Why It’s a Problem
Many people know about the dangers of GMO and conventionally produced food. However, in obscurity are the toxic chemicals hiding in the cleaning products and cosmetics we use for ourselves and our living spaces. The European Union bans more than 1300 chemicals in cosmetics while the FDA bans only 11. Furthermore, the FDA is not required to review products before they find their way onto the store shelves.
For example, the ingredients found in the laundry detergent Tide have been linked to “tearing of the stomach lining, sinus damage, neurological problems, and even death.” Granted, those symptoms occurred when people ate Tide Pods as part of the “Tide Challenge.” However, our skin is our biggest organs that absorbs things vigorously just like when your swallow of inhale substances.
Some shampoos in the U.S. still include formaldehyde which is a known neurotoxin banned in Europe. The list goes on and on. Ideally, you want the products you use to not only not harm you, but also add something beneficial to your body. And those things are found in plants and botanicals. Humans have harvested medicinal plants found in their vicinity for thousands of years. There are products that use non-toxic, medicinal and helpful compounds in their formula.
If you detox off Tide, Head & Shoulders, Colgate, Bath & Body Works lotion, grocery store dish washing soap and all purpose cleaner I promise you that in a month you won’t be able to walk down the cleaning product aisle without gasping for air. Most fragrances nowadays are just a blend of hundreds of chemicals that mimic a smell while being a severe hormone disruptor. Not many products use essential oils or plant extracts to scent themselves like they should.
What To Do About It
The best way to avoid toxic chemicals in cleaning products is to buy from trusted brands or make them yourself. For your convenience, I compiled a list of the best products I have found in the main categories. You can download it below, with all the products linked:
Here is a guide for making your own all purpose cleaner, with all the ingredients linked:
Here is a great recipe for how to make your own deodorant:
Enjoy!
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