Last year I was a speaker at an Earth Day event in Los Angeles. The speaker following my presentation addressed the issues of home health care products. Out of curiosity, I stuck around to listen. Boy did I get an education!!! On average, the typical American comes in contact with over 150 chemicals a day from home health care products (e.g., scented soaps, shampoos, deodorants, cream rinses, hand lotions, tooth paste, lip balm, sun block, shaving cream, etc.), many of which are petroleum-based. The skin is your largest organ and absorbs these chemicals like your lungs absorb the air you breath. What is the result of all of these chemicals on your skin, in your blood, and roaming through your body? The answer isn’t pretty! Phthalates (phi-lates) are one such chemical compound, BPA is another (and its in A LOT of in plastic containers that ultimately leaches out into contents). Experts report that BPA acts like a hormone and it is linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, CHD, birth defects, and many other chronic health care issues. You have a set of lymph nodes that run along side the underarm area, which is where most people lather up their deodorant. Breast cancer patients are told NOT to use chemical deodorants. The rest of us would be wise to follow this advice as well. Andy Weil said the body is like a river. If you stop polluting it with chemicals, all things being equal, it will return to a state of homeostasis. Good advice!
• Stress Tip of the Day
Regardless of how much you might dislike the topic of chemistry, it would be in your best interest to understand the concept of chemical toxicity and stress to your body. Experts call this “bio-accumulation.” While the body is rather resilient, it does have its tipping point (also called disease). Emotional stress quickens this tipping point. How many of these chemicals do you come in contact with each day? Start counting. Sure the products most people use are inexpensive and perhaps convenient when shopping, but what is the real coast of health when the chemistry experiment goes bad? Please consider the alternative: Organic home health care products. Please also consider home cleaning products as well.
• Books Worth Noting:
The other night I heard an interview with author, Rick Smith, who wrote a book titled, Slow Death by Rubber Duck. This book should be read by everybody regarding this topic of plastics and our health.
Here are a few links and I HIGHLY recommend this book:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123902198
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-goleman/death-by-rubber-duckie-is_b_202085.html
• Photo of the Day:
I like to think I am cautious and conscious about this topic (and I use organic home health care products), but a quick survey of items in my bathroom gave significant pause for thought.
• Quote for the Day:
“Don’t put anything in your mouth you wouldn’t put on your skin or hair.” —Kevin Trudeau
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
