Chemicals linked to asthma, allergies and cancer in our cleaning products

Many products that we have in our homes for personal care or for cleaning have chemicals in them linked to cancer, allergies, asthma and other health problems.

If you value your health, then I am sure you will agree we should not be having poisons in our homes. The effects of toxins in the home usually takes time to become apparent, but they gradually can have a negative effect on your health, because they are absorbed through the skin, in our personal care products or laundry detergents, and are in the air we breathe.

Your skin is like a sponge. The chemicals in laundry soaps end up on your clothes, they are never rinsed completely. We absorb the creams and lotions we put on our skin as well.

Have you ever had dry, itchy, or irritable skin? Do you get headaches when cleaning your home?

These could be initial 'mild' symptoms of the toxins in your body. As time passes this toxic soup can build up in your body and affect your immune system and over-all health.

Companies shouldn't have the right to put toxic chemicals into our cleaning products or personal care. Why should we need poison to do a cleaning job? There are safe alernatives that won't harm us but big companies don't want us to know.

Many of the products commonly found in homes contain formaldehyde, which is highly toxic and has been shown to be a carcinogen in animals, and so very well in people as well. Formaldehyde, phthalates, and other toxins can cause so many problems for our immune systems, hormones, and so much more. Companies will often add fragrances which may give the products a more pleasant spell but also contain chemicals.

So why do so many companies make household and personal care products that have potentially harmful toxins and chemicals in them? The answer, in my opinion, is cost. Companies use the cheapest things they can in their products so it won't cut into their profits. Natural and safe things like essential oils cost more.

The good news is there are lots of safe alternatives in health food stores as well as products offered by many direct sales and network marketing companies. Even some grocery stores are getting into the trend of using safe products and have some on their shelves, along with the toxic ones.

I got rid of toxins in my home and it's certainly helped with allergy problems I had and I don't get a headache using cleaners anymore either.

We still need to detox our bodies, however, because this alone won't eliminate all toxins in the body. However, it's a very positive step in living a healthy lifestyle.

Safe Skin Care Products --- Why They Are So Important

Many people do not realize the cosmetics industry is unregulated by the federal government. The ingredients found in many skin care and cosmetic products may be the main route of exposure to harmful chemicals. Therefore, it is a good idea for consumers to be educated as to what they are using.

The average person absorbs hundreds of chemicals and toxins every day, using such products as facial cleanser, soap, shampoo, deodorant, nail polish etc. These products can do much more harm than good to our bodies. Many skin care products contain unnecessary ingredients such as fragrances, dyes and preservatives. In addition, there are many potential health risks associated with chemicals commonly found in many items which may be linked to cancer, birth defects, and hormonal difficulties, and yet no warning label is required.

The skin is the largest organ in the body, and readily absorbs whatever we put on it. Safety testing of ingredients in personal care products is not mandatory, and even terms like "natural" and "hypoallergenic" can be misleading. For this reason it is essential that one reads the ingredients on the labels before purchasing or using.

A great resource to help you find safe skin care and cosmetic products is The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. Its goal is to protect the health of the public by requiring the beauty industry to phase out the use of harmful toxins and replace them with safe alternatives. Companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics are committed to this promise to make products that will do no harm. The companies that have signed this are all listed, so you can determine if what you are using is safe or not. In addition you can discover which organizations are supporting the campaign.

By educating yourself you can avoid the use of harmful chemicals on you and your family's skin.

Not Just A Pretty Face Book Review

Not Just a Pretty Face, The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry by Stacy Malkan, is a must read for anyone concerned about toxins in skin care and cosmetic products. It's very interesting but has some shocking facts as well, and contains some critical information that everyone should have. It's not just cosmetics, but includes such things as soap, toothpaste, shampoo and shaving cream. Basically all personal care products. Even more surprising is what she has to say about children's toys! However the primary focus of the book is the beauty industry.

One of the many disturbing things mentioned in this book is blood that was analyzed for chemicals by two independent laboratories in one particular study, and was found to be positive for a wide range of chemicals in newborn babies. Toxins were found in umbilical cord blood. Another study done on breast milk in several states found all the milk samples contained chemicals.

While toxins in cosmetics can affect the health of anyone, this message may be of particular concern to young women of child-bearing age tod determine how they can protect their unborn babies by making good choices in their personal care products.

Many people are likely unaware that the skin care and beauty industry is unregulated, which means products do not have to be tested for safety. There is no requirement for companies to safety test personal care products before they are available to the public. For this reason, I believe it's vital that people become educated in this regard, and Not Just a Pretty Face exposes the hidden dangers in products we use every day.

This book is very readable and actually has a very encouraging message of empowerment so we can protect ourselves with the personal care products we buy. There are safe alternatives to be found in virtually everything we buy. The skin is the largest organ in the body and readily absorbs whatever we put on it. Skin care and makeup that is meant to make us beautiful on the outside should not be making us sick on the inside.

Enhance Your Immune System With Some Simple Steps

Every day we are exposed to chemicals in the air, our food and our homes. While some of it is beyond our control there are several simple things we can do for better health and to give our immune systems a boost. Taking care of our bodies and helping our immune system is not difficult at all, it just requires some discipline. Here are a few things you can do.

1. A proper diet is essential for good health, and especially lots of antioxidant rich fruit and vegetables. It's recommended we get at least 6 to 8 servings a day. It's also to our benefit to avoid sugar. Just a small amount of sugar can impair white blood cells and make us more prone to infections. Eliminating sugar is a great thing to do to boost your immune system.

Of course we know sugar intake can cause obesity however it also can be linked to digestive problems, bacterial and fungal infections, diabetes and high cholesterol. If we crave something sweet the natural sugar in fruit is fine but we should avoid it otherwise. Sugar can depress the immune system which makes us more prone to infections.

2. Get enough sleep. During deep sleep, our bodies release potent immune-enhancing substances that strengthen our defenses. By not allowing our body sufficient rest, the immune system will not function at full capacity. When our immune systems are weakened we are more likely to get sick. A healthy, deep sleep allows the body to release a significant amount of growth hormone that boosts the immune system and aids in the growth and repair of our cells.

3. Drink plenty of water. We need to be well hydrated to regulate body temperature and so the nutrients can travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs.

A lot of people don't get enough water. Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration however your body needs water long before you feel thirsty.

Water is the very best source of fluid intake and we should not depend on getting it from juices or coffee or tea. Juices of course are good if there is no added sugar but we still need water daily.

4. Nurture yourself. Our bodies respond to our emotions. If you're feeling tired or worried, it can manifest itself in a cold or something else. Spending some time in being grateful, listening to a good CD or relaxing music will help. Don't ignore warning signs of a cold or exhaustion or whatever it might be so you can keep them from getting worse. When you're happy, and you have taken the time to look after yourself illness is less likely to happen. It's important we have the right mental attitude.

5. Avoid chemicals in your home and in personal care products. Many people are not aware of the toxic chemicals in their facial cleansers, makeup, and other personal care products. Our skin absorbs what we put on it, and for our health we should use products that are safe and toxin free.

The same is true of cleaning products for our homes. There are many safe alternatives now so we don't need to use poison to clean our homes.

6. Detoxify. Everyone needs to detox their body from heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals and other poisons. These chemicals can contribute to many health problems and can disrupt hormones and affect the body's ability to absorb the nutrients that it needs.

Removing the toxins from the body is one of the most important aspects of taking care of our health. When they are removed it allows the immune system to do the job it is meant to do, rather than fighting the chemicals as a result of air pollution, chemicals in the home and in our personal care products, and even in the food we eat.