THe 3 Nasties

We wrote about the 3 Nasties--BPA, Phthalates, and Parabens, back in March of 2009 when we first started this blog. Check it out by clicking here.

Yesterday I was watching Dr Oz and he was discussing these chemicals, and what they are doing to us. Frankly, it was disturbing. Check out the article and video clip here.

An excerpt:Phthalates

These difficult-to-pronounce ingredients help fragrance linger on the body
after you have applied a lotion or body cream to your skin. They’re also found
in toys, floor coverings, detergent, soaps, nail polish, and shampoos.
Unfortunately, they mimic
the hormone estrogen and have been linked to reproductive problems in
rodents, such as lower
testosterone and fetal malformation. Often they are not listed on beauty
products, so the best rule of thumb is to avoid any products with fragrance.

Parabens

Found in moisturizing shampoos and body lotions, parabens are the most widely
used preservatives in the beauty product industry, and they also act similar to
estrogen in our bodies. One study found parabens in the breast
cancer tissue of 19 out of 20 women studied; experts worry there could be
a connection.

Use these chemicals as a litmus test for a healthy product. If you see them
listed on the label (often as methylparaben, butylparaben, or propylparaben), it
shows that the manufacturer is not concerned about limiting exposure to
potentially harmful chemicals.

What Can You Do?

• Drink water from stainless steel bottles
• Avoid plastics with the numbers 3, 6, and 7 on the bottom
• Never heat plastic in the microwave (even if it says it is microwave
  safe)
• Choose frozen and fresh produce over canned
• Use BPA-free baby bottles
• Avoid any products that contain fragrances; opt for those that get their
  scent from essential oils
• Stay away from parabens
• Choose products that are paraben- and phthalate-free

Dispose of leftover medication by throwing it in the trash with coffee grinds or cat litter (to keep harmful medications from being picked from the trash), return the unused portion to your pharmacy, or go online to find your local hazardous waste disposal facility.

We carry a large assortment of glass food containers, stainless steel water bottles and travel mugs, personal care products (such as Druide) and home products (like simplicity candles) that are naturally fragranced and free of the nasties.