Mission Non-Toxic

6/6/2017

Mission non-toxic began when I recently started doing a lot of research into solving my own health issues by listening to more health/wellness related Podcasts and reading articles/books regarding gut health, hormone health, and auto-immune disease. A recurring theme I kept hearing and reading was that not only are our health issues related to what we eat, but also by what we put on our bodies (skincare/toothpaste/shampoo/laundry detergent etc.) and toxic environmental factors (including cleaning products).

Going non-toxic can seem a little overwhelming so I decided to put together this post with not only the reasons why I've become concerned and focused on transitioning towards a non-toxic lifestyle but also tips on where and how to start, some resources to narrow down what products are non-toxic, and products I'm using and loving thus far.

Why Non-Toxic?

High-Exposure & Toxicity of Commercial Products

According to the Environmental Working Group, women use an average of twelve personal care products per day which can expose them to a daily average of 168 chemical ingredients. Men are a bit lower at six products but can still be exposed to 85 harmful ingredients.

A survey by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health analyzed 2,983 chemicals in personal care and cleaning products and determined that: (1)

over 800 were toxic
nearly 800 caused acute toxicity (triggering a rapid reaction)
314 caused a biological mutation in the living system of the body
376 caused skin and eye irritation
148 could cause tumors in laboratory animals
218 caused reproductive complications

So, not only are we being exposed to an insane amount of toxins per day if using commercial products BUT we are allowed to because there is little to no regulation! Beauty Counter, a non-toxic skin care company states on their website that the United States has not passed a major federal law to regulate the safety of ingredients used in personal care products since 1938. WHAT!? That's 79 years ago!!

Something else INSANE is Europe bans about 1,300 chemicals from cosmetics that can cause major health issues but the United States only bans 11.(2) If countries that don't suffer from nearly as many health issues are leading by example, why are we not following?

Health Issues

Some of the chemicals used in commercial products (and food products) have been linked to serious health issues like cancer, auto-immune disease, hormone and endocrine disruption, leaky gut syndrome, and skin issues/irritation (eczema/psoriases/acne).

Below is a table from Environmental Working Group listing just a few of the harmful chemicals and their negative health effects.

A few other household toxins that could be problematic, listed by Dr. Josh Axe in his new book Eat Dirt are as follows:

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): These both can be found in hair care, cosmetics, and toothpastes. These surfactants can cause skin irritation and inflammation.
Parabens: Most likely to be found in personal care products like lotions, shaving gels, shampoo, etc. Parabens are easily absorbed into the body and can affect hormonal balance which is linked to a large number of health issues.
VOCs: Just the name gives it away, "volatile" organic compounds. These are neurotoxins, which means they can be harmful to your brain or nervous system. You'll find them present in things that have strong smells like perfumes, lotions, household cleaners, and air fresheners. Ever wonder why some of those things give you headaches?
DEA: Diethanolamine is one of the ingredients banned by Europe but not USA. It's used as an emulsifier and foaming agent in shampoos, toothpaste, and bubble baths. This emulsifier can disrupt your hormones and has been linked to stomach and esophageal cancer in lab animals.
Triclosan: Also used as a pesticide but is added to products like anti-bacterial soap, body wash, and toothpaste to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. That's fantastic right? Well it would be if Triclosan wasn't proven to accumulate in body tissues leading to kidney and liver problems.
Chlorine: You may automatically think pool water BUT chlorine is commonly found in tap and bottled water as well as cleaning products. Chlorine can cause not only skin/eye irritation but a study by Marywood University confirms that long-term exposure to chlorinated pools can cause symptoms of asthma.

Environmental Factors

Global Warming is a real thing and we are slowly killing our environment with toxins. Think about cleaning products for example, if your using toxic products, those are getting not only into the air but when you're cleaning your sink and toilet, into the water. Switching over to non-toxic products can help reduce your carbon footprint and can benefit the environment. If we all make little swaps, it can make a BIG difference.

Where and How to Start

Everyday Products | Check Toxicity Ratings

I didn't in one day throw out every single product I owned then went out and bought new ones. This has been a slow transition and one that I'm still working on. Over a few weeks, I started with my every day uses like my soap, skin care, deodorant, and toothpaste. We forget that our skin is one of our largest organs and absorbs whatever it's exposed to, it's pretty much the same as eating it. I already was using non-toxic cleaning products but I did also switch over my laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and dish soap since those are things I also am constantly exposed to.

Before tossing anything out, I checked my products to see what their ratings of toxicity were. Below are two great resources to do so.

Think Dirty App: Think Dirty is a smart-phone app that will change your life! You can scan bar codes of products right as you're shopping or search brand names. It will rate the product on a scale of 1-10, anything from 1-3 (green) is safe and that's the range you ideally want to be in. It will also list the ingredients of the product and rate those as well.
Environmental Working Group Cosmetics Database: This is pretty much the online/computer version of Think Dirty and a very reliable source. It works the same way with ratings/ingredient ratings. You can search any brand name or product. Link: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Products

Skincare

I've been using Luminance Skincare for about a week now and I love it thus far. My skin has shown signs of clearing up and less inflammation. I found out about it via That's So Maven Podcast by The Healthy Maven when she had the owner Kim Emanuel on. He was a former engineer whose wife was getting constant migraines from synthetic fragrances. He is insanely intelligent and used a scientific approach to skin care, and let me tell you, it works. You can get a free sample kit (just the chose of shipping) of their cleanser, toner, and moisturizer to try out by visiting their website.

I also have used Franklin & Whitman plant based skin care. I love their sugar scrubs, face masks, and serums. They make your skin feels like 100 bucks and make a great gift.

Soap

Dr. Bronner's Castille Soap is one of the best multi-purpose soaps on the market. You can literally use it for everything - body, hair, dishes, laundry, cleaning. I use it as a body wash when I shower and to clean my floors. You can get Dr Bronner's for a discounted price at Trader Joes, Target, or Amazon.

Toothpaste

I recently picked up Jason Powersmile Antiplaque & Whitening Toothpaste since it was on sale at Whole Foods. No complaints thus far! I've also heard Davids is another reliable brand. Look for flouride & SLS free.

Deodorant

I've been using Tom's Long Lasting Deodorant (wild lavender) for a couple months now. At first, I had to reapply often but then my body adjusted to it so give it some time. They carry this brand at CVS so it's easily accessible. I've also been hearing great things about the deodorant from a new company, Primally Pure which I may give a try next. Look for deodorants without aluminum and fragrance.

All-Purpose Cleaner

I've been using Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner for quite awhile now and it works like magic!! This stuff is amazing. You may have seen it on Shark Tank, which is how I found out about it. It's now sold at Target, Whole Foods, or Amazon.

Dishwasher Detergent & Dish Soap

I recently bought Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Powder because of it's rating. I haven't used it yet because I'm still finishing up a box of one from Trader Joes but I use their dish soap so I'm sure it works just as great!

Laundry Detergent

I'm currently using Honest 4-in-1 Laundry Packs and love how easy they are!
You just throw in one pack per load - no measuring or waste.

Shampoo

I just ordered Beauty Counter Daily Shampoo because a friend rants and raves about it. Beauty Counter is a very reputable company for skincare and makeup! Since I don't wear makeup often, I haven't switched any of that over yet but will definitely be looking into Beauty Counter when I do.

Well, that's it for now! There are a ton of non-toxic companies out there today, just do your research and look into the ingredients companies are using. Especially with skin care, stick with ingredients you can recognize. I hope you feel inspired to start your mission non-toxic, feel free to share your story and favorite products!

References
(1) Barry, R The Melaleuca Wellness Guide. Ed. Richard M. Barry. RM Barry Publications. 2011.
(2) http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/regulations/international-laws/

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