Lets start with the question ‘What is natural skincare?’ Well the problem is there is no definitive description of natural so companies can include one natural ingredient such as Aloe Vera juice or Jojoba oil giving you the impression the product has all natural ingredients without actually saying so. “Seeing is believing” as they say and some skincare product companies use colours and packaging to lure you into the belief that the product is natural. Think about it. Does pure mean natural? Does clear mean natural? Does ‘Includes Minerals’ mean natural? Fragrance free? No. Natural in our opinion (and you are free to challenge and comment on this view) means that the source is not artificial i.e. man made or produced by chemical synthesis (synthetic). It originates from a natural source such as tree, plant, flower, seed and is extracted without altering the chemical make up of the material.

What effect do artificial ingredients have on my body?

Well petrochemicals are pretty bad as they actually have no nutritional value. For example petroleum jelly like vaseline acts as a barrier to the external elements and the skin whereas shea butter contains valuable nutrients that are readily absorbed into the skin. The cumulative effect of using artificial ingredients is the potential for it to be an irritant, carcinogen or neurotoxic and disrupt hormones after years of use and research has also supported links to breast cancer in particular with women. In addition the body forgets how to produce oils naturally. The best example of this is when you have been using Vaseline for years but forget it one day, your lips become so dry, whereas if you had never used it before your lips will produce their own oils for natural moisturising.

The skin is permeable which means that it allows molecules to pass through it and enter the bloodstream which is great for delivering essential oils for their therapeutic benefit, but bad if you are using a toxic artificial ingredient.

It is also important to mention and so as to add balance to the argument for naturally produced skincare products that truly natural does not mean that it cannot be toxic. Here are a few examples of natural ingredients that are toxic, alcohol (ethanol) for example is highly toxic at the wrong level of consumption, some essential oils such as Camphor, Wintergreen and Mugwort are also deemed extremely toxic.

Ingredients to look out for:

1. Petrochemicals Petroleum based e.g. petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin – it prevents skin from breathing and has no nutritional value. It is very cheap to produce which is why it is used in abundance, but it can exacerbate eczema and cause dermatitis.

2. Parabens – They are found in the ingredients list of skincare products like creams, shower gels, lotions and liquid soaps. They are synthetic preservatives which can cause skin irritations and have been linked to breast cancer as they mimic the hormone oestrogen. A study (Dabre et al 2004) found traces of parabens in breast cancer tissue. Ones to look out for is anything ending in ‘paraben’ e.g. butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben & ethylparaben. Be very clear, preservatives are needed to kill bacteria in anything containing water, but there are kinder alternatives to the parabens that may carry health risks.

3. Diethanolamine (DEA) – also listed as Cocamide DEA, TEA, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide DEA – it is used as an emulsifier to mix oil and water it also can increase the foaming potential in personal care products and can thicken water – there have been safety issues around this ingredient as when they mix with other ingredients they could be carcinogenic.

4. Artificial colours – are linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and allergy according to the Food Standards Agency.

5. SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) & SLES (sodium laureth sulphate) – These are another commonly used foam enhancing ingredient. You will find this ingredient in liquid hand soap, shower gel and bubble bath. If SLS or SLES are used in high concentrations (this is determined by the company and not shared with the customer) it could cause skin irritations. They are legal because they are used in wash off products, however we tend to use these products several times a day and some residue may be left, which will have a cumulative effect.

6. Triclosan – an antibacterial thought to be a carcinogen and is contained in some hand soap, deodorants, shaving cream and toothpaste. Overuse of this ingredient could have the opposite effect where bacteria could become resistant to it.

8. Formaldehyde (formalin / formal and methyl aldehyde, DMDM Hydantoin and Urea-Imidazolidinyl) is thought to be a carcinogen. It is released when mixed with releasers mentioned above and can irritate the eyes, nose and throat areas.

9. Perfume & fragrances – are synthetic and often contain over 100 ingredients to get the ‘right’ scent. The trouble is, it is not a requirement to list these ingredients, so you will just see ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’ therefore not knowing if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.

Eco cleaning around the home
Some cleaning products are not subject to labelling laws as noted in the Green Cleaning articles so the dangers are hidden. Buyer beware!

The information above refers to possible causes of illness and does not imply that if you use these products you will get any of these illnesses. We are simply saying that you could reduce the risk by not using them.

Americans are too heavy — but not just on the scale.

Metals, not fat, are making us heavy. In fact, almost 40 percent of us have toxic levels of lead in our bodies. And we don’t even know it.

Lead toxicity does have symptoms, like headaches, insomnia, irritability, low sex drive, tremors, mood problems, nausea, depression, memory difficulties, trouble concentrating, poor coordination, and constipation. But it’s hard for most us to realize that they may be caused by lead poisoning.

At a recent medical conference on heavy metals and health, I was surprised to hear about new research that the media has been ignored. For example, a 2006 study in the journal Circulation should have been major news.

In that study, researchers measured the blood lead levels of 13,946 adults and followed them for up to 12 years to track what diseases they developed and why they died. (1)

It’s true that the average person’s blood lead levels have dropped dramatically since lead was removed from gasoline and house paint several decades ago.

But our levels of lead are still high, because we are still exposed to lead in our soil and water, as well as from our own bones, where we store it.

The level considered “safe” by the government is less than 10 micrograms/deciliter. But in this study, blood levels of lead over 2 micrograms/deciliter significantly increased the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death.

After researchers controlled for all other risk factors, they found that people with lead levels over 2 micrograms/deciliter had a 25 percent higher risk of dying from any cause, a 55 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease, a 151 percent higher risk of having a heart attack, and an 89 percent higher risk of having a stroke.

But that’s not all.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a strong link between high blood pressure in postmenopausal women and blood lead levels. That’s because bone loss during menopause releases lead and injures blood vessels, which raises blood pressure.

Another study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that reducing lead levels in patients with kidney failure by using chelation therapy could prevent further loss of kidney function, save billions in healthcare costs, and eliminate the need for dialysis in millions of people. (3)

Lead has also been linked to ADHD, developmental and learning problems, and autism.

Yet most doctors don’t offer chelation therapy. They haven’t learned how to deal with environmental toxins like lead.

That’s a huge concern, because research shows that children with decreased IQ scores are those who have lead levels between just 1 and 10 micrograms/deciliter. (4)

And more than 10 percent of poor and inner city children have lead exposure levels higher than 10 micrograms/deciliter!

I recently treated a young boy with extremely high lead levels who had Asperger’s syndrome, severe ADHD, and violent behavior. The lead was probably passed to him from his mother in the womb.

But once we used chelation and nutritional support to eliminate his lead poisoning, his attention, behavior, and social skills got much better.

Lead isn’t going away. It’s still in our soil and water. We track lead into our homes from contaminated soil. Today regular house dust often contains 17 times the level of lead it once did.

And in Washington, DC, the government recently had to provide free water filters for everyone because up to 20 percent of the city’s tap water may be contaminated with lead.

But there’s good news. There are some ways you can treat yourself for lead toxicity. Do the following:

1. Test your lead levels. The easiest test is a simple blood lead test, but make sure the lab can measure extremely low levels of lead. Levels higher than 2 micrograms/deciliter should be treated.

Because the blood test only checks for current or ongoing exposures, you’ll also need a heavy metal challenge test with DMSA, EDTA, or DMPS, which you can get from a doctor trained in heavy metal detoxification. (See www.functionalmedicine.org or www.acam.org to find a qualified doctor.) Consider undergoing chelation therapy if your lead levels are high.

2. Reduce your exposures by removing your shoes before you enter your home. Ask guests to do the same.

3. Test your water for heavy metals.

4. Buy a carbon or reverse osmosis drinking water filter.

5. Take 1,000 milligrams of buffered ascorbic acid (vitamin C) a day, this helps remove lead from the body.

6. Take 2,000 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily to prevent your bones from releasing lead into your bloodstream.

By following these steps, you can reduce your lead exposure and get — and feel — healthier.

REFERENCES:

(1) Menke A, Muntner P, Batuman V, Silbergeld EK, Guallar E. Blood lead below 0.48 micromol/L (10 microg/dL) and mortality among US adults. Circulation. 2006 Sep 26;114(13):1388-94.

(2) Nash D, Magder L, Lustberg M, Sherwin RW, Rubin RJ, Kaufmann RB, Silbergeld, Blood lead, blood pressure, and hypertension in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. JAMA. 2003 Mar 26;289(12):1523-32.

(3) Lin JL, Lin-Tan DT, Hsu KH, Yu CC Environmental lead exposure and progression of chronic renal diseases in patients without diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2003 Jan 23;348(4):277-86

(4) Canfield RL, Henderson CR Jr, Cory-Slechta DA, Cox C, Jusko TA, Lanphear BP.Intellectual impairment in children with blood lead concentrations below 10 microg per deciliter. N Engl J Med. 2003 Apr 17;348(16):1517-26.

Americans are too heavy — but not just on the scale.

Metals, not fat, are making us heavy. In fact, almost 40 percent of us have toxic levels of lead in our bodies. And we don’t even know it.

Lead toxicity does have symptoms, like headaches, insomnia, irritability, low sex drive, tremors, mood problems, nausea, depression, memory difficulties, trouble concentrating, poor coordination, and constipation. But it’s hard for most us to realize that they may be caused by lead poisoning.

At a recent medical conference on heavy metals and health, I was surprised to hear about new research that the media has been ignored. For example, a 2006 study in the journal Circulation should have been major news.

In that study, researchers measured the blood lead levels of 13,946 adults and followed them for up to 12 years to track what diseases they developed and why they died. (1)

It’s true that the average person’s blood lead levels have dropped dramatically since lead was removed from gasoline and house paint several decades ago.

But our levels of lead are still high, because we are still exposed to lead in our soil and water, as well as from our own bones, where we store it.

The level considered “safe” by the government is less than 10 micrograms/deciliter. But in this study, blood levels of lead over 2 micrograms/deciliter significantly increased the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death.

After researchers controlled for all other risk factors, they found that people with lead levels over 2 micrograms/deciliter had a 25 percent higher risk of dying from any cause, a 55 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease, a 151 percent higher risk of having a heart attack, and an 89 percent higher risk of having a stroke.

But that’s not all.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a strong link between high blood pressure in postmenopausal women and blood lead levels. That’s because bone loss during menopause releases lead and injures blood vessels, which raises blood pressure.

Another study in The New England Journal of Medicine found that reducing lead levels in patients with kidney failure by using chelation therapy could prevent further loss of kidney function, save billions in healthcare costs, and eliminate the need for dialysis in millions of people. (3)

Lead has also been linked to ADHD, developmental and learning problems, and autism.

Yet most doctors don’t offer chelation therapy. They haven’t learned how to deal with environmental toxins like lead.

That’s a huge concern, because research shows that children with decreased IQ scores are those who have lead levels between just 1 and 10 micrograms/deciliter. (4)

And more than 10 percent of poor and inner city children have lead exposure levels higher than 10 micrograms/deciliter!

I recently treated a young boy with extremely high lead levels who had Asperger’s syndrome, severe ADHD, and violent behavior. The lead was probably passed to him from his mother in the womb.

But once we used chelation and nutritional support to eliminate his lead poisoning, his attention, behavior, and social skills got much better.

Lead isn’t going away. It’s still in our soil and water. We track lead into our homes from contaminated soil. Today regular house dust often contains 17 times the level of lead it once did.

And in Washington, DC, the government recently had to provide free water filters for everyone because up to 20 percent of the city’s tap water may be contaminated with lead.

But there’s good news. There are some ways you can treat yourself for lead toxicity. Do the following:

1. Test your lead levels. The easiest test is a simple blood lead test, but make sure the lab can measure extremely low levels of lead. Levels higher than 2 micrograms/deciliter should be treated.

Because the blood test only checks for current or ongoing exposures, you’ll also need a heavy metal challenge test with DMSA, EDTA, or DMPS, which you can get from a doctor trained in heavy metal detoxification. (See www.functionalmedicine.org or www.acam.org to find a qualified doctor.) Consider undergoing chelation therapy if your lead levels are high.

2. Reduce your exposures by removing your shoes before you enter your home. Ask guests to do the same.

3. Test your water for heavy metals.

4. Buy a carbon or reverse osmosis drinking water filter.

5. Take 1,000 milligrams of buffered ascorbic acid (vitamin C) a day, this helps remove lead from the body.

6. Take 2,000 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily to prevent your bones from releasing lead into your bloodstream.

By following these steps, you can reduce your lead exposure and get — and feel — healthier.

REFERENCES:

(1) Menke A, Muntner P, Batuman V, Silbergeld EK, Guallar E. Blood lead below 0.48 micromol/L (10 microg/dL) and mortality among US adults. Circulation. 2006 Sep 26;114(13):1388-94.

(2) Nash D, Magder L, Lustberg M, Sherwin RW, Rubin RJ, Kaufmann RB, Silbergeld, Blood lead, blood pressure, and hypertension in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. JAMA. 2003 Mar 26;289(12):1523-32.

(3) Lin JL, Lin-Tan DT, Hsu KH, Yu CC Environmental lead exposure and progression of chronic renal diseases in patients without diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2003 Jan 23;348(4):277-86

(4) Canfield RL, Henderson CR Jr, Cory-Slechta DA, Cox C, Jusko TA, Lanphear BP.Intellectual impairment in children with blood lead concentrations below 10 microg per deciliter. N Engl J Med. 2003 Apr 17;348(16):1517-26.