How to avoid synthetic chemicals in our daily lives
It is not just personal care products such as shampoo or toothpaste that harbor synthetic chemicals, unfortunately.
Food is increasingly synthetic and modified and so it appears are our personal care products. A bathroom is meant to be a place where we relax in the bath or clean off the days grime, not expose ourselves to synthetic chemicals and fragrances at levels in some products that are now according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at levels that can potentially harm us.
1,4-dioxane is a hot issue. For a while now, the state of California has deemed this 1,4-dioxane compound as a synthetic chemical that has caused cancer in animals. [1]
Where are these synthetic chemicals?
They can be in shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, hand soap, deodorants to name a few!
European cosmetics formulas are deemed less toxic and polluting than North American ones, that is not to say they are not without their faults! Rules and regulations will not change unless we challenge the status quo.
Fragrance is a umbrella for all manner of
ingredients that manufacturers do not, by law, have to list on the
label! Therefore when you see Fragrance on a label or
parfum, be aware (unless the product is certified organic) that the
word FRAGRANCE is hiding a multitude of ingredients- it can be up
to 200 different ingredients! This Environmental Working
Group 'What is Fragrance'
video tells you more.
According to Dr Paula Baillie Hamilton our body doesn't recognise the chemicals and so it stores it in a fat cell.[2]
Dr Paula Baillie-Hamilton has even written a book called the Detox Diet which talks about the most toxic products and foods. The rule of thumb is anything that is synthetic. The fake foods, or fake fragrances and synthetic chemicals. These the body doesn't know how to process and so sees it as a threat and wraps it up for later, sadly if we expose the body to new synthetic chemicals on a daily basis the problem gets worse.
So when we bath or shower, use deodorant or apply lotion we have to be aware of what we are using on our skin. Some chemicals such as phthalates are endocrine disruptors and they can affect our fertility, increase the risk of breast cancer and are said to even affect the actual formation of child sexual organs' development. This brief article from the World Health Organisation about endocrine disruptors.
"Surely they would not sell it if it is bad for us?"
Please remember that just even if something is advertised doesn't mean it is safe. Cigarettes used to be advertised on TV and in magazines!
The Director of FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colours (FDA 1988) said "Consumers believe that 'if it's on the market, it can't hurt me' and this belief is sometimes wrong." How right he was those years ago and it still applies today!
Organic skin care from Miessence is different; it is cold pressed, no heating in production, thus very active & beneficial. Why not view and buy organic skin care from Miessence?
[1] Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment OEHHA
[2] Detox Diet, Dr Paula Baillie-Hamilton.
©Actual Organics 2009