What you don't know could hurt you!
Here are some fun and interesting facts about most commercial body products on the market. Just more reasons to choose Nature's alternatives to unhealthy body products!
Fact #1
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is an ingriedent used in many commerical cosmetic products and soaps. SLS is used inorder to give the product a gentle lather, emulsifing agent, or as a cleaning agent. SLS is derived from coconuts however during the manaufacturing process known as ethoxylation the SLS is contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogenic by-product. Thus SLS is classified as a denaturant, surfactant cleansing agent, emulsifier and foamer. SLS is rated as a moderate hazard, and said to be non harmful used in small amounts. However research has proven that the average adult uses nine personal care products each day, containing 126 different chemicals. Studies also found that more than 250,000 women, and one out of every 100 men, use an average of 15 products daily. SLS has been known to cause or contribute to irritation of the skin and eyes, organ toxicity, developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology, possible mutations and cancer.
Fact#2
Parabens are found in many commerical cosmetic products on the market today! Parabens are a man made chemical used for preserving ingreidents. Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in personal care products. Parabens mimic estrogens chemical shape and bind to estrogen recptors. The body then thinks it is interacting with estrogen. This alters the amount of testosterone and estrogen produced in the body. If this happens in large amounts over long periods of time it creates a hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalances have shown links with breast cancer and reproductive problems in men and women. Estrogen exposure has been linked to breast cancer development and progression, so it is not such a leap to be concerned that repeated, cumulative, long-term exposure to chemicals that weakly mimic estrogen might be having an impact. There is particular concerned about lotions and deodorants being applied under the arms or near the breast. Research has found that roughly 55 percent of all breast cancer tumours occur in the upper outside portion of the breast, the section closest to the underarm. The U.S. National Cancer Institute has partly dismissed the claim, maintaining that at present, there is no decisive evidence to conclude that the parabens in these products are linked to breast cancer, but that more research is needed. The cosmetic industry has labeled parabens safe for use in small amounts because they have said that it is broken down and is not only metabolized by the human body but adminsitered in small amounts. Research shows that parabens are used in processed foods, pharmaceuticals, bathroom products, and cosmetics such as deoderants, shampoos ,foundations, creams, and makeup.
Fact #3
Putting chemicals on your skin or scalp, such as getting a hair dye, may actually be worse than eating them. When you eat something, the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help to break it down and flush it out of your body. However, when you put these chemicals on your skin, they are absorbed straight into your bloodstream without filtering of any kind, going directly to your delicate organs. Once these chemicals find their way into your body, they tend to accumulate over time because you typically lack the necessary enzymes to break them down.
Fact#4
Did you know that the following are considered natural persavatives:
SUGAR
High levels of sugar can preserve against spoilage organisms.
HONEY
Honey in its undiluted form is also a natural preservative, there are many documentations citing honey as a viscous barrier to bacteria and infection.
ALCOHOL
Due to its antiseptic qualities, alcohol is used as a natural and safe preservative in cosmetic products, as well as a solvent for extracting various active substances. Certified natural cosmetics can only contain natural alcohol extracted from plants.
SALT
The use of extreme levels of salt as used by the ancient mariners to preserve their meat is effective and it is very likely that the preservation of the Egyptian mummies was in part, achieved by the 40 day treatment in natron (a concentrated brine/salt solution that osmotically drained the tissues of water)
GLYCERINE
High levels of vegetable glycerine, up to 15-20%, will also have a preservative effect, similar to that effect obtained by the use of high levels of sugar.
Fact#5
Virgin Coconut Oil acts as a moisturizer, antibiotic, anti-fungal, multivitamin, multi-nutrient and an anti-oxidant. Virgin Coconut oil is an excellent skin moisturizer and keeps the skin's connective tissues strong, which prevents sagging and wrinkles. Additionally, ingesting coconut oil regularly can also help improve the overall health and appearance of skin!
Fact#6
Natural coconut oil contains two important elements that make it great for treating acne, lauric acid and capric acid. Organic coconut oil is naturally antibacterial, antiviral, anti fungal, and antimicrobial. All of these beneficial properties are attributed to the lauric acid and capric acid found in the oil. In fact, lauric acid is basically only found naturally in coconut oil and in breast milk in these high quantities. Lauric acid has been said to be effective against the bacteria linked to acne (P. acnes) which is why it is slowly gaining popularity as a natural remedy for acne. Since lauric acid is found in breast milk, this means that it is something that naturally occurs in the human body. This may actually make it more effective in treating acne because the body can easily recognize the compounds in lauric acid and how it can best be used to benefit the skin.
Fact#7
One of the benefits of using glycerin soap is that it can be completely natural, with no synthetic ingredients added to it during the manufacturing process. Because glycerin soaps can be completely natural, they are particularly beneficial for people who have sensitive skin. Glycerin soaps are considered to be one of the most moisturizing types of soap. The unique quality of this type of soap allows it to be both moisturizing and effective for all different kinds of skin.
Fact#8
We absorb 60 Percent of the substances we put on our skin. So, anything you put on your skin will get under your skin. The average person's morning hygienic routine-including shaving, showering; applying cologne, deodorant, make-up, or lotion-puts him or her into contact with over 100 chemicals before breakfast.
Fact#9
Hand washing is the single most effective thing you can do to reduce the spread of colds and other infectious disease. It is however a myth that you need antibacterial soap to kill a cold virus. Infact regular soap will do just fine. Using germicidal soaps may produce antibiotic-resistant bacteria making the soap less effective for fighting bacteria and can interfere with normal hormone function.
Fact#10
Essential oils can be used for more that just their health properties and wonderful smells. Essential oils such as Lavendar, Thyme, and Rosemary are natural antibacterials.
Fun Fact Sources: www.madaracosmetics.com, articles.mercola.com, www.dweckdata.com, thenaturalacnecure.blogspot.com