Healthy SoFlo Issue 51 - Inca Goes Above and Beyond to Provide Safe & Healthy Foods

You can't just be mindful
about what you are putting
in your body and then
forget about the rest. I've
seen it time and time again...
people who consider themselves
to be health-conscious, eating
organic whole foods and then
keeping toxic products in their
bathroom and kitchen cabinets.
The skin is the largest organ in the body.
That means what you put on your skin will
quickly penetrate through the skin and into
your bloodstream, free to roam about your
entire body! As will the ingredients you
inhale through your nose or get in your eyes.
Your body is like a big sponge... absorbing
everything on and around it. So, you have to
pay attention to what you're exposing it to.
To give you an idea of how serious the issue
is, here are just some of the conditions/
issues the toxic ingredients that are found in
many common everyday products can cause:
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Endocrine disruption (that's your
hormones)
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Kidney damage
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Birth defects & reproductive issues
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Heart disease & heart failure
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Neurotoxins (that's your brain)
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Cancerous tumors
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And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
They can also cause damage to your
skin, your GI tract, cause headaches,
allergies, asthma, bronchitis and more.
Yes, products like toothpaste, shampoo,
conditioner, deodorant, lotion, body wash,
candles and household cleaners... things you
use every day... may contain some of these
toxic ingredients at this very moment.
So, what should you
do about it?
1. BE AWARE.
First and foremost, start paying attention.
Remember, that you can't assume that a
product is safe just because it is for sale or
because it is being advertised as a "natural"
product. Typically, that is more of a
marketing ploy than a factual claim about its
ingredients. Read your labels!
Which brings us to...
2. KNOW WHAT TO LOOK
FOR.
There are LOTS of ingredients out
there, way too many to remember
(which is why I made a guide for
you to download at the end of
this post!), but you can keep
an eye out for some of the
"biggies":
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FITNESS & BEAUTY · AUGUST 2017
BHA OR BHT - typically found
in moisturizers and make-up; can cause
endocrine damage and are possible
carcinogens
COAL TAR DYES - found in hair
dyes and other colored products; can
cause nervous system damage and is a
possible carcinogen
DEA - found in creamy and foaming
products like shave gel and hand wash;
can cause asthma, skin & eye irritation
and is a possible carcinogen
PHTHALATES - found in nail polish,
perfume, hairspray and deodorant
(among others); disrupts endocrine
function
FORMALDEHYDE - often found in
cosmetics; is an irritant and possible
carcinogen
PARABENS - found in cosmetics,
shampoos and conditioners; are
carcinogens and can cause endocrine
disruption and reproductive issues
TRICLOSAN - found in toothpaste, face
cleanser, deodorant and antibacterial
products; promotes growth of drugresistant
bacteria (defeating the
purpose of "antibacterial"), disrupts
endocrine function and is a possible
carcinogen
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLS)
- found in shampoos, bubble baths and
cleansers; is a skin irritant and possible
carcinogen
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) - is a
carcinogen often found in cosmetics
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PARFUM (OR FRAGRANCE) -
found in all kinds of products (even
unscented!); can casue allergies,
asthma, neurotoxicity and is a possible
carcinogen
(Btw, if you don't already know...
"carcinogen" means cancer-causing)
You can also use the Environmental Working
Group (EWG)'s "Skin Deep Cosmetics
Database" to look up any product and find
it's level of toxicity.
3. ASK QUESTIONS!
Manufacturers are not required
to be very clear or forthcoming
about the ingredients in their
personal or beauty care
products, so don't be afraid to
ask questions if you aren't sure!
All companies have some sort of
support center, whether it's a phone
number or an email address, so don't be
afraid to use it and ask them outright about
what's in their products!
4. CHOOSE LINES THAT
ARE TRULY ORGANIC AND
NATURAL OR MAKE YOUR
OWN PRODUCTS.
Yes, there are companies that really ARE
organic and natural and really do make nontoxic
products. Depending on how natural
you want to go, you may want to check out
companies like:
• ZuZu Luxe/Gabriel Cosmetics
• Andalou Naturals
• Alterna
• Dr. Bronner's
• Beautycounter (which keeps a list of
over 1,500 ingredients they will never
use in their products)
You can also make many of your own
personal care products at home like
deodorant, shampoo and toothpaste using
ingredients such as baking soda, coconut oil
and essential oils.
Remember... you only have one body. So it's
up to YOU to take care of it! Stay informed,
stay encouraged and don't be afraid to take
control of your health and your life!
By Jenn Baxter
36 HEALTHY MAGAZINE