Continuing on the discussion of Toxins in Part 2 we will cover the subject of Cleaning products and Cosmetics
Each day new cleaning chemicals and cosmetics are developed increasing the toxic load in the environment and body. The amount of toxins in our bodies has dramatically increased over the last few years creating a disruption in the function and balance the body resulting in in an out of balance situation known in today’s world as dis-ease.
You’re “Cleaning” Your House with Toxins
We assume they are safe, but in actuality, many popular household cleaners are dangerously toxic. There is minimal federal regulation18 of chemicals in household products. With ingredients in common cleaners being linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive disorders, hormone disruption, and more, it’s time to address toxicity in products and in our bodies
8 Toxins Hiding in Your Household
PERCHLOROETHYLENE Found In: Dry cleaning solutions, spot removers, carpet and upholstery cleaners.
Health Risks: A neurotoxin, classified by the EPA as a possible carcinogen. Loss of coordination, dizziness, and other symptoms.19 Instead: Go to a “wet cleaner” instead of the dry cleaners – they use water-based technology rather than chemical solvents. As a natural spot remover, spray on Nature’s Fresh Enzyme cleaner or rub undiluted castile soap directly on stains before washing.
QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS (quats) Found In: Fabric softener liquids and sheets and most antibacterial products.
Health Risks: Another type of antimicrobial, with same issues as Triclosan. Also, a skin irritant and suspected as a culprit for respiratory disorders.23 Instead: Use simple soaps with short ingredient lists, and avoid antibacterial products. Replace hand sanitizer like the one from Nature’s Sunshine Products that is alcohol-based.
TRICLOSAN Found In: Most liquid dishwashing detergents and hand soaps labeled “antibacterial.”
Health Risks: An aggressive antibacterial agent that can promote the growth of drug-resistant bacteria. A probable carcinogen.20 Instead: Use simple soaps with short ingredient lists, and avoid antibacterial products. Replace hand sanitizer with one that is alcohol-based, like the Silver Shield Hand Sanitizer from Nature’s Sunshine Products .
CHLORINE Found In: Scouring powders, toilet bowl cleaners, mildew removers, laundry whiteners, household tap water. Health Risks: A respiratory irritant at an acute level. It can be a serious thyroid disrupter.24 Instead: Use baking soda for scrubbing. Clean toilet bowls with vinegar. Install water filters to reduce exposure through tap water.
AMMONIA Found In: Polishing agents and glass cleaners. Health Risks: A powerful irritant, it will affect you right away. Will especially affect those with asthma and elderly people with breathing problems. Can create a poisonous gas if it’s mixed with bleach.25 Instead: Use vodka or toothpaste as a silver polish
SODIUM HYDROXIDE (lye) Found In: Oven cleaners and drain openers. Health Risks: Extremely corrosive. If it touches your skin, it can cause serious burns. Inhaling can cause a sore throat that lasts for days.21 Instead: Unclog drains with a mechanical “snake” tool, or use a baking soda-and-vinegar mixture. Clean ovens with a baking soda paste.
2-BUTOXYETHANOL Found In: Window, kitchen, and multipurpose cleaners. Health Risks: Law does not require this chemical to be listed on a product label, but it gives many window cleaners their characteristic sweet smell. Can contribute to narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage.22 Instead: Clean windows with newspaper and undiluted vinegar
PHTHALATES Found In: Many fragranced household products. If the label says “fragrance,” it probably has phthalates. Health Risks: Known endocrine disruptors, migraine and asthma triggers.26 Instead: Fragrance-free or all-natural organic products. Use essential oils or an open window to freshen the air. Better yet, adopt a plant – they’re natural air detoxifiers!
Skin Irritation, Cancer, Infertility, Birth Defects, Breathing Problems, and Loss of Coordination are all Linked to Toxic Chemicals from Household Cleaners
Foaming Hand Soap
What you need:
8oz foaming pump bottle – You can buy some here or recycle one like I did!
1 1/2 Tablespoons Dr. Bronners Castille Soap – I like the baby kind.
a squirt of Vitamin E oil – to keep hands soft
8 drops (or more) Essential Shield essential oil
5 drops (or more) Lemon essential oil
Cosmetics Are Sold Without Any Type of Approval by the FDA
According to the FDA:
“Under the law, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA premarket approval, with the exception of color additives.”
The FDA tasks the companies that manufacture and market cosmetics with ensuring their products are safe for consumers, causing a huge conflict of interest. With no laws requiring cosmetic companies to share their safety information with the FDA, and no required tests to prove their products are safe for consumers, there aren’t many safeguards in place. The FDA isn’t even authorized to order recalls on hazardous chemicals from the market.27
Chemicals CAN and DO Enter Your Body Through Your Skin
There’s no debate that your skin absorbs – products like birth control and nicotine patches show that chemicals placed on your skin enter your body. There is a lot of debate about how penetrable your skin barrier is. One study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that the skin absorbed an average of 64% of total contaminant dosage from drinking water. Sixty-four percent. That’s huge.28
Toxins from cosmetics can also enter through airways (fragrances) and be ingested (such as lead found in lipsticks).
But MOST Products Are Free of Toxins... Right?
Wrong.
In a test of 49 different makeup items, Environmental Defense found heavy metal contamination in virtually all of the products.29 • 96% contained lead • 90% contained beryllium • 61% contained thallium • 51% contained cadmium • 20% contained arsenic…. And that’s only heavy metals.
The UGLY Truth About Cosmetic
5 Toxins Hiding- in your – Cosmetics
PHTHALATES
Found In: Used to make products more flexible or able to hold color or scent. Deodorant, nail polish, fragrance, and more.
Health Risks: They mimic human hormones, and are linked with reproductive abnormalities, decreased testosterone in males, endometriosis in women, and premature delivery.
LEAD
Found In: It isn’t added as an ingredient, but makes its way into mass produced products through contamination. Color additives are some of the most common sources. In one study, lead was found in over half the 33 brands of lipstick they tested.31
Health Risks: Proven neurotoxin linked to miscarriage, reduced fertility, and delays in puberty for females.
QUATERNIUM-15 (quats)
Found In: Used as preservatives, conditioning agents, and germicides in mascara, pressed powders, eyeliners, and more.
Health Risks: When some chemicals break down, they release formaldehyde gas, which is a known carcinogen. It can also cause skin sensitivities and irritation. Main risk is through inhalation.
PEG COMPOUNDS
Found In: Used to thicken, soften, and gelatinize cream-based products.
Health Risks: PEGs are often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a known human carcinogen and potentially harmful to the nervous system and human development. They also enhance the penetration of other ingredients into your skin, which is bad news if the product has other harmful ingredients.32
IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA
Found In: Most water-based cosmetics, deodorants, hair dyes, shaving cream, and face masks in concentrations of 0.1-5 percent.
Health Risks: It remains on the skin for hours and has sufficient time to be thoroughly absorbed by the dermal cells. It serves as a preservative and releases formaldehyde. Known allergen and toxicant. A possible carcinogen.
Glyphosate
The herbicide you are eating that probably causes cancer.
Found in the Most Widely Used Pesticide
- Americans have applied 1.8 million tons of glyphosate since its introduction in 1974
- Worldwide, enough of the chemical has been sprayed on fields to equal nearly half a pound per every cultivated acre of land in the world
- Globally, glyphosate use has risen almost 15 fold since 1996 35
Cancer Concerns
In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” after finding a particularly strong link between glyphosate and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There have been countless competing studies since then, but glyphosate has remained under public scrutiny ever since.
A Wrecking Ball to the Human Body
Dr. Stephanie Seneff, an MIT senior research scientist and environmental toxins expert is known for having documented the link between glyphosate and autism.36 She also believes that glyphosate is responsible for many other chronic diseases whose rates have soared in recent years. Aside from its effects on the gut, it has been linked to liver, kidney, pancreatic, thyroid, and colon cancer – as well as ADHD, Alzheimer’s, birth defects, diabetes, obesity, and more.
Where to Go From Here
5 Actionable Steps for a Healthier Lifestyle
- Replace Toxic Cleaners with Homemade Ones Where Possible Take a peek under your kitchen sink. A lot of cleaning products aren’t required to list ingredients, but do your research – are the products you’re using safe? Change where possible. You’d be amazed at what vinegar can do!
- Be Mindful of Ingredients in Personal Care Products What you put on your skin matters, so pay attention to the ingredients in lotions, cosmetics, and even shampoos. Doing your own research is important, but to get you started ewg.org/skindeep/ is a database of many personal care products with insight into their ingredients.
- Eat Organic, Wash Food Thoroughly, and Avoid Processed Foods Aside from growing your own food, there are certain steps you can take to limit your exposure to toxicants. Consider the research here, explore options on your own, and try your best to make the best decisions for you and your family.
- Implement an Exercise Routine and Get Plenty of Sleep Exercise is important for so many reasons – it keeps muscles strong, increases aerobic capacity, releases endorphins, burns calories, and so much more! On top of that, it also helps your body detoxify itself. Sleep is also important, giving your body time to recover and detoxify naturally.
- Detoxify with the IonCleanse by AMD As you reduce your exposure to toxins, it’s still important to maintain a detoxification program. While you can greatly reduce exposure, exposure to toxins will still occur. The IonCleanse by AMD is a non-invasive, full-body detox. It addresses toxicity on so many levels, and is a foundation to a healthy lifestyle. If finances keep you from using the IonCleanse by AMD, a second choice is an ion foot bath from Amazon This is the one we travel with
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