Bad Chemicals
BAD CHEMICALS
With the epidemic of cancer, Alzheimer’s and a host of other degenerative and debilitating diseases, we’re all taking a much closer look at what we’re eating and drinking these days.
Virtually all the work I’ve been involved with has some basis in good nutrition, and in supplementing the body with good vitamins, minerals, extra oxygen--and always, lots of good, pure water….
It’s amazing to think that in the early 1900s in this country, cancer and many other diseases we deal with today were virtually unheard of.
With all of the medical breakthroughs, research, and so-called miracle drugs, it’s hard to believe that in many cases, our national health is actually in decline!
While a lot of the blame has pointed to the typical American diet with its high-fat foods and lack of pure water, I think there are a host of other culprits we need to look at.
It may be hard for you to believe, but you’ve probably carried many of them right into your own home!
You’ll find some of them under the kitchen sink, but many others are sitting right on your bathroom counter—and if you think I’m exaggerating about the potential danger of these products, I want you to watch a recent interview I did with Peter Lamas.
Peter is an internationally renowned makeup artist and hair stylist whose clients have included Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross and Faye Dunaway. In addition to working with top names in the beauty and fashion industry, he has served as a consultant to numerous cosmetic companies. He also helped design and develop the makeup used in the movie “Titanic”. Peter is the founder and product developer for BeautyWalk.com, a company dedicated to producing safe products for the skin and hair.
Recently, I caught up with Peter in Miami, where we taped several segments on skin and hair care—and as you’ll see, when it comes to what you’re putting on your face and body, some products are good, some are bad, and some are downright UGLY!
I’ve been reading the labels on everything that comes into my house—in most cases, BEFORE it comes into my house, for years…but I know this information is rather new to many of you…
If you’re wondering whether you have some potentially harmful products in your home, I can virtually assure you that you do. In fact, one of the women who works with me on this program checked out her own bathroom and was shocked at what she found….
You may be thinking to yourself that anything you put on your hair, face or body is not that serious—after all, you reason, you’re washing shampoo, soap, conditioner, and similar products off within a minute or so…but consider this….your skin is the largest organ in your body, and totally porous…
If you don’t think substances that you’re putting ON your skin are going IN your skin, try this little experiment…take a clove of raw garlic and rub it into the bottom of your foot…then see how long it takes for you to taste it in your mouth!!
According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed INTO your bloodstream! When you hear the list of harmful chemicals that are in some very common products, keep that in mind.
If you want to check out the products in YOUR home, grab some paper and something to write with, because we’re going to give you a few chemicals to watch out for...
--SODIUM LAUREL SULFATE—since this detergent is derived from coconut oil, some manufacturers will actually say it’s natural or organic! But there’s nothing natural about its potential harm to the human body.
You’ll find this chemical compound in virtually every single shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath, shower gel, and dish soap on store shelves. We found it in the cheapest liquid soap and the most expensive salon shampoos. It’s also a common ingredient in toothpaste and even in some nutritional supplements!
Sodium Laurel Sulfate has many potential harmful effects on the human body. According to the American College of Toxicology, here are just a few…
--it builds up in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from contact with the skin and can cause damage to the organs…
--it can damage the immune system
--it impairs proper structural formation for young eyes
--it may form nitrosamines when it interacts with nitrogen bearing ingredients –for those of you who may not be familiar with nitrosamines, they are substances that can cause cancer in the body…
Other substances you’ll want to check for on the ingredient label are ones with these initials—DEA, TEA, and MEA
--DEA stands for Die-thano-lamine
--TEA stands for trie-thano-lamine
--MEA is any one of several different alternate formulations of DEA
--those are a lot of long chemical names, but the initials are all you really need to look out for…these substances are commonly used in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shaving gels, skin creams and bubble baths….
--all of them are cause for concern because, according to the National Toxicology Program, they’ve all been linked to clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in the body…
Another very popular but harmful ingredient is Propylene Glycol…
You’ll find it commonly listed on deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and shaving gels…
In several separate studies, Propylene Glycol has been linked to several harmful effects, including
--kidney damage and liver abnormalities
--toxicity to human cells
--thickening of the skin
--skin dehydration and damage
--and once again, the possibility of interaction with other chemicals to produce hidden carcinogens….
Now, let’s mention a few other very popular ingredients you may want to think twice about using…
One is Talc…which is found in baby powders, feminine powders, and in some face powders…
--some researchers believe talc is carcinogenic when inhaled…
--And according to the American College of Epidemiology, the use of talc around genital areas will increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer by SIXTY PERCENT!
That risk goes up to NINETY PERCENT when talc is an ingredient in feminine deodorant sprays…
Another common ingredient to watch out for is aluminum…
Some researchers believe there is a link between central nervous system dysfunctions such as Alzheimer’s Disease and aluminum…
Aluminum is a common ingredient in antiperspirants, and can also be found in some cosmetics…
There are many other harmful chemicals, but let’s end with one that is particularly troublesome…it’s called Coal Tar Dye, and may alternately appear on a label as D&C Blue #1, Green #3, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Red #33, or phenylene-diamine….
Coal tar dye, or one of its many forms, found in shampoos, especially shampoos that are formulated for dandruff—it’s also found in bubble bath, toothpaste and hair dye…
This chemical can cause severe allergic reactions in human beings—and can cause additional symptoms ranging from nervousness to asthma attacks, nausea, headaches and fatigue…
--but that’s not all…Coal tar dye in its many forms has been linked to an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s disease…
So what can you do to protect yourself and your loved ones?
Read the label before you buy any product…you may want to start with the partial list of chemicals we gave you today and do some homework on your own…there are many books and internet sites that list many of the common, harmful chemicals in products…
"Valerie Saxion, N. D. earned her Doctorate in Naturopathy from Clayton College in 2000. She is not a medical doctor and her statements and recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."
© 2003-2005 Valerie Saxion