Most people don’t know that many popular health care products contain toxic chemicals. The common ingredients in things like toothpaste, deodorant, and skin care products contain chemicals that scientists have linked to health problems such cancer and learning disabilities.
Soaps and Lotions
One of the most common ingredients in shampoos and lotions is sodium lauryl sulfate. You would be hard pressed to find a skin care product that didn’t contain this chemical. Manufacturers use it because it adds thickness and lather to their formulas. However, did you know sodium lauryl sulfate’s most common industrial use is to clean oil off car engines? It’s true. Your favorite shampoo and conditioner probably have enough sodium lauryl sulfate to clean the grease pit of your local garage.
Deodorants
The most common ingredient in deodorants is Aluminium chlorohydrate. Aluminum is widely recognized as a toxin. It works in antiperspirants by blocking the sweat duct. It has been linked to increased incidents of learning disabilities, organ dysfunction, and Alzheimer’s disease. Parabens are also a common ingredient in deodorants. You would be hard pressed to find a cosmetic that doesn’t contain parabens. Parabens have been tied to breast cancer. Some scientists believe parabens interact with estrogen and cause tumors.
Toothpaste
Fluoride is commonly believed to be good for your teeth; however, it has quite a controversial history. Did you know it is registered as a pesticide for killing rodents? Many people believe it to be a carcinogen. It was originally a byproduct of the fertilizer manufacturing process. While the pharmaceutical industry promotes its use, many scientists say it is linked to learning disabilities and cancer.
So, if toxins are so rampant in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, what can the consumer do? If you’re inclined to make your own, there are many books that contain recipes for natural soaps and lotions; however, most people don’t have the time to do this on a regular basis so another good option is to buy from health food stores.
Buying your personal care products from health food stores is a new trend. It’s becoming very common for health food stores to carry several lines of skin care products. Savvy consumers realize that skin is the body’s largest organ and are not willing to risk their health unnecessarily.
Buying your personal care products at the health food store is a great option. The personal care products you find at health food stores will be organic and free of harmful chemicals. If you want a wider selection of products than what is available locally, the Internet is only a mouse click away. You will find that organic products work just as well, or better than, the products you’ve used previously. Keep in mind that if demand is high enough, mainstream stores will start to carry more organic products.
I wanted to say that I loved the post and wish that we could find more products that were organic in nature instead of the typical salon hair and skin products that simply use the main stream preservatives and mineral oil as well as sulfates.
Comment by Elle at Hair Off The Square — November 3, 2007 @ 4:12 pm