The Importance of Natural Baby Products

June 12th, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Babies need extra care and attention when they are first born. New mothers need to be very focused on knowing when to change diapers, feeding the baby the right thing and gently getting their baby to sleep at night. They are careful to use only the best toys and baby care products. What these new mothers may not know is that dangerous chemicals can be found in even the best baby products.

No one should be exposed to dangerous chemicals, and this is especially true for babies. Chemicals like phthalates and other chemicals that make items flame retardant can be toxic and are linked to problems with brain development, the immune system and the reproductive system. Less dangerous chemicals can still cause skin irritation and rashes especially in babies.

There is little regulation when it comes to some of the most dangerous chemicals. While other countries do not allow these chemicals to be used in clothing or other items, American companies are free to use them. For example, lead is a chemical that is not allowed to be used in other places but there is little regulation here. Also, there is often no oversight to make sure dangerous products do not come into our country and make it onto store shelves.

More and more companies are starting to realize that there is a large market for natural baby products and they are catering to that market. Labeling is so loosely regulated, though, that it is hard to tell what is truly a natural baby product and what is not. The following suggestions can help:

  • You want to look for baby products with no added fragrance. The fragrances often contain irritating chemicals. Also, when fragrances are added often they also add phthalates. You may only see the word fragrance on the label so you should avoid any products with this ingredient to be on the safe side.
  • You should look for DBP, DEP and DEHP on any baby product label as these are all phthalates. Anytime you see unknown initials on the ingredient list, you should be wary because it could be a dangerous chemical. Look for products with natural ingredients you recognize.
  • Avoid flame retardant baby products if you can. The chemicals used to make these items flame retardant are often dangerous especially for babies. If you want to turn a natural fabric into a flame retardant fabric, simply spray the item with a combination of 2 cups boiling water and 2.5 ounces of borax.
  • Cloth diapering is a lot better for your baby than disposable diapers, which may contain dangerous chemicals. You will have a healthier baby and help the environment if you use cloth diapers instead.

Just because a product is meant for use by or on a baby does not mean it is safe for your baby. You need to be aware of the dangerous chemicals in many products and avoid these so you can keep your baby safe and healthy. The best way to do this is to learn to recognize these chemicals on the ingredients list of the products you use.

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Why Use Natural Makeup?

May 23rd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Health Research

Most women put makeup on daily before they leave the house. Women spend as much as a billion dollars each year on a variety of makeup products that they feel they need to wear daily. However, women should be concerned if the makeup they are using is actually safe?

Surprisingly, there is little oversight in the makeup industry. There are no laws that say makeup products have to be tested to make sure they are safe before they are sold and the FDA does not monitor ingredients used in makeup. The only laws that exist are the labeling laws, which give the makeup companies a lot of leeway. Not all ingredients have to be listed if they are an ingredient that is created as a reaction by other ingredients and some general terms like “fragrance” can be used to describe ingredients.

We are learning a lot about the potentially dangerous chemicals the makeup industry is using. This has not stopped the industry from using the dangerous ingredients because they cost less and are easier for them to get. Some companies, though, are responding to the growing outrage by producing more natural makeup with safe ingredients.

Why should you use natural makeup? Here are some reasons to consider.

  • Many of the ingredients in makeup can be harmful by themselves. Things like mercury, known to have dangerous effects on people by itself, is found in deodorants and makeup. Other dangerous chemicals used in makeup can include lead acetate, formaldehyde, phthalates, tolulene and petrochemicals.
  • Even the chemicals in makeup that are safe by themselves can be dangerous when they are mixed with some of the other ingredients. You could potentially have a reaction to an ingredient in your powder when it mixes with an ingredient in your blush.
  • Being exposed to a little of some of the chemicals in makeup will not harm your health in most cases but using the products daily causes the exposure to build up and that can be dangerous. You can end up with cancer, have problems with your reproductive system and your hormones can get out of balance with repeated exposure.
  • People do not usually have any kind of allergic reaction to natural ingredients but that is not true for synthetic ingredients, which often cause allergic reactions.

How To Tell if Your Makeup Really is Natural

Because people are becoming increasingly aware of the dangerous ingredients in makeup, the industry is finding more and more products that call themselves natural. Unfortunately, no laws say that manufacturers can’t say their products are natural even if they aren’t. Any cosmetic product can claim to be all natural or have natural ingredients whether it is true or not.

Consumers need to make sure they look at the ingredients in their makeup especially if they say they are natural. Consumers should find out what companies are really doing their part to make natural cosmetics and buy from these companies only. Many companies are part of the pledge called the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and say they will replace dangerous ingredients with natural ones over the next few years. This is not enforced by the government but companies agree to abide by very strict rules when signing the pledge.

Natural makeup is gaining popularity and becoming more and more requested by consumers. As more information gets out into the public about what is really in their makeup, natural makeup will replace traditional makeup as the norm. Consumers should reward companies that use natural ingredients to protect their health with their business.

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Increasing Breast Cancer Awareness

January 31st, 2009 | No Comments | Posted in Family Health

October used to be all about black and orange as Halloween approaches. Butt there is a new color showing up in October now: pink. Why pink? It’s because October has been designated as breast cancer awareness month.

Many women, thousands of them, are diagnosed with breast cancer each years. In fact, breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer among women. Thanks to advances in medicine, breast cancer is now highly treatable. Thousands of women are proud to call themselves breast cancer survivors. It is important to get checked out often so breast cancer can be caught early because that is when treatment is the most successful. October is all about educating women about breast cancer.

If you get treatment early, you have a good chance of surviving breast cancer. That’s why you should do everything you can to catch breast cancer early. Here are some ways:

Mammograms are very important in preventing breast cancer. Depending on your risk factors, you should get a yearly or twice a year mammogram. If your family has a history of breast cancer, it’s even more important that you have a yearly or twice a year mammograms.

Breast self exams are important because you need to learn to recognize any changes to your breasts. You should check for lumps as well as note the color, size and shape of your breasts to see if they have changed at all. Do a breast self-exam every month. If you don’t know how to do a breast self-exam, see your doctor or a health practitioner; they can show you how to properly do a breast self-exam.

Go to your doctor for a yearly check up of your reproductive system and a breast exam. Your doctor will do the necessary tests and talk to you about any concerns you may have about breast cancer.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your concerns with your doctor. Ignoring a problem you find in your breasts will only endanger your life. It’s better to let the doctor decide what is a serious problem and what isn’t.

You have to whatever you can to protect yourself by taking the above steps. You also need to protect the women you love by talking to them about breast cancer and what they can do to make sure they stay in good health. Breast cancer is not a subject that you should be afraid of talking about with friends and family members. Remind each other to do your monthly breast self-exams to make those yearly doctor appointments.

Maybe you aren’t a scientist, but you can help out with breast cancer research. You can donate directly to breast cancer organizations or by buying products that donate a percentage to the cause. These products will usually be marked with a pink ribbon. You can find these products at any store including your grocery store.

This October, step up and do something to prevent breast cancer. Talk to your friends and family and educate them on how to prevent breast cancer.

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