“Spring: a lovely reminder of just how beautiful change can be.” — Anonymous
Spring is coming, which means it’s time to start thinking about spring cleaning. There’s something about nice weather that brings motivation for a fresh start. Before you reach for your cleaners and get to work, let’s do a little digging into the ingredients they may contain.
Did you know? In 2000, cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10% of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers, accounting for 206,636 calls. With no federal regulations on ingredients in household products, the only way you can protect yourself is to learn how to read labels.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 ingredients to avoid and why.
FRAGRANCE
This ingredient is BIG, and it’s in just about every household product. Synthetic scents or “fragrances” represent an unidentified mixture of ingredients including carcinogens, allergens, respiratory irritants, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxic chemicals, and environmental toxicants. These artificial scents can be found in all kinds of body care and cosmetic products, as well as candles, air fresheners, cleaning materials, and laundry detergents.
In general, there are at least 3,000 ingredients that could possibly be used to form a product’s scent. That’s according to the online “Transparency List” put out by the International Fragrance Association, an industry trade group. It may seem unbelievable, but the FDA doesn’t currently require fragrance and cosmetic makers to disclose exactly what they are using to scent products. If companies are using natural ingredients, why would they be shy? Many will say that their formulas are proprietary and they don’t want other companies copying them. The FDA website also states how the agency cannot legally require companies to warn about allergens in cosmetics like they do with food.
Are you wondering why companies would continue to use synthetic scents if they’re so bad for your health? The answer is straightforward — they’re cheaper. Synthetic scents can be an extremely cheap way to give everything from shampoo to lotion to candles a desirable scent. Unfortunately, just because you enjoy a scent, doesn’t mean it’s good for you." Source - https://draxe.com/health/dangers-synthetic-scents/
PARABENS/PHTHALATES
Parabens are preservatives that mimic estrogen. They are found in many cosmetics & personal care items. When combined with heregulin, a growth-promoting substance normally found in breast tissue, the effects are multiplied by 100x, contributing to breast cancer and tumor growth. Phthalates are a low-cost endocrine-disrupting chemical that in lab studies has shown to interfere with hormone production in rats and mimic estrogen in human studies. It’s found in: plastic food packaging, lotions, skin moisturizers, fragrance, cleaners, glues, and nail polish.
SODIUL LAUREL SULFATE (SLS)
This chemical is used to de-grease car engines. It is also added to some toothpaste, soaps, detergent, and skin products. It’s in just about everything. It damages the kidneys, liver, teeth, endocrine system, causes hair loss, cataracts, ulcers, major toxicity, headaches, nausea, coughing, congestion, and more.
TRICLOSAN
An antibacterial agent registered as a pesticide by the EPA. Topical absorption has shown disturbances to the endocrine system and is believed to lead to birth defects and uncontrollable cell growth. It’s found in: liquid soap, laundry detergent, deodorant, cosmetics, shave gel, first aid spray, kitchenware, and toys.
While there are many, many other ingredients that you should be aware of, these are my "TOP OFFENDERS". As you go further on this journey of low toxin living, you will learn about so many more.
The good new is there are cleaning products available that do not contain these ingredients. They can be hard to find. I use some great ones! Click HERE to learn more about them.
If you need some inspiration to get you started on your cleaning, sign up for my Spring Cleaning Challenge. It’s full of FANTASTIC information and it’s FREE! Are you ready to join in? Let’s DO IT!!!
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Note: There may be affiliate links in this post. • I am not a doctor. All information is for educational use only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.
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