Healthy SoFlo Issue 51 - Inca Goes Above and Beyond to Provide Safe & Healthy Foods
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You can't just be mindful<br />
about what you are putting<br />
in your body <strong>and</strong> then<br />
forget about the rest. I've<br />
seen it time <strong>and</strong> time again...<br />
people who consider themselves<br />
<strong>to</strong> be health-conscious, eating<br />
organic whole foods <strong>and</strong> then<br />
keeping <strong>to</strong>xic products in their<br />
bathroom <strong>and</strong> kitchen cabinets.<br />
The skin is the largest organ in the body.<br />
That means what you put on your skin will<br />
quickly penetrate through the skin <strong>and</strong> in<strong>to</strong><br />
your bloodstream, free <strong>to</strong> roam about your<br />
entire body! As will the ingredients you<br />
inhale through your nose or get in your eyes.<br />
Your body is like a big sponge... absorbing<br />
everything on <strong>and</strong> around it. So, you have <strong>to</strong><br />
pay attention <strong>to</strong> what you're exposing it <strong>to</strong>.<br />
To give you an idea of how serious the issue<br />
is, here are just some of the conditions/<br />
issues the <strong>to</strong>xic ingredients that are found in<br />
many common everyday products can cause:<br />
qq<br />
Endocrine disruption (that's your<br />
hormones)<br />
qq<br />
Kidney damage<br />
qq<br />
Birth defects & reproductive issues<br />
qq<br />
Heart disease & heart failure<br />
qq<br />
Neuro<strong>to</strong>xins (that's your brain)<br />
qq<br />
Cancerous tumors<br />
qq<br />
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.<br />
They can also cause damage <strong>to</strong> your<br />
skin, your GI tract, cause headaches,<br />
allergies, asthma, bronchitis <strong>and</strong> more.<br />
Yes, products like <strong>to</strong>othpaste, shampoo,<br />
conditioner, deodorant, lotion, body wash,<br />
c<strong>and</strong>les <strong>and</strong> household cleaners... things you<br />
use every day... may contain some of these<br />
<strong>to</strong>xic ingredients at this very moment.<br />
So, what should you<br />
do about it?<br />
1. BE AWARE.<br />
First <strong>and</strong> foremost, start paying attention.<br />
Remember, that you can't assume that a<br />
product is safe just because it is for sale or<br />
because it is being advertised as a "natural"<br />
product. Typically, that is more of a<br />
marketing ploy than a factual claim about its<br />
ingredients. Read your labels!<br />
Which brings us <strong>to</strong>...<br />
2. KNOW WHAT TO LOOK<br />
FOR.<br />
There are LOTS of ingredients out<br />
there, way <strong>to</strong>o many <strong>to</strong> remember<br />
(which is why I made a guide for<br />
you <strong>to</strong> download at the end of<br />
this post!), but you can keep<br />
an eye out for some of the<br />
"biggies":<br />
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FITNESS & BEAUTY · AUGUST 2017<br />
BHA OR BHT - typically found<br />
in moisturizers <strong>and</strong> make-up; can cause<br />
endocrine damage <strong>and</strong> are possible<br />
carcinogens<br />
COAL TAR DYES - found in hair<br />
dyes <strong>and</strong> other colored products; can<br />
cause nervous system damage <strong>and</strong> is a<br />
possible carcinogen<br />
DEA - found in creamy <strong>and</strong> foaming<br />
products like shave gel <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong> wash;<br />
can cause asthma, skin & eye irritation<br />
<strong>and</strong> is a possible carcinogen<br />
PHTHALATES - found in nail polish,<br />
perfume, hairspray <strong>and</strong> deodorant<br />
(among others); disrupts endocrine<br />
function<br />
FORMALDEHYDE - often found in<br />
cosmetics; is an irritant <strong>and</strong> possible<br />
carcinogen<br />
PARABENS - found in cosmetics,<br />
shampoos <strong>and</strong> conditioners; are<br />
carcinogens <strong>and</strong> can cause endocrine<br />
disruption <strong>and</strong> reproductive issues<br />
TRICLOSAN - found in <strong>to</strong>othpaste, face<br />
cleanser, deodorant <strong>and</strong> antibacterial<br />
products; promotes growth of drugresistant<br />
bacteria (defeating the<br />
purpose of "antibacterial"), disrupts<br />
endocrine function <strong>and</strong> is a possible<br />
carcinogen<br />
SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLS)<br />
- found in shampoos, bubble baths <strong>and</strong><br />
cleansers; is a skin irritant <strong>and</strong> possible<br />
carcinogen<br />
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) - is a<br />
carcinogen often found in cosmetics<br />
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PARFUM (OR FRAGRANCE) -<br />
found in all kinds of products (even<br />
unscented!); can casue allergies,<br />
asthma, neuro<strong>to</strong>xicity <strong>and</strong> is a possible<br />
carcinogen<br />
(Btw, if you don't already know...<br />
"carcinogen" means cancer-causing)<br />
You can also use the Environmental Working<br />
Group (EWG)'s "Skin Deep Cosmetics<br />
Database" <strong>to</strong> look up any product <strong>and</strong> find<br />
it's level of <strong>to</strong>xicity.<br />
3. ASK QUESTIONS!<br />
Manufacturers are not required<br />
<strong>to</strong> be very clear or forthcoming<br />
about the ingredients in their<br />
personal or beauty care<br />
products, so don't be afraid <strong>to</strong><br />
ask questions if you aren't sure!<br />
All companies have some sort of<br />
support center, whether it's a phone<br />
number or an email address, so don't be<br />
afraid <strong>to</strong> use it <strong>and</strong> ask them outright about<br />
what's in their products!<br />
4. CHOOSE LINES THAT<br />
ARE TRULY ORGANIC AND<br />
NATURAL OR MAKE YOUR<br />
OWN PRODUCTS.<br />
Yes, there are companies that really ARE<br />
organic <strong>and</strong> natural <strong>and</strong> really do make non<strong>to</strong>xic<br />
products. Depending on how natural<br />
you want <strong>to</strong> go, you may want <strong>to</strong> check out<br />
companies like:<br />
• ZuZu Luxe/Gabriel Cosmetics<br />
• Andalou Naturals<br />
• Alterna<br />
• Dr. Bronner's<br />
• Beautycounter (which keeps a list of<br />
over 1,500 ingredients they will never<br />
use in their products)<br />
You can also make many of your own<br />
personal care products at home like<br />
deodorant, shampoo <strong>and</strong> <strong>to</strong>othpaste using<br />
ingredients such as baking soda, coconut oil<br />
<strong>and</strong> essential oils.<br />
Remember... you only have one body. So it's<br />
up <strong>to</strong> YOU <strong>to</strong> take care of it! Stay informed,<br />
stay encouraged <strong>and</strong> don't be afraid <strong>to</strong> take<br />
control of your health <strong>and</strong> your life!<br />
By Jenn Baxter<br />
36 HEALTHY MAGAZINE