environment, food, and daily habits that I realized the truth: toxins were hiding in plain sight, sabotaging my health. If you’re a mom, someone managing chronic illness, or simply looking for answers, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.
The Early Days: Blissful Ignorance
I wasn’t always aware of the dangers lurking in everyday products. Growing up, I lived off fast food and processed snacks, unaware that words like BPA, pesticides, and PFOAs would one day become part of my vocabulary.
By my teenage years, health issues began creeping in—anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and random blood sugar crashes. But no one ever suggested that my diet or environment might be to blame.
The Wake-Up Call
In my late twenties, my health took a dramatic turn. I ended up in the hospital with severe abdominal pain and fatigue and was eventually diagnosed with possible chronic ulcerative colitis. The doctor’s advice? Prednisone and continuing my usual diet.
But that wasn’t enough. I sought out a functional medicine doctor who told me to cut out gluten, dairy, corn, and processed foods. Muscle testing suggested I had a gluten intolerance, and my functional geneticist recently confirmed I carry the HLA-DQ8 gene, which is known for causing severe reactions to gluten.
Our bodies and genes evolved to thrive in a natural environment, but we are not equipped to process the overwhelming burden of modern toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and mold exposures, which disrupt our biological systems and exacerbate chronic illnesses. Choosing to add functional medicine doctors to my arsenal has been pivotal in gaining awareness and understanding of how environmental factors and lifestyle choices impact my health today.
Motherhood Changed Everything
In 2021, I gave birth to my son 10 weeks early. Just weeks earlier, I’d been blindsided by my type 1 diabetes diagnosis. My pregnancy was filled with complications, including a partial placental rupture. During my hospital stay, I learned that there has been an alarming increase in illnesses and premature labor in recent years, raising questions about whether environmental and chemical exposures could be contributing factors.
Postpartum, I faced new challenges: hormonal chaos, more autoimmune flare-ups, and an overwhelming need to protect my sons' health. I couldn’t ignore the evidence any longer—these toxins were everywhere, and they weren’t just harming me.
The Hidden Threats in Our Everyday Lives
In early 2024, I underwent testing and discovered elevated levels of Atrazine (a herbicide), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (a key component of Agent Orange), Aflatoxins (mold-related toxins found in food), lead, arsenic, antimony, as well as propylparabens and butylparabens in my system.
Many of us don’t realize that the products we eat, use, and surround ourselves with are filled with harmful chemicals.
Heavy Metals
According to an article in Eat This, Not That, studies have found that baby food, grains, and protein powders, heavy metals like mercury and lead disrupt hormones and contribute to infertility. Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, founder and director of Real Nutrition states that “Even at small levels, cumulative toxic metal consumption has been associated with higher oxidative stress on the body, leading to damage of major organs including the brain, lungs, kidney, and liver.” (“10 Foods Most Likely to Contain Unsafe Levels of Heavy Metals, Experts Say”, Eat This, Not That.)
Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)
Chemicals like phthalates, parabens, and BPA mimic hormones, causing issues like early menopause and increased cancer risk.
Pesticides
Weed killers like Atrazine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) are linked to hormonal imbalances and developmental issues.
Hidden Toxins in Corn Products and Processed Foods
Corn-based additives like high-fructose corn syrup, corn starch, and modified corn products are ubiquitous in processed foods. These are often heavily treated with pesticides like glyphosate and are likely to be genetically modified. Consuming these products can contribute to gut inflammation, and blood sugar spikes, and disrupt the body’s natural detox processes, worsening chronic illnesses.
Starting My Detox With Food
The first step in my detox journey was overhauling my diet. I swapped out processed foods for organic, whole options, and immediately felt the difference. Eliminating wheat products made a huge impact on reducing inflammation and stabilizing my blood sugar levels.
I soon discovered that toxins weren’t only in what I ate. They were lurking in the cleaning products I used, the candles I burned, and even the furniture in my home. This realization led me to pivot my cleaning business into a green cleaning service, offering less toxic solutions for homes and businesses. Each step I took—whether in my personal life or through my work—brought me closer to creating healthier spaces for my family and clients while empowering others to do the same.
What I’ve Learned
Detoxing your life isn’t about achieving perfection; it’s about making mindful changes that add up over time. Start with what feels manageable—whether it’s switching to organic produce, swapping out plastic containers for glass, or learning to read ingredient labels.
My journey has been full of trial and error, but it’s taught me one critical truth: you have more power than you think. Your choices matter, and they can transform your health and your life.
If my story resonates with you, I encourage you to take that first step—whatever it may be. Together, we can create cleaner, healthier environments for ourselves and our families.