But first... a link I had meant to share with you all at the beginning of the week.
The Environmental Working Group is a great organization committed to TOXIN-FREE living. They have several databases of products where you can search your specific product & then they rate it on a grading scale of A-B-C-D-F. It's an amazing resource to have & also really interesting to check out the products you've been using in your house to see just how toxic some of them could be!
http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners
So. Back to today's topic...
FRAGRANCES
Have you ever walked past a Bath & Body Works? Or one of those candle stores? Oh the smells! They might make you feel happy, relaxed, sexy, sleepy, or even overwhelmed. My husband, on the other hand, used to get a headache anytime I would make him go in there with me when we were dating. I used to wonder why that was. Well, now I know that not only are those smells overwhelming his senses, triggering toxic overload symptoms... but they were also affecting his hormones! Artificial fragrances and aromas affect all of our hormones whether we notice or not!
There are ingredients in synthetic fragrances called PHTHALATES. Phthalates are associated with causing cancer, are known endocrine disruptors and are also thought to cause reprouctive issues.
What does this mean?
EARLY PUBERTY IN GIRLS
LOW SPERM COUNT IN MALES
REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS IN DEVELOPING FETUS
Basically, they are mimicking Estrogen in the body. We all have Estrogen in some amount, but when your body thinks it has too much, due to the synthetic mimicking, it will not produce the amounts we actually need... THUS THE IMBALANCE. Now, our hormones are responsible for so much in our bodies! This includes responses to stress and injury, growth and development, absorption of nutrients, energy metabolism, water and electrolyte balance, reproduction, birth, and lactation. These are all crucial things!!!
There is another Estrogen-mimicking chemical in household and personal products called Triclosan. This happens to be in most anti-bacterial items like soaps, hand sanitizers, makeup, toothpaste, deodorant... but we'll get into all of those things next week.
So, here's the deal. Anything with synthetic fragrances is problematic for your sake, but also for the sake of your kids. As an adult, you've already gone through puberty. You've already developed your own endocrine system. So, damage can still be done, in the case of causing cancer or causing hormone imbalances, but not as great as it could to a baby in utero whose endocrine system is being formed or to our little ones who have not yet hit puberty. Personally, I do not have any desire to have my children begin to go through puberty any earlier than necessary. Think about the other possible effects though... your sons, who have not yet reproduced... if they are exposed to enough endocrine disruptors, this could mean potential infertility. I don't know about you mommas, but I want grandbabies some day.
I've compiled a list of a few great links for you to look through. This is just the beginning of information you could read on this subject! So, gather up the Glade, the Febreze & the Germ X... and toss 'em! Your future grandchildren will thank you!
See you all tomorrow!!
http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2014/08/expert-panel-confirms-fragrance-ingredient-can-cause-cancer
http://www.drfranklipman.com/15-ways-to-reduce-endocrine-disruptor-exposure-in-your-house/
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15808/how-endocrine-disruptors-seriously-mess-with-your-health.html
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/
http://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2012/05/new-york-times-kristof-lays-out-case-against-endocrine-disruptors
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11127/why-everyone-should-care-about-endocrine-disruptors.html
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