Wellness Wednesday

Source

As more people struggle with health problems, we see an increased interest in chemical-free foods. However, what many don't realize is that the cosmetics and body products we use are also dangerous to our health. I was among that group. Our skin is our body's largest organ. Applying toxic chemicals to it is going to affect our health, either in the short term where we immediately notice a rash or other reaction or in the long term where we don't make a connection between a life-threatening illness and the products we apply to our bodies.

The David Suzuki Foundation has a dirty dozen list for cosmetic ingredients to avoid, similar to the one put out by the Environmental Working Group for produce. Below is a quick guide to those nasty ingredients found in our personal care products:

1. BHA and BHT
2. Coal tar dyes
3. DEA-related ingredients
4. Dibutyl phthlate
5. Formaldahyde-releasing preservatives
6. Parabens
7. Fragrance
8. PEG compounds
9. Petrolatum
10. Siloxanes
11. Sodium laureth sulfate
12. Triclosan

For full details on where these ingredients are found, the various other names they're called, and the side effects, go to the website.