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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Get Great Hair with Natural Hair Care

June 11th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Many of us work hard to have perfect hair for a day at work or a night out with our friends. We wash, color, perm and style our hair day after day without giving it a second thought. We may be damaging our hair by this continuous attempt to make our hair look its best and even hurting the environment in the process.

You do not have to use chemical filled products that are full of alcohol and other drying products to look good. You can use natural hair care products to get the same results and these natural hair care recipes often can be made from things you have in your kitchen right now.

Shampoo

We all know how well baking soda works as a cleaner and as a personal care item. But you may not know it can also get your hair clean and shiny. All you do is use it like you would use a traditional shampoo product.

If you want your shampoo to smell good but don’t want dangerous chemicals, try use herbs and castile soap. Combine the herbs of your choice with distilled water brought to a boil and let it cool. After you strain the herb water mix it with 4 ounces of castile soap in an easy to use container. Mix well and you have great smelling shampoo. Sage, nettle and lavender are popular herbs to use in this mixture.

Conditioner

If your hair is dry, frizzy or out of control, you want to find an effective conditioner. You have many things in your kitchen cabinets and fridge that you can use to condition your hair. For example, you can cover your wet hair with mayonnaise and put a shower cap on for about 30 minutes then rinse it out. You will have soft hair when you are done. The same thing can be accomplished with using the bananas that have started to turn brown; you can use them on your hair instead of simply throwing them out.

If your hair is dry, try a combination of one egg yolk, 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of baby oil. Cover your hair with the mixture then rinse out to get soft and manageable hair.

For Shiny Hair

You can get shiny hair by using 2 tablespoons of apple cider or regular vinegar combined with 2 cups of water on your hair after washing it as you normally would. Apply and rinse. You can then apply lemon juice (from one half of a lemon) and rinse again to get your hair even more shiny.

Dandruff Treatments

Dandruff can be treated without spending a lot of money on specialty shampoos. Something as simple as a combination of vinegar and water (1 part to 3 parts) put on your hair and covered before bed and then rinsed with the same liquid in the morning will get rid of dandruff. You can keep doing this for a few days until the dandruff is gone.

Fenugreek seeds left to soak through the night and then made into a paste can be used to treat dandruff. You just rub the paste through your hair, leave for about 5 minutes than wash as you would normally.

Using natural hair care products will help you have great hair and help you avoid contact with some of the dangerous chemicals found in many hair care products. Make your own natural hair care products today and get your hair looking perfect.

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