Most personal care items available on shelves of the supermarket require preservatives to assure no contamination from bacteria, fungi, and yeasts that could cause rapid breakdown of the product and perhaps harm the user. Enter parabens. Parabens are a preservative readily chosen because they are cheap and can easily be used. In fact, they are the most commonly used preservative for personal care products in the United States. Recently more items are displaying a “paraben free” label, which may lead many people to wonder why parabens are a problem in the first place. More research has revealed that parabens mimic the hormone estrogen in the body and may contribute too many estrogen dominant disorders and other endocrine disruption like:
- Breast cancer
- Osteoporosis
- PMS
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Of all personal care items containing parabens, antiperspirants and deodorants appear to be especially harmful as they are in close proximity to breast tissue. In fact, high concentrations of parabens have been discovered in breast cancer tumors. So, check your labels to see if your items contain any paraben ingredients like:
- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Heptylparaben
- Methylparaben
- Propylparaben
Better yet, choose personal care products with natural preservatives like:
- Citrus seed extract
- Vitamins A, C, E
Check out Aubrey Organics products: http://www.aubrey-organics.com/
WASH YOUR HANDS!
Step up and scrub up:
- Use warm water, not hot or cold, and soap (forget antibacterial).
- Lather top and bottom of hands, wrists, and between fingers. Clean under nails, too.
- Wash for at least 15-20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice).
- Rinse off and dry with a clean towel.
GIVE ME FIVE
Five benefits of zinc:
- Improve tinnitus (ringing of the ears)
- Prevent vision loss
- Reduce risk of prostate cancer
- Shorten healing time
- Treat eczema
