Sunday, October 7, 2012

Why Use All Natural Products? What's The Harm?

Why use All Natural Products? What is the harm? What is wrong with the products I find at the local store..shampoo, lotions, ect?? Ever wonder why everyone is jumping on the natural bandwagon? Well, ZEN-ful is going to answer all these questions for you this week. The three main ingredients to stay away from and why! The three biggest are: parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate and petroleum.


#1 PARABENS:

What are parabens and why are they bad? Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives, and that’s why they are found in so many products. They are used to fight bacteria and fungus, are widely available, and cost very little to manufacture and use. Nearly all of the parabens used as preservatives are man-made and not naturally occurring. They are found in a wide range of different personal care products like shampoos, shaving gels, cosmetics, skin care products, toothpastes, and more. Why so bad?

•One study found parabens in the breast tissue of 18 out of 20 breast cancer patients studied! •Another study suggested that they may have a weak hormonal effect on the body.

•Other studies suggest they cause allergic skin reactions & interfere with the body’s endocrine system. Parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers. Researchers found parabens in breast tumors and believe there is a relationship between parabens and tumors.


#2 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate:

What in the world is that you say? Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is probably the most dangerous ingredient used as a detergent in common skin and hair care products.

•SLS is used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, etc. It’s very corrosive & attacks greasy surfaces!

•Studies indicate that SLS penetrates into the eyes, brain, heart, liver..showing long-term retention in the tissues.

•A study also indicated that SLS penetrated young children’s eyes and prevented them from developing properly & caused cataracts in adults!

•SLS may also cause hair loss by attacking the follicle.

•SLS cleans by corrosion. Dries skin by stripping the protective lipids from the surface so it can’t effectively regulate moisture.

•SLS reacts with many types of ingredients used in skin products and forms potentially cancer-causing nitrates!


#3 Petroleum:

We used to smear it on our ashy knees and elbows while we were kids, smather our lips with it and some would even put some life into their hair with it. So what’s the harm in it? It worked then, so why not now?
  • Since petroleum jelly attaches to your cells & can be difficult for your body to eliminate, sometimes causing buildup in various organs!
  • The oxygen and nutrients skin needs in order to release toxins and repair itself can be blocked by the “barrier” created by petroleum.

Why use All Natural Laundry Detergent?Organic laundry detergent does not contain chlorine, phosphates, or other chemicals that are dangerous to our health. Another positive for any organic laundry detergent is that none of them contain synthetic dyes or perfumes. These ingredients can be extremely harmful to people who have sensitive skin or allergies, yet they are found in most popular brands of laundry detergent. In fact, phosphates are a known water pollutant, and have caused considerable damage within our environment over the past 40 years. The use of phosphates has been hotly debated in recent years, as they are known to kill fish and plants, which throws our entire ecological system out of balance. The toxic chemicals found in laundry detergents present a danger to the environment by way of the water. But guess what? They can also damage your skin and some give off fumes that you inhale when you breathe in the just dry clothes with their synthetic fragrances. Our detergents are handmade with organic coconut oil soap, borax, washing soda and essential oil fragrance. No dyes, great for sensitive skin!


In conclusion:Our skin is a living breathing tissue that protects the body & absorbs substances that come into contact with it. If you use skincare products made with chemical preservatives, these toxic chemicals may be absorbed into your body. What you put "On" your body, is the same as what you put "In" your body!

Last week's poll on You Favorite Candle Scent: Lavender was the number one choice!




5 comments:

  1. It's hard to find articles that simply state why such chemicals are bad, and you did that really well! I've been trying to eliminate many of my products with parabens for awhile now, and will continue to do so even more with this new info!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have just got to send this to my daughter ... actually we feel lucky that we haven't had health insurance ... we have sound alternative ways to health ... Thanks so much.

    Happiness always,

    ReplyDelete
  3. Informative. I like what you are doing! Thanks <3

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for sharing! it's Good information to know!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for the informative post!

    ReplyDelete