How Many Harmful Chemicals are in Your Home?

June 21st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

There are dangerous chemicals everywhere these days. Some companies have been in trouble for polluting our waters with harmful chemicals. Farmers are realizing how harmful the chemicals they use on their crops can really be. Landfills have become hazardous waste zones because of the amount of dangerous chemicals dumped in them each year. Your home is another place where there are probably quite a few harmful chemicals.

You should keep products with harmful chemicals locked up and away from small children in your home at all times. Even if you and your family do not ingest these dangerous chemicals, you can still have health problems from exposure. Just being around some of the harmful chemicals in your home can be bad for you. Repeated exposure to these chemicals in cleaners and other products in your home is very likely to cause health problems for you and your family.

The following are some harmful chemicals commonly found in your home:

  • Acetone - Acetone is in many types of nail polish remover. If you inhale products with acetone, you can develop lung, throat and nose problems, as well as headaches and a increased heart rate. Serious health problems like going into a coma or damage to the liver, nerves or kidneys can also occur.
  • Alkylphenol Ethoxylates (APEs) - This is a chemical that is commonly used in cleaning products for the home. It is thought that this chemical affects the endocrine system because it acts like a hormone. Exposure can lead to reproductive problems, immune system problems, ADHD and cancer.
  • Benzene - This chemical is in everything from hygiene products to pesticides. If inhaled, it can cause headaches, increased heart rate, shaking, loss of consciousness and possibly be fatal. There may be an increased risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with exposure to benzene.
  • BHA and BHT - These chemicals may be in the cans of food you have in your kitchen cabinets. They are also in some hygiene products. While they are thought to to be to dangerous for human use in some countries, they are allowed to be used in manufacture in the United States.
  • Formaldehyde - You will probably see formaldehyde as an ingredient in some of your cleaners, bath products, hygiene products and nail polish and remover despite it being a known carcinogen and neurotoxin. Exposure can result in mucus membrane issues, spasms, edema and other health issues.
  • Hydroquinone -This chemical is in products used to color hair and lighten skin. This is a dangerous chemical that affects skin structure and increases skin cancer risks.
  • Phthlates - This chemical can be a variety of products including plastics, perfumes, and lotions. Exposure could result in thyroid problems, hormonal issues, kidney damage, birth defects and reproductive system issues.
  • Tolulene - This chemical is in many home cleaning products and in nail care products. It can damage the lungs if inhaled and is linked to liver and kidney problems, increased cancer risks, hallucinations and bone marrow problems.

This is just a sampling of the many harmful chemicals that you might have in your home right now. You can’t completely get away from all harmful chemicals in today’s society but you can try to buy products for your home that are as healthy and chemical free as possible. All you have to do is look at the ingredients on the cleaners and other household items you buy regularly.

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How to Use Natural Skin Care Treatments

May 24th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

You can find any number of beauty products at your local department or drug store. They have products for all types of skin from oily to dry and products that claim to reduce wrinkles and make your skin look younger and healthier. They are not cheap in many cases, however.

The companies that sell these beauty products do not want you to find out how easy it is to make natural skin care treatments in your own kitchen. You can use what you have in your cabinets or fridge to create natural skin care treatments that won’t have any of the harmful chemicals found in many over-the-counter products. This is a much cheaper alternative and the treatments can be very effective.

Creating the Right Natural Skin Care Treatment for You

You may need to do some research to get the right ingredients for the kind of skin issues you have. The beauty products you buy at your local drugstore do the work for you and tell you what kind of skin issues they are meant to deal with. Natural skin care can be a little more confusing at first. With a little trial and error using different ingredients, you can create a natural skin care product that is just right for you and your skin.

You need to have a basic understanding of the type of skin that you have. You may have dry skin or maybe you have oily skin. You may need to treat wrinkles or you may need to treat acne. You need to be aware of any possible allergic reactions to potential ingredients as well. After you figure out what your skin needs, you can start creating natural skin care treatments based on the following:

  • For dry skin, try making creams with oils like almond, grapeseed or olive. You can also try chamomile, dairy products and honey.
  • For oily skin, use lemon extract, buttermilk, witch hazel and cornmeal.
  • For oily/dry combination skin, try using olive oil, rose water, milk, chamomile, baking soda and cornmeal.
  • Acne treatments should include lemon extract, apples, aloe, tomatoes, witch hazel and tea tree oil.
  • Wrinkle treatments should include juice (grape or carrot), honey, coconut oil and fruits like bananas and pineapples.

Natural Skin Care Recipes

Here are some ideas for you:

Dry Skin Cold Cream with Apricot

  • 10 oz. apricot kernel oil
  • 2 oz. cocoa butter
  • 2 oz. beeswax

Using a double boiler, gently warm the items above until they melt. Stir with a spoon made of wood and allow to cool. Keep refrigerated in a closed container.

Combination Skin Mask with Rose Essence

  • 1 whole rose head
  • 1 tbsp. rose water
  • 1 tbsp. unflavored yogurt
  • 1tbsp. honey

Rinse the petals from the rose , soak and then crush them into a small bowl. Add the remaining ingredients to the crushed rose petals and stir. This should be used right away.

Mask With Honey and Apples

  • 4 tbsp. Honey
  • 1 whole apple, grated

Combine the grated apple and the honey and use the mixture right away.

Natural skin care takes a little practice to get right but it is worth all the work. You can create a skin treatment that is suited exactly to the needs of your skin and that you know is safe and contains no harsh chemicals. You can save a lot of money by using ingredients you already have to make natural skin care products instead of buying them at the drugstore.

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