2019 Monthly Wellness Tips – 12 things you can do towards Health
February
Get rid of toxins in your self-care products! Last month we talked about taking toxins out of our cleaning products, this month we discuss personal care products and some of the ingredients you should be on the lookout for.
What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. You’ve probably heard that your skin is your largest organ, and some ingredients in personal care products have been linked to anything from a simple skin irritation to birth defects and even cancer. The products that you put on your body are absorbed through your skin, into your bloodstream, and are ultimately processed by your liver. By eliminating toxins in your personal care products you are lessening the toxic burden on your body.
Do your own research, and check out the companies you buy from. This information is intended to drive awareness that there are chemicals in our products, and we blindly trust companies to keep our health in mind when they make them. Sometimes simply changing a product that has a certain chemical in it can make a difference in how you feel. Here are a few examples:
1,4 Doxane: This product has been linked to cancer, it is one ingredient that makes soaps or shampoos foam up.
Parabens: This product prevents growth of microbes, it has been linked to reproductive issues, cancer and developmental issues.
Lead and other heavy metals: Found in some lip sticks, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner and nail color. These metals have been linked to reproductive and developmental issues, organ system toxicity, and cancer.
Fragrance: Is a combination of chemicals that give products their aroma – some of the chemicals have been linked to allergies, sensitivities, reproductive issues, and cancer.
Phthalates: Found in Color cosmetics, fragranced lotions, body washes and hair care products, and nail polish. Phthalates are linked to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and cancer. They have been banned from cosmetics in the European Union, but still remain prevalent in U.S. products.
There are a lot of companies working hard to get rid of harmful toxins in personal products. Keep it simple, read your labels and research which companies are committed to healthy personal products. Personally I use coconut oil for my hair and skin, castile soap for body wash and shampoo. For deodorant I use the crystal made with all natural ingredients. When switching to natural products you may find that they do not feel the same as your “normal” products, most don’t lather up as well, and for a break in period your hair and skin may feel oilier, and you may sweat more with your new deodorant. Your body will start to adapt to these new products as time goes on and you won’t notice anything! Change is sometimes difficult but your body will thank you!
To read about more product safety in depth follow these links.
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