Sh*t Crunchy/Natural Mamas Say - Part 2!
Because I posted part 1 previously, I feel obligated to post the newest one.
Check out part 1 here.
Back to Basics: What You’re Putting Into Your Body When Brushing Your Teeth
In ancient times, toothpastes varied depending on the culture, although many cultures used crushed shells (including eggshells) and bones, and powdered ingredients such as ashes, bark, charcoal, herbs, and salt. When toothpaste was developed in the 1800’s, many toothpastes were made of soap and chalk. It wasn’t until after the 1850’s when toothpaste actually became made as paste. Before then, “toothpaste” was actually a powder that would turn into a paste substance after mixing with the saliva of the user.
Nowadays, toothpastes contain artificial foaming agents, detergents, artificial flavors, artificial colors, sweeteners, and humectants, such as glycerin. Some commercial toothpastes even include Triclosan (a registered pesticide according to the EPA, and an antimicrobial agent that is known to create super-bugs). Triclosan has been shown to cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics, and when mixed with chlorine found in drinking water, can form Chloroform (a probable human carcinogen according to the EPA).
Let’s look at some other common ingredients in your tube of toothpaste:
Fluoride: A neurotoxin that was often used as a poison and insecticide in the past. (See my post on water fluoridation here, and a link about dental fluorosis here).
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): An chemical foaming agent used to create the foam and suds in toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. I posted about the dangers of SLS & why you should go SLS-free here. Remember, foam, bubbles and suds do not = clean! We are conditioned to think that way and feel that a product not foaming may not be working as well, but the foam really is all smoke & mirrors. It’s just a chemical added to your products to purposely create foam.
Saccharin: An artificial sweetener that has been linked to cancer.
Artificial colors, such as FD&C Blue 1, FD&C Red 3, FD&C Red 40, FD&C Red 33, and Yellow 10 Lake: These colors are lab-created dyes that have either been banned in other countries, or banned by the FDA for other uses (such as some eye cosmetics, etc.), and many of these dyes have been linked to toxicity and various tumors. For some reason though, these artificial colors are still allowed in our toothpastes & mouthwashes (which are absorbed through our gums and often minimally swallowed).
Glycerin: A humectant used to keep the paste moist & smooth. Although a natural ingredient that is safe for use, glycerin forms a sticky layer on teeth that has been shown to take 27 rinses to wash off of the surface of teeth. I don’t know anyone who rinses 27 times. The film formed on the teeth due to the glycerin content in toothpastes blocks saliva from coming in contact with teeth, & therefore, blocks the ability for teeth to remineralize.
Any of the ingredients in our toothpastes are easily absorbed through our gums and enter into our bloodstream. But how often have you stopped to think about your toothpaste, the ingredients in it and how it’s effecting your teeth and your health? We tend to buy what’s on a shelf and assume that it’s safe. Why would anything sold in a store be toxic to my health? Plus, my toothpaste is FDA approved, so it must be safe. Well, that’s what you’d think, but the truth is, many of the ingredients in commercial hygiene products are horrible for your heath. Look into these ingredients yourself instead of trusting that the FDA or your favorite store or brand will keep you safe, because, well…they won’t.
Ingredients are often approved based off of the amount of that specific ingredient that is allowed into the product. This doesn’t take into consideration that the ingredients/chemicals in products that we use every day, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, lotion, etc., accumulate in our bodies. This causes a toxic, chemical build up overtime from the constant use of these ingredients. Ingredients that maybe have been determined “toxic, but safe in low doses” is now a high dose ingredient in your body. Not to mention that the ingredients SLS and SLES allow your body to absorb more of whatever it is that’s in the product to begin with. Basically, it enhances absorb-ability. So now, not only is the SLS itself harmful, but it’s allowing the other harmful ingredients in the product you are using to be more easily absorbed by your body. Great.
And you also cannot just assume that because something is a known “all natural” product, that it really, truely, is! A great example of this is Tom’s of Maine, a well-known “all natural” brand. Although they sell a fluoride-free version of toothpaste, their toothpastes list SLS as an ingredient. They are able to get away with this as an ingredient in their “all natural” product by stating that it is “derived from coconut and/or palm kernal oil”. Although Burt’s Bees, another popular “all natural” brand, does not use SLS in their fluoride-free toothpaste, it does use glycerin (described above). And as we know, glycerin is an all-natural ingredient, however, in this specific application (toothpaste), it is bad for us (since it prevents our teeth to naturally re-mineralize themselves, the way nature intended).
The best way to steer clear of unnecessary ingredients in your toothpaste is to research and read labels! Read the ingredients on your tube of toothpaste and find out what each ingredient does, why it’s used, and any harmful effects associated with it. Even with all natural products, read labels to ensure the ingredients truly are all natural and will benefit your teeth/gums in some way. Another way to avoid unnecessary ingredients and uncertainty is to make your own toothpaste or tooth powder. I will end this weeks post on that note and will post a few homemade recipes for toothpaste and tooth powder for next Sunday’s Back to Basics post. Stay tuned!
"Monsanto preys on popularity of omega-3s by developing GMO soybean that produces fake fish oil"
Although still absurd, Monsanto doesn’t surprise me. The FDA, however, blows my mind every time — passing ridiculous things that are obviously not good, yet putting up a fight against anything that is good/healthy.
I actually expect it at this point, but it’s still mind blowing.
"That's the FDA, killing off Americans one meal at a time while protecting the profits of the very companies that are poisoning us with their deadly ingredients."
Finally, the FDA admitted that chicken meat sold in the U.S. contains arsenic (a cancerous toxic chemical). They claim, however, that the meat is safe to eat. Meanwhile, they continuously go after herbal and nutritional companies that promote health and often shut them down. They also do everything they can to scare people into thinking that Raw Milk is dangerous to drink (which is completely healthy for you and better for you than pasteurized milk, as long as the raw milk is handled well at the farm it comes from…more on this in a future post).
At this point, I’m more inclined to believe the opposite of whatever the FDA/government says about certain foods/products regarding health. In many situations, the FDA has failed to tell the truth to the public, or has horrible standards for what is considered “safe” or “healthy”.
(Click link above for complete article)
Watch this short video of THE STORY OF COSMETICS from The Story of Stuff.
Less than 20% of chemicals used in our cosmetics are tested for safety. LESS THAN 20% of what we use on our hair, face, skin, etc. is tested before it is allowed to be sold on a shelf. And the chemicals that are tested and passed are usually considered “safe” based on ridiculous standards, and without knowing the long-term effects on human health. Doesn’t anyone else see what’s wrong here?? What you put on your skin is JUST as important as what food you put in your body. Your skin is your largest organ, and everything that goes on your skin can be absorbed through your skin, and into your body.
This is a very serious issue! Cosmetics/skin care products and their ingredients are not regulated by the FDA! Although, you’d think that if you’re buying products from a shelf in a store, in the 21st century, that what you’re buying must be safe. Right? Wrong. These companies will do whatever they can do make a product that seems to please consumers (mostly by fooling people), in order to make profit. And that’s what it’s all about. For them, at least. As for us, we’re left to figure these things out on our own — by reading labels, and deciphering what they mean.
Find out how safe, or unsafe, your daily products are, here:
Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database
(This is the website that introduced me to all natural skin care, and made me more interested in finding out /what’s in the products that I use & have in my house.
Other informative websites, here:
Your Sunscreen May Cause More Harm Than Good
Summer’s almost here, and there’s no better time than now to take a look at your sunscreen (sunblock, suntan lotion, etc) and learn a thing or two about what yours should and shouldn’t have on the ingredients list:
According to the Environmental Working Group, the most effective, and least harmful sun protection should have the minerals zinc or titanium listed as main ingredients. These are the ingredients that actually block out the sun’s harmful rays without the use of harmful chemicals, and have a lower chance of penetrating the skin, therefore getting into the bloodstream. However, avoid sun-protecting sprays, since the zinc and titanium nano-particles can be inhaled this way.
Sunscreens that use chemicals as UV blockers are often hormone disruptors that penetrate the skin. Sunblock should NOT contain Benzophenone-3 (Oxybenzone), which is a hormone disruptor that is absorbed though the skin. You should also avoid sunscreens that contain Vitamin A (aka: retinyl palmitate, or retinol on ingredients labels). Vitamin A is often added to creams/lotions due to it’s anti-aging properties — this is also the same reason it is added to many sunscreens. However, studies show that vitamin A is photocarcinogenic, which means, when exposed to sunlight, it becomes cancerous. When exposed to the sun, Vitamin A can do more damage than good. This can further damage the skin, and create free radicals, increasing the risk of cancer.
By the way, don’t assume that just because it’s sold in a store, that your sunscreen is safe. The FDA has not yet set finalized regulations for sunscreen (or for any cosmetic products, for that matter). The FDA claimed it would start to regulate sunscreen back in the summer of 1978 — almost 33 years later, and sunscreen is still not regulated.
Take a look at the EWG’s Top Sunscreen Picks for 2011:
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/
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Visit these links to learn about these sunscreen issues in more detail:
Nanomaterials and Hormone Distruptors in Sunscreens: http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/sunscreens-exposed/nanomaterials-and-hormone-disruptors-in-sunscreens/
The Problem with Vitamin A: http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/sunscreens-exposed/the-problem-with-vitamin-a/
FDA Fails Consumers: http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/sunscreens-exposed/fda-fails-consumers/
