Awareness December 2014 issue

Posted: December 2, 2014 By: Comment: 0

You are what you eat AND what you absorb.

It is easy to forget that the skin is the largest organ with essential functions. It regulates our body temperature, protects us, and provides us with sensation (touch, pain, pressure, heat, cold). Basically , it lets us know if we are injured or in danger. Vitamin D, an essential vitamin, is also produced here. The skin is the barrier between our inside and  the outer world.

Everything that you put on your skin gets absorbed and and enters the bloodstream.

In a household there are three places to look for harmful chemicals:

  • Bathroom. An average morning cleanup includes 10+ products. Daily use of anything adds up quickly.
  • Bedroom. We spend (hopefully) many hours between the sheets. Make sure the fabrics are of good quality and not heavily sprayed or treated. Yes, cotton is one of the top 3 genetically modified crops. Any pesticides used in growing and harvesting are in the fabrics that we use.
  • Closet. This may not be as obvious but the materials matter. If the fabrics have been heavily sprayed and treated with chemicals, such chemicals will enter your body.

Products to reconsider:

  • Toiletries and makeup. (Think tooth paste, deodorant, body lotion, shaving cream…)
  • Clothing.
  • Bedding.
  • Sunscreen. This is a big one. Most generic brands use chemical UV barriers, which gets absorbed by the skin and are all linked to cancer.

Signs and symptoms of exposure to harmful chemicals may be:

  • Allergies
  • Sleep problems
  • Headaches/migraines
  • Eczema/rashes
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty to focus

What to do:

  • Avoid products containing preservatives and artificial fragrances.
  • “Organic”. Be aware that the USDA still allows for 5% in organic ingredients in products labeled “organic”. Read the label.
  • Wash all clothes and fabrics before use.
  • Choose organic cotton, when available.
  • Use sunscreen with titanium dioxide. Our favorite is MARIA ÅKERBERG Spf 20.

Go clean. Go safe. For you and for our planet!

 

To a life in good health,

Marie Aspling, Creator and owner of Balans

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