127. Allison Evans: Hidden Household Toxins That Are Making You Sick

14 snips

Jan 6, 2026

Allison Evans, co-founder of Branch Basics and health educator, shares her insights on hidden household toxins that impact health. She talks about how these invisible chemicals affect hormone balance and immune resilience. The duo explores the 'toxic bucket' concept, explaining why some individuals are more susceptible. They highlight the dangers of synthetic fragrances and disinfectants, linking them to asthma and anxiety. Allison also offers practical tips for reducing toxic exposure in the home and emphasizes starting with manageable changes.

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ANECDOTE

Healing After Removing Home Toxins

Allison Evans described severe early illness and PCOS that resolved after removing toxins and changing diet.
She credited her aunt Merrilee's environmental changes for resetting her health and fertility.

ANECDOTE

Child Recovery From Cleaning Product Exposure

Allison told Merrilee's story of her son who reacted to a box of cleaning products and recovered once they were removed.
That case made Merrilee realize everyday fragranced products were triggering severe neuroimmune damage.

INSIGHT

The Toxic Bucket Explains Variable Symptoms

Darshan Shah and Allison framed toxic burden as a 'toxic bucket' with variable thresholds across people.
Genetics, microbiome, and detox pathways determine who 'spills over' into symptoms first.

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Toxin exposure rarely announces itself loudly, yet it quietly shapes hormone balance, immune resilience, mood, and neurological health long before a diagnosis appears. The real tension lies in the fact that these exposures are largely invisible, normalized, and happening inside the very spaces meant to keep us safe.

We dive deeper into this in the Extend podcast with Allison Evans. We also chat about the "toxic bucket" concept, why synthetic fragrance and harsh disinfectants can act as endocrine disruptors and neurotoxins, how asthma, fertility challenges, and chronic symptoms can be triggered by everyday products, and where to start removing toxic load without fear or overwhelm.

Allison Evans is the co-founder of Branch Basics, a household and personal care brand focused on reducing everyday chemical exposure. She is an entrepreneur and health educator with a background in environmental and dietary health. Branch Basics products are sold online and at Target nationwide.

Branch Basics: Use code DRSHAH20 at branchbasics.com to get 20% off from a selected list of products, including Ultimate Starter Kit, Premium Starter Kit, Cleaning Essentials Kit, Laundry Kit, Gel Hand Soap, Laundry Detergent. The offer is valid for first time buyers only through January 13, 2025.

What We Discuss: (03:55) Why Toxin Exposure Is the Invisible Fourth Pillar of Health

(05:10) How Everyday Symptoms Act as Early Warning Signals

(17:45) The Toxic Bucket and Why Some Bodies Spill Over Faster

(23:40) How Synthetic Fragrance Disrupts Hormones, Metabolism, and the Brain

(29:50) Why Asthma and Anxiety Can Be Triggered by Household Chemicals

(31:30) How Cleaning Products Can Make Indoor Air More Toxic Than Outdoors

(38:45) Why Removing Toxins at Home Beats Expensive Biohacking

(50:35) Why Laundry Detergent Is a Constant Source of Chemical Exposure

(52:45) How Plastic Food Storage Disrupts Hormones and Metabolism

(54:05) Why Fear Around Toxins Can Be More Harmful Than the Exposure

Thank You for Our Sponsors:

IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Vitaboom: For supplements you can trust and wellness solutions tailored to your health, visit https://vitaboom.com/

Learn more about Dr. Shah:

Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram:@darshanshahmd

Learn more about Allison Evans:

Instagram: @branchbasics

Website: www.branchbasics.com