Chemicals You Should Avoid

I've got a challenge for you. Take a look at the ingredients in some of your body products and cosmetics. Then take a look at the list below. These are common chemicals found in our everyday body products and the health risks they pose:

Dyes: Blue 1, Green 3, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 33

What It Is: Coal tar

Health Risks: Carcinogenic

Where It's Found: Hair color, medicated shampoos

Fragrance, DEHP, DHP, DBP 5, Dibutyl Phthalate

What It Is: Phthalates

Health Risks: Sperm damage, infertility

Where It's Found: Nail polish, shampoo, deodorant, lotion

Hydroquinone

What It Is: Hydroquinone

Health Risks: Can cause a skin disease called ochronosis

Where It's Found: Skin whitener

Isobutene

What It Is: Propellant made from petroleum processing

Health Risks: Carcinogen

Where It's Found: Moisturizer, shaving cream, foot spray, breath freshener

Lead acetate, thimerosal, mercurius solubilis, mercurius sublimates, mercurius corrosives, mercuric chloride

What It Is: Lead and mercury

Health Risks: Found in higher levels in women with breast cancer; neurotoxin

Where It's Found: Hair color, wound treatments, artificial tears

Nano zinc oxide

What It Is: Nanoparticles

Health Risks: The safety of nanoparticles has not been tested, but they can cross the blood/brain barrier and move along nerves.

Where It's Found: Sunscreens, lotions

Petrolatum

What It Is: Derivative of petroleum

Health Risks: Endocrine disrupter; carcinogen

Where It's Found: Lotions

Placenta

What It Is: Placenta, placental enzymes, placental extract

Health Risks: Filled with hormones that upset your own balance and increase estrogen

Where It's Found: Skin and hair conditioner

Polyethylene glycol (PEG, PPG, Cocoate), propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyethoxyethylene, polyethoxyethylene mineral oil

What It Is: Petroleum byproducts

Health Risks: Carcinogen; liver and kidney effects

Where It's Found: Lotions

Prefixes: Ethyl, Methyl, Butyl or Propyl

What It Is: Parabens

Health Risks: Endocrine disrupters that mimic estrogen; linked to weight gain and breast cancer

Where It's Found: Lotions and shampoos

Triclosan, Chloro, Phenol, Irgasan

What It Is: Triclosan

Health Risks: Endocrine and thyroid disrupter; promotes antibiotic-resistant bacteria; bioaccumulates in the body

Where It's Found: Antibacterial soap, shampoo, facial cleanser, toothpaste, deodorant

3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), octyl-dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA), bexophenome-3 (Bp-3), homosalate (HMS)

What It Is: Sunscreen chemicals

Health Risks: Estrogenic activity; enhances the potential for pesticides to penetrate the skin

Where It's Found: Sunscreens

Scary stuff, isn't it?? The second part of the challenge is to stop using these chemical-filled products, a little at a time, or go whole hog and ditch them all! It's your health ... and your life. There are lots of natural alternatives available, including my Abundance Naturals line.