As a health and wellness professional, I have spent years educating people on the importance of quality nutrition and exercise. I even teach people how to navigate the grocery store. I’ve always recommended putting good, high-quality products and food into your body. But I never gave much thought as to what we are putting on our bodies. So, I started asking questions, and I did not like the answers. At any one time, there can be over 300 toxins in our body from the products we use in our home. Just like learning about ingredients in our food, with knowledge comes power. And with power, change is not far behind.
For the last three years, I have had the eye-opening experience of diving into this subject. I continue to be amazed and stunned by the research I am finding. For example, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health studied 2,983 ingredients in our products at home - and found 884 toxic ingredients. Three hundred fourteen caused biological mutations, 218 caused reproductive problems, 778 were toxic to the human body. One hundred forty-six they knew caused cancer tumors - but were allowed in the US even though they were banned in other countries around the world. For example, in cosmetics alone, Europe has banned over 1300 chemicals while the US has banned only 11.
Wait...WHAT? How is this OK? It's NOT OK, and it all starts with awareness and education. Many of these items are lurking in your cabinets right now. I had no idea that I was covering myself in poison by putting on my lotion, deodorant, make-up, etc. Our everyday products can have so many toxins in them! I had my "a-ha" moment.
Dr. Samuel Epstein, chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, says, “It is unthinkable that women would knowingly inflict such exposures on their infants and children and themselves if products were routinely labeled with explicit warnings of cancer risks. But they are not labeled.” You wouldn’t buy that baby lotion that says “TOXIC” in large print, right?
Since 1950, cancer rates for the general population have risen at a rate of about 1.2 percent per year, with extraordinary increases in certain cancers, notably the breast (up 52%), and prostate (up 134%). (Miller et al. 1993)
This hits extremely close to home as I lost my mother to ovarian cancer. My brother has been battling lung cancer for over three years. Last year, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. We need to start paying attention to what we ingest and apply on our bodies. I'm on a mission to help unveil what chemical companies don't want us to know.
Another statistic from the American Cancer Society surprised me: only 5-10% of all cancer cases are from gene defects. That means 90-95% of cancer cases are under our control (i.e., what we eat, what we put onto our bodies and allow into our homes).
I’d like to bring a few harmful chemicals to your attention so that you feel empowered to create a safer environment in your home. Many of the chemicals in our products contain endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors interfere with the normal function of the hormonal system and can contribute to an array of negative health impacts.
Phthalates
Phthalates are important to note as significant endocrine disruptors. The list of effects is long:
Altered reproductive development
Early death of testicular cells
Thyroid irregularities
Asthma
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorders
Phthalates can also contribute to obesity. Toxins are stored in our fat cells.
Phthalates are often found in fragrance, shampoo, hair spray, laundry detergent, cosmetics, lotion and aftershave. Did you know that chemical companies don’t have to disclose what chemicals are in “fragrance?” They can combine any amount of harmful chemicals and call it “fragrance,” and the FDA does not require them to disclose what’s in there. If this intrigues you, I highly recommend watching the documentary, “STINK.” It’s an eye-opening film that goes into more of these details.
Parabens
When you are reading a product label, you often see methylparaben, ethylparaben, proplyparaben, and butylparaben. Parabens can mimic estrogen and lead to increased risks of cancer and gynecomastia (or “man boobs”). Studies have also shown that when pregnant women use products containing parabens, their children may have a higher likelihood of becoming overweight. Parabens can also reduce collagen in our skin and cause more wrinkles. Think about how much we spend on anti-aging creams. Many of these creams contain parabens.
In addition to creams, Parabens are often found in deodorants, baby lotions, shampoo, blush, fake tanning products, baby powder, foundation, and other cosmetics. The American Chemical Society shares that approximately 85% of health, beauty, and personal care products contain them.
Here is the key thing to remember: these chemicals create bioaccumulation in our bodies. One might think, “Well, I only use my lotion a little bit every morning when I’m getting ready.” In reality, parabens are bioaccumulating in your body every day – and it adds up! It may not result in cancer, but you might be tired and very irritable because you can’t sleep through the night. You will see subtle signs of toxic overload over time.
If you are reading this information for the first time, you might be like me and feel a bit overwhelmed. As I mentioned above, it all starts with awareness and education. I hope you can take some of these facts and begin to feel empowered. Taking small steps and swapping out one product for another makes a big difference. We are the gatekeepers to our homes. No one else is looking out for our family’s safety.
There are some helpful tools that you can use to look up products that you are currently using: Think Dirty app and www.EWG.org (Environmental Working Group). I’m also happy to help guide you or answer any questions along the way.
