However, it’s even tougher to deal with the fall-out of these poisons if we don’t adjust our lifestyle to avoid them as much as possible.
So, what can you do?
Well, if you’d rather not be an ostrich and want to pull your head out of the sand, take note of these four toxic daily offenders, then toss any you have in the trash. Replace them with cleaner and safer personal care products, like the ones recommended below.
Conventional toothpaste
The real purpose of toothpaste isn’t to keep your teeth white (hint: proper mineralization of the body helps make teeth white), but rather, to keep unfriendly bacteria off your teeth and gums so they can remain infection free and healthy. Unfortunately, the conventional toothpaste industry fills their formulas with toxic ingredients, so every time you brush your teeth, you’re likely to get a dose of the following:
- Triclosan – an antibacterial chemical that has been linked to hormonal disorders.
- Fluoride – a toxic industrial waste product that promotes neurological damage.
- Sodium Laurel Sulfate – a chemical responsible for the foaming action of toothpaste (that has zero value to the health of your teeth) and has been linked to skin irritations and hormone disruption.
- Artificial Sweeteners – dangerous chemicals that promote neurological damage.
- Propylene Glycol – a known skin, eye, and lung irritant.
With your mouth being highly absorbent, any of these chemicals can be fast-tracked into your bloodstream, which by-passes many of the body’s natural detoxification pathways (bad news for the rest of your body). This is why a less conventional approach to dental health is often a healthier option.
If you to want to escape the damage of conventional toothpastes and get one that supports strong oral health, look into the Health Ranger Select Toothsalt with Neem.
Conventional deodorant
Conventional deodorants are a ticking time bomb for health issues, and we’re just now starting to see some of the negative health effects of putting toxic chemicals on our skin every single day. Some of the worst offenders in these deodorants include:
- Aluminum – a toxic heavy metal that is added (and not always labelled) to block pores and prevent sweating.
- Tricoslan – used for its antibacterial qualities, it’s a chemical linked to hormonal disorders.
- Parabens – used as preservatives, they bioaccumulate and are endocrine disruptors.
- Propylene Glycol – used to seal in moisture, it’s known to dry out and irritate the skin.
- Triethanolamine (TEA) and diethanolamine (DEA) – chemical compounds used as emulsifiers, they can cause liver and kidney damage.
Of course this can all be avoided through natural deodorants that avoid these harmful chemicals and add ingredients that actually benefit the skin and the body. A good example is the Health Ranger Select Magnesium Liquid Deodorant, which is pure, effective, and chock full of nourishing ingredients.
Conventional sunscreen
There has been a lot of talk about how the sun causes damage to the body, but evidence suggests that what we put on our skin to protect us from the sun may indeed be more harmful.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) conducted research on nine FDA-approved sunscreen chemicals and found that several of them posed moderate to high toxicity concerns. Oxybenzone posed the biggest threat with one percent to nine percent skin penetration, and being detected in nearly every American and even found in mothers’ milk. It has been shown to be an endocrine disruptor and to cause relatively high rates of skin allergies. Octinoxate was also rated as a higher toxicity concern, also being found in mothers’ milk and affecting the reproductive system and the thyroid, along with a moderate skin allergy concern. Both have widespread use in U.S. sunscreens.
Other ingredients that were a cause for concern were homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene, all with widespread use in U.S. sunscreens and having skin penetration.
The important thing to take away from this is that the sun is not your enemy, and responsible exposure is necessary for good health. However, when you need to block the suns rays, it’s important to get a sunscreen without any of these toxic chemicals, along with skin supporting nutrients that help maintain your skin’s moisture.
Check out the Health Ranger’s Sunstick Broad Spectrum for adequate protection without the toxicity and some skin replenishing nutrients to boot.
Conventional skin care products
The skin care industry has been doing a terrible disservice to humankind, mostly women, who put these toxic ingredients on their face and body every single day. In this effort to look more beautiful, these consumers often end up dealing with bigger concerns after the fall-out from bioaccumulation of these toxic skin care ingredients.
There is a laundry list of chemicals in these types of products to avoid, but some of the key ones to look for and avoid include:
- Parabens – preservatives used to prevent bacteria they contain estrogen-mimicking properties that are associated with breast cancer.
- Synthetic colors – represented by FD&C or D&C (e.g. D&C Red or FD&C Blue 1), these colors are petroleum derivatives that are suspected to be carcinogenic.
- Fragrance – shown to cause issues with skin, lungs, and immune system health.
- Phthalates – used to increase flexibility and softness in plastics, they are known to be endocrine disruptors.
- Triclosan – an antimicrobial chemical and known endocrine disruptor.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – used to create foaming action, this surfactant is known to be a skin, lung, and eye irritant.
- Formaldehyde – used to prevent bacteria growth, this chemical has been deemed a carcinogen.
- Toluene – a petrochemical also listed as benzene, toluol, phenylmethane, and methylbenzene. It can affect your respiratory system, cause nausea, and irritate the skin.
- Propylene glycol – known to penetrate the skin and has been associated with dermatitis and hives in humans.
