Soaps and shampoos contain more toxins than you can imagine.

Toxins abound in our society. They are in our foods, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the personal care products that we cannot live without.

Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors are one class of toxins that can interfere with the reproductive system, immune function, nervous system, and can increase the risk of cancer. https://yhoo.it/2GUsjiN These chemical toxins are found in personal care products – toiletries, foods, water, cosmetics, and more.

Four to Avoid

There are many chemicals that disrupt the human endocrine function. Four major chemical groups are BPA, parabens, triclosan, and benzophenone 3. Dioxins, atrazine, phthalates, perchlorates, fire retardants, lead, arsenic, phytoestrogens, pesticides, perfluorinated chemicals, and more are included in the category of endocrine disruptors.

The four primary chemicals we should avoid are easily identified on the labels of products. We think that soap and shampoo clean our bodies and hair, but our bodies are not cleaner from using them. Avoiding them, to begin with, is the easiest choice. Do not allow them to come into contact with your body!
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/the-chemicals-to-avoid-in-your-shampoo-and-body-wash

Toxin Free

It is difficult in our society to be toxin-free. It requires more effort than most of us want to do – reading labels and not using products containing toxins. The Environmental Working Group is a great source for toxin identification and risk https://www.ewg.org/healthyhometips#.WuIzCZPwbOQ.

As we age, our bodies become more susceptible to disease and hormone dysfunction. Removing toxins from our lifestyle choices significantly reduces the exposure to toxins that can lead to cancers, thyroid disease, asthma, and more. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm

The Big Four

BPA is used in making polycarbonate plastics. The plastic film is then used to package many personal care products and to store foods and beverages. Recycle codes 3 or 7 are plastics that may contain BPA.

Parabens are used a lot for preservation. The chemical composition of parabens allows them to easily enter the human body. Infertility, psychological, and dermatitis are common health risks associated with parabens.

Triclosan is another chemical that enters the human body effortlessly. It is an antimicrobial agent and affects the immune and cardiovascular function and reproductive system.

I found it interesting that when my wife was going through chemotherapy for breast cancer, the soap used in the public restrooms of the hospital had a sign above the dispenser proudly announcing the use of triclosan as an added ingredient to kill germs.

Benzophenone-3 is commonly found in both sunscreens and cosmetics. It is used to block the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Is exposure to the sun a higher risk than dumping chemicals into your body that can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal systems? I do not think so.

Conclusion

The Big FOUR are easy to identify and avoid are BPA, parabens, triclosan, and benzophenone 3. Phthalates and nearly a thousand other toxic chemicals are used in the manufacture of many products we buy and use.

Europe bans over 1,300 toxic chemicals from the beauty and healthcare industries. The FDA in the United States has banned eleven toxic chemicals in comparison. A company will make a product that complies with European standards and then add the toxic chemicals into the American products that are sold to us in the United States. WHY?! https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/22/chemicals-in-cosmetics-us-restricted-eu

Labels help, but they are not the solution for safety and human health, but they help us make decisions. I buy organic as much as possible, but the term ‘organic’ implies that the food product is at least 95% organic. Natural, pesticide-free, hormone-free, and other labels help us make decisions. The more conscious we are of what we eat, drink, and put on our skin, the better our longevity and health will be.

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com

 

 

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