Category Archives: Toxins in Personal Care Products

The dangers of toxic chemicals in skin creams, shampoos, etc.

7 Simple Ways to Detox Your Diet and Your Home

Variety of Citrus Fruits“EatingWell” Magazine has recently become one of my favorite sources for good, healthy information.  There is so much to read on this site, and all of it is helpful in efforts to live a clean, healthy life.  Check out their newsletters, recipes, articles, and more.  I follow them on Facebook as well.

This article just caught my eye today.  It covers a wide range of toxins that we all need to know about and protect ourselves from (bad grammer, I guess).  I read every bit of it.  Here’s a sample and a link to the full article:

Find out what everyday items are the worst for your health in terms of chemicals and toxins and what you can do about it.

Nobody knows just how much of a risk toxins in our food really pose. Most of the associations between chemical exposures and disease are just that—associations. But we’re exposed to dozens, if not hundreds, of chemicals, and the effects of some multiple exposures may be more than the sum of their parts, say experts. Or, in some cases, they might cancel each other out.

What’s more, toxins get into our bodies through more than just food. We are exposed to them through our carpets, lawn chemicals—even our clothing. Check out these 7 toxins you can avoid in your diet and get simple solutions for minimizing these chemicals and toxins in your diet and life.

Here’s you link to the article:  http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/organic_natural/7_simple_ways_to_detox_your_diet_and_your_home  Enjoy.

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Organic Skin Care Product Trends

Found this through The Organic Marketplace Journal written by Herbalix Restoratives on May 17, 2011.  Web links go to the Herbalix Restoratives website but does not imply an endorsement by me.  However, I agree with this article and I’m taking a look at their product line and may comment later.  Thanks, Linda Murdock

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There has been an increase in the amount of organic skin care products being purchased by consumers as they are realizing that what you put on your skin matters. Natural skin care products are healthier for the skin and safer for the environment.

What’s more, people are also aware of the harmful ingredients in traditional skincare product lines. In fact there was a study performed by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and they discovered industrial compounds, and alarming results. This study found 91 pollutants and other chemicals in the blood and urine of participants, many of which were traced back to non-organic beauty products.

Experts also discovered that 60 percent of ingredients within natural skin care products are absorbed through the skin and into a person’s bloodstream.

Worse yet, when these harmful ingredients are used even for a few years, they can lead to a buildup in your organs of unwanted chemicals and sometimes, unexplained illness.

You can protect yourself before this happens. All you have to do is start using organic skin careproducts. The benefits include the fact that they rejuvenate the skin and also provide essential nutrients, keeps the skin feeling soft and smooth, givesthe appearance of youthful skin, and helps prevent acne. It is safer to use over an extended period of time because it doesn’t contain toxic chemicals.

Organic skin care products are also more affordable. Like many people, you’re probably wondering how in the world organic skin care products can be less expensive than traditional products. With traditional products, a person will more likely use more of a particular product and need to buy it more often.

Herbalix Geranium Moisturizer

Herbalix Geranium Moisturizer

For example, Geranium Cream Moisturizer for dry-damage skin may cost more than the average cream moisturizers you find at traditional stores for $8.99. That’s because it contains a variety of natural ingredients. It also lasts a lot longer than a jar of non-organic moisturizer. Non-organic skin care products contain a high percentage of water as a base ingredient. So, you’re basically purchasing a highly diluted product. It’s like buying expensive water. A person who uses non-organic cream moisturizers may go through two to three jars before they notice results which are usually only temporary. You’re actually saving more money when you buy organic skin care products because you consume less of the product, the results are visible earlier and they last because your skin is becoming healthier. Another disadvantage of non-organic products is that many use fillers and artificial thickeners to make products appear creamy and smooth. Also, beware of products that claim to be ‘natural’. These cheap imitations usually contain harmful ingredients. Make sure you read the ingredients of skincare products before you buy. Advantages of using organic skin care products are made from skin beneficial ingredients derived from the earth and not from chemicals or man-made ingredients.

Another advantage of using organic products is that they rejuvenate the skin and stimulate cell growth. A non-organic product does the exact opposite. When you incorporate a healthy diet with natural, organic skin care products it will help you live a healthier lifestyle.

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Toxic chemicals finding their way into the womb

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* Studies find hundreds of toxic chemicals in mothers’ and, subsequently, babies’ bodies
* Conclusive cause-effect between toxics, infant health problems not demonstrated
* Cord blood contained chemicals found in shampoos, cosmetics, plastics, mattresses, electronics

Story on CNN.com related to the two part investigative program, “Toxic America,” done by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Read full article at this link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/backpack.cord.blood/index.html.

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Pesticides to Blame for Bee Colony Collapse Disorder

Colony collapse disorder: Scientists blame pesticides for honeybee decline

New research finds systemic pesticides in 60 percent of tested honeybees and their hives in U.S., Canada

 By Leah Zerbe

(This story is reposted by permission of Rodale.com, where it orginally appeared.)

What you can do
Vote with your dollar: Support organic agriculture that keeps harmful chemicals out of the environment—and our bodies (and the bees’).

 

Agricultural chemicals are wiping out bees that  pollinate our crops and flowers.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Bee fan or not, we all rely on the insects to pollinate the fruit, nut, and vegetable crops we enjoy every day. But in the last few years, the populations of our pollinators, particularly honeybees, have been plummeting. Dubbed colony collapse disorder, the cause of the devastation isn’t known. There are many theories, from mites and viruses to cellphone towers. One potential cause—pesticides—gained more credibility this week with the release of a new study by Pennsylvania State University. Researchers found “unprecedented levels” of pesticides in honeybees and hives in the United States.

THE DETAILS: Scientists tested wax, trapped pollen, and honeybee specimens for chemical pesticides and chemicals originating from those pesticides. Investigating pesticide residue in samples taken from beekeepers from 23 states and one Canadian province during the 2007 to 2008 growing season, researchers found 121 different pesticides and metabolites in the 887 wax, pollen, bee, and hive samples. Nearly 60 percent of the 259 wax and 350 pollen samples contained at least one systemic pesticide—a type of poison that doesn’t remain on the surface of plants, but is taken up inside the plant, too, where honeybees go to feed.
For complete article click HERE.

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A Wake-up Call from Healthy Child Healthy World

This is a wonderful little video about working against toxins in the environment.  It is done by Healthy Child Healthy WorldHealthy Child Healthy World Logo

A Wake-Up Story is a must-see video for every parent and anyone that cares about the health and development of children. Watch it. Share it. Join the movement. Awakeupstory.org

Healthy Child Healthy World is a really terrific non-profit organization.  They have a newsletter, lots of on-line helpful information, and a great and inexpensive book (only $6.01 from Amazon)Healthy Child Healthy World book

Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home

Of course, we recommend that the USDA certified organic, 100% safe and toxin free, MiEssence Mother & Baby line of products is an excellent place to start for these efforts.[tweetmeme source=gsorganics only_single=false]

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Safe Cosmetics Video

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which was created by the Environmental Working Group, has just published a brand new video called “What’s Going on with Toxic Chemicals in Cosmetics?”  It’s worth watching and sharing!

The video features Mia, the grassroots coordinator for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. If you can help out financially, THIS is a link for making a contribution to the Environmental Working Group. Or if you can devote a little time to support this grassroots effort, THIS is a link to actions you can take for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.  We all need to help improve this horrible situation of toxins in our personal care products!
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Body Burden of Chemicals

Chemical Body Burden

Body Burden

Today, I came across a really good website about the chemical burden that all of us carry in our bodies.  It is called Chemical Body Burden.

In their own words “The information on this site has been developed through the collaboration of health professionals, scientists, citizens groups and environmental organizations concerned about the chemical body burden we all carry and its health effects – known and unknown.”  And they list the actual individual contributors and their credentials

This is their answer to What is Body Burden?  “Toxic chemicals, both naturally occurring and man-made, often get into the human body. We may inhale them, swallow them in contaminated food or water, or in some cases, absorb them through skin. A woman who is pregnant may pass them to her developing fetus through the placenta. The term “body burden” refers to the total amount of these chemicals that are present in the human body at a given point in time.”

This site details very clearly some of the evidence out there that makes it clear why using MiEssence personal care products can be so important to a person’s health.  Our pure organic products will enhance your health, while most over the counter personal care products contain chemicals which add to your body burden.

Take a few minutes to look at http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/

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AMERICA’S BEAUTY SHOW CHALLENGES TOXIC SALONS

In looking around the Internet today, I found this very interesting Press Release:

CHICAGO, IL, March 27, 2009 –/WORLD-WIRE/– America’s Beauty Show, March 28-30 in Chicago, is dedicated to safe and healthy beauty salons. By doing so, the Show raises serious and decades overdue concerns on the dangers of conventional nationwide salons.  more…

The author of this Press Release is:Toxic Beauty
Samuel S. Epstein, MD
Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Chicago, Illinois
(Author of Toxic Beauty, 2009, BenBella Books) This book is brand new; published in March 2009.

e-mail epstein@uic.edu
312.996.2297
www.preventcancer.com

In fact, this whole conference looks like it could be interesting for those of us looking for healthier personal care products! I found the Press Release through the Environmental News Network’s article about the conference.

Beauty Salon Industry Warned of Toxic Dangers

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 27, 2009 (ENS) – Some 60,000 beauty salon professionals are gathering in Chicago for America’s Beauty Show and Expo for Skin Care & Spa, a three-day extravaganza opening Saturday at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Runway shows, entertainment and education events, product orientation and purchasing, networking and socializing are on the agenda.   more…

FYI, the link to the Expo site is http://www.americasexpo.com/I sure wish we, ONEgroup and MiEssence, were represented there!  Oh, well, maybe next year!

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