What is as Dangerous as 20 Cigarettes a Day?

Would you smoke 20 cigarettes a day?

Me neither!  

Do you clean with traditional "grocery store" cleaning products? 

I used to.

Just recently, a European lung study revealed that cleaning with products that contain bleach, ammonia, and quats is as bad for our lungs as smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day. 

20 Cigarettes a day!   ----> Twen-ty-cig-a-rettes-a-day!

Thank goodness for Melaleuca's EcoSense Cleaning line!  I am so grateful for the wonderful improvements in health and safety it provides!

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Okay, okay, this is all great information. And here is the link to learn more about the study.  But maybe you have the same questions I did.

What are quotes   

Quats are chemicals that contain a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) in their chemical makeup. They're used in a wide variety of products, including hair conditioners, moisturizers, body washes, bubble bath, liquid hand soap, shaving cream, styling gel/cream, styling mousse, makeup, antiperspirant/deodorant, baby wipes, sunscreens, acne treatments, hairspray, laundry softeners and anti-static agents.

Are quats harmful?  The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics classifies quats as “asthmagens,” which means they can trigger asthma attacks and cause new cases in those who are asthma-free. With more and more kids every day affected by asthma, it makes sense to help reduce exposure to this group of chemicals—especially for children.

Quats can also cause skin irritation, and with extended use in hair care products, may encourage hair to become dry and brittle. Those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should make a point of avoiding these ingredients, because of their potential effect on the airways. When using products like bubble bath, the effects can be enhanced, as the warm water increases inhalation of the vapors. 

What are some examples of quotes?     

Quaternium-15 is thought to be the worst quat because it releases formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen and can also cause allergic reactions.

Another quat called benzalkonium chloride has been found to disrupt natural hormone function, and has been linked with developmental and reproductive toxicity. This quat has also been found to be toxic to aquatic life when washed downstream.

A report by the Scientific Committee on Consumer safety, an organization in the EU, noted that based on skin reactions and toxicity, one particular quat named “behentrimonium chloride” should not exceed 3 percent in a rinse-off product, and should measure no more than 0.5 percent in a leave-on product.

How can I avoid these harmful chemicals?   

The easiest way to avoid harmful chemicals is to simply and completely change stores. If I need it and Melaleuca makes it, then I buy it from Melaleuca. If you do not shop exclusively from Melaleuca, keep exploring the many aisles and products. I know you will find some great items you did not even know Melaleuca had!

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Toxic Bodies

You can learn to Follow a Greener Path with small but significant changes.

First, make a wise decision about where you shop for your everyday consumables.

Let's Stop Poisoning Our Children

How safe is your home?
Of chemicals commonly used in homes 150 have been linked to, allergies, birth defects and cancer.
Cleaning products (which people usually think of first) are not the only problem - after analyzing 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products 884 were found to be toxic. That is 1 in 3!

According to Philip Landrigan M. D. of Mount Sinai Medical Center, the most pressing health issues for children today are:

1. the rise of asthma
2. the rise in childhood cancers
3. the rise in central nervous system disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder, and other learning disorders as the result of environmental neurotoxins
4. the effects of endocrine disruptors*

All these are related to toxic chemical exposure in the home.  Let's Stop Poisoning our Children!

The GOOD NEWS

Fortunately, for every almost every toxic product there is a safe alternative available. There are a number of ethical conscientious companies now offering household and personal care products that are safe and more natural. They work just as well or better than of the shelf brands, and in many cases actually cost less. So, there's really no reason to risk the health of your children or yourself any longer.

As parents, we do everything we can to protect our children yet we all use hundreds of chemicals everyday, supposedly to keep our homes clean and safe.  These same products are destroying our health and more importantly the health of our children. As I talk to more and more concerned parents I learn that most people still use chemicals which would be banned or aggressively controlled in the work place.

Let's stop poisoning our children. The first step can be as simple as requesting a Free Home Safety Consultation today from one of the Moms or Dads with EveVenture.
Sometimes a solution is as quick and easy as learning where to shop for safer products.

Sources:

1. Philip Landrigan M. D. of Mount Sinai Medical Center
2. Children's Environmental Health Center 
3. Graphic Source: RMBarry.com

Make-up Products Can Hurt You

The popularity of makeup products today seems to be greater than ever before in human history. Business Wire states that the global cosmetics market reached a staggering $460 billion in 2014 alone. Experts anticipate that the global market for beauty products will continue to rise at an annual rate of 3.8% in the next five years. 

We’re all witnesses to just how big the beauty industry is. Just thinking about the huge number of beauty products we see today can be overwhelming. Beauty is taking over even social media sites like YouTube that had a total of 123,164,115 beauty subscribers in 2015. These numbers speak for themselves, and what they’re telling us is that we are becoming a society of makeup junkies. 

Humans have used makeup for at least 5000 years for the purpose of enhancing features that are thought of as attractive and hiding perceived flaws such as the first signs and symptoms of wrinkles. And although there is nothing wrong with wanting to beautify yourself occasionally, makeup becomes a problem when it creates psychological dependence.

A study carried out by The Renfrew Center Foundation found that almost half (44%) of all

women said that they felt unattractive without makeup. But the problem with relying on makeup to build your self esteem does not end there. More and more medical practitioners, scientists, and consumers are becoming increasingly concerned with how makeup affects our physical health.

The Dangers Of Makeup Products

Most makeup products, from foundations to setting powders, contain a great number of chemicals, some of which may even be dangerous to your health. The way certain chemicals in makeup interact with our skin can lead to skin dryness, flaking, and even allergic reactions. 

But what is concerning is the fact that these chemicals have the ability to penetrate the deeper layers of our skin and enter our bloodstream. If these chemicals happen to be toxic, then chronic exposure to them presents a significant health risk.

Makeup has been a realistic danger for quite some time now. A study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science found that the bones of Japanese children from the Edo period (1603 -1867) contained levels of toxic metals a dozen times higher than the safety threshold. 

The researchers said that the cause was the use of white facial powder by breastfeeding women that contained dangerous levels of lead and mercury. Another study from 1991 collected samples of kohl eye makeup from third-world countries found that many samples had dangerous levels of lead as well. 

But things don’t seem to be much different these days. A recent study released by Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) for their project The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that almost half of all kids’ Halloween makeup products tested contained banned and harmful chemicals. 

Some of The Harmful Chemicals Found By The BCF Study

Cadmium

A soft, bluish-white metal that studies have linked to kidney failure, bone disease, and even cancer. Researchers believe that cadmium becomes toxic at levels well below limits set forth by the World Health Organization. 

The FDA conducted a test of heavy metals found in popular cosmetics (see here). Cadmium was found in several Estee Lauder, Jafra Cosmetics, l’Oreal, Yves Rocher, Revlon, Proctor and Gamble, Mary Kay, and Jane & Co products including powder eye shadows, cream eye shadows, eye primers, and foundations (source). 

Toluene

A paint-thinner that studies suggest can damage the nervous system and lead to neurological disorders such as dementia. Toluene is found in several nail products as well as some hair dyes (more information here). 

Benzophenones

Used in products such as foundation to protect against UV light. An article published in Dermatitis, states that benzophenones can cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes and

even anaphylactic shock. Benzophenones are found in lip balms, foundation, nail polish, fragrances, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, and baby sunscreens (more information here).

Parabens

These chemicals are added to cosmetic products to prevent bacteria overgrowth. Parabens are potential endocrine disruptors and one study even found the presence of these chemicals in breast cancer tissue raising further concerns. Parabens are commonly used in perfumes and colognes, but can also be found in shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, and lotions (more information here). 

Lead

A heavy metal present in a great number of makeup products, especially those with more pigment such as foundation, eye shadow, lipstick, and eyeliner. Lead is highly toxic when it entered the bloodstream and was found to cause neurological disorders, but also infertility and cancer. 

Lead is most commonly found in lip products including lipsticks, lip glosses, and lip liners. It is also found in hair dyes, mascaras, eyeshadows, blushes, and foundations. In the FDA lab study, lead was found in measurable or trace amounts in every product tested except for baby powder and most lotions (see the full results here). 

Talc

A mineral used in powder makeup such as pressed powder foundation and blush but also in liquid foundation. The mineral was found to be often contaminated with asbestos which is a known carcinogen. There has been a large number of studies linking talc powder to ovarian cancer according to a review published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention.

Talc is most famously found in baby powders, but it is also present in deodorants, feminine hygiene products, powdered eyeshadows and foundations, lipsticks and facemasks (more information here).

Conclusion

While most of these chemicals don’t come in amounts that would be scientifically proven to cause adverse health outcomes, chronic exposure to toxins from daily use of makeup may be a reason for concern as explained by Julia R. Barrett for Environmental Health Perspectives. 

If you want to protect your health and your good looks, I suggest that you use Melaleuca products. You can get more info by texting me 832 -766-2172 or check out this website: Follow a Greener Path.

If you want to stick with your current choices, at least read labels carefully and reduce the amount of makeup you use to protect your health.

This post was inspired by a fantastic article by Sophie Addison, a skincare expert. It has been fact-checked and edited by Soutanes..

http://theheartysoul.com/makeup-unhealthy/?t=THS&W=CON