Our skin is the largest organ in our body, and it protects us everyday from infection and disease. Our skin holds our bodily fluids, keeps bacteria out, holds our nerve endings, helps to regulate our body temperature; It is important to take care of our skin so it can help take care of us.
Just as it is important to eat lean meats, fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. It is also important to be aware of what goes on our skin. Every day men and women wear multiple products from body wash, lotion, hair products, shaving cream and perfume. Our body can absorb up to 60% of what we put on it. Long term uses of such products can lead to large amounts of chemicals in our bodies which can cause different health problems.
To avoid a chemical over load look for organic products. Organic products are certified in Canada and must follow a strict regime to be labeled as “organic”. A minimum of 95% of the ingredients must be organic.
Looking at the packing for a certified
organic label is helpful but having products made from out of country
may not have the same organic regulation system as Canada so be
careful and read the ingredients list as well.
Here is our organic label - the use of
this label is voluntary.
Ingredients to avoid :
Aluminum – contributes to Alzheimer
disease. Blocks pores and sweat cannot be released by the skin.
Artificial Colors – Can cause
hyperactivity in children, causes headaches, blurred vision, itchy
watery eyes and nose.
Benzoates – Used as a preservative
and causes gastric irritation, numbing of mouth and asthma.
Dibutyl Phthalate – Causes birth
defects in animals, and can be damaging to male reproductive organs.
Formaldehydes - A preservative. Causes
skin irritations.
Keratolytic Chemicals (hydroxyl acids)
dissolves the outer most layer of the skin, making your skin more
sensitive to sun damages. Speeds up the growth of dead skin cells
causing your skin to thicken, this helps “repair” the surface.
Parabens – Triggers skin irritation.
causes low sperm counts and higher breast cancer rates. This is used
in 99% of all cosmetics.
Paraffin – Derived from Petroleum,
used as a base / preservative. Blocks pores causing build up.
Propylene Glycol – When taken from
petroleum increases the amount of acid in the body.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate – Irritating
to eyes skin and lungs. It is an inexpensive and effective foaming
agent, used for cleansing and emulsifying properties. May contain
large amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane which can harm the
nervous system and stay in the environment long after being used.
These are just a few to be named. You don’t typically think too often of what is in your products, they are being sold in stores so they must be safe right? But why would you put the same thing being used in your car or in harsh chemicals on your skin? Using organic products will reduce the daily amount of chemicals that you consume. They are safer for you and are more affective because they are derived from nutrient rich sources.
Reading this, I hope it opens your eyes
and allows you to become more cautious as to what you put in and on
your body. I know for me it has and I am very excited to make the
change to organic. I am going to try hard to eat fresh foods, no
package processed foods and use organic products. I believe by
changing both foods and products to organic labels I will feel better
inside and out!
http://davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/chemicals-in-your-cosmetics---sodium-laureth-sulfate/
What changes are you going to make?
Amy xo
