Our modern, post-industrial revolution society has many conveniences and innovations. The development and use of petroleum and chemical products has made our lives easier in some ways, but we may be sacrificing our health in the process of modernizing our lives.
Sometimes the products we use on the outside of our bodies on a daily basis can make us sick on the inside of our bodies. I am talking about make-up, lotions, creams, and hair products which may contain traces of heavy metals or other endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Most of us are aware by now of the estrogenic effects of certain kinds of plastics (called “xenoestrogens”). But fewer of us are aware of that there may be toxins in our cosmetics. As with the food you put into your body, make sure that the products you put on the outside of your body are natural and organic, too.
Have a look at the labels on your favourite cosmetics. You want to avoid products with the following ingredients:
imidazolidinyl urea
diazolidinyl urea
methyl paraben
propyl paraben
butyl paraben
ethyl paraben (all the parabens, really)
petrolatum
propylene glycol
PVP / VA copolymer
stearalkonium chloride
synthetic colours
synthetic fragrances
diethanolamine (DEA)
monoethanolamine (MEA)
triethanolamine (TEA)
dioxane
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol)
benzalkonium chloride
butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
butylated hydroxytolulene (BHT)
chloromethylisothiazolinone
isothiazolinone
In response to concerns which have been raised about the safety of products used in the cosmetic industry, several companies have sprung up in the last few years devoted to natural and organic body products. In Vancouver, local stores such as Choices and Capers provide sections devoted entirely to clean and healthy body products. A local company, Elements Mineral Make-Up, has created a line of cosmetics free of fillers, preservatives, chemicals & dyes, and they have never been tested on animals.
If you are trying to maximize your fertility, or if you are struggling with infertility or other persistent health concerns, please check the contents of your body products and ensure you are only using natural, non-toxic ingredients.
(information about toxins was obtained from The Tao of Fertility by Daoshing Ni, 2008 Harper Collins)
