Documentary: The Disappearing Male

By Dr. Mercola
The chemical industry is only 100 years old, but in this short time they’ve created substances that may now be threatening human survival.

A handful of these chemicals are detailed in the film The Disappearing Male, which gives an educational glimpse into exactly why environmental chemicals, and particularly the gender-bending kind, are so detrimental.

It’s becoming quite clear that chemicals in the environment are prompting significant changes to animals, especially males, and that extends to human ‘animals’ as well.

Infertility Rates are Rising as Sperm Counts Drop

One couple in the film described the waiting room at their infertility clinic as similar to an emergency room – packed with lines extending down the hall. Infertility is more common than many think these days. An estimated 1 in 6 American couples struggle with getting pregnant each year¹ and there's compelling evidence that hormone-disrupting environmental chemicals are partly to blame.

The problem with low sperm counts has become so severe that the World Health Organization has had to continually drop what’s considered a ‘normal’ sperm count to lower and lower levels over the last several decades, lest too many men be classified as infertile.

Chemicals that may disrupt sperm count and quality are pervasive in today's modern world. They lurk in personal care products, food containers, medical tubing, toys and more. Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates are two of the most well known culprits.
Bisphenol A (BPA)

BPA is a common ingredient in many plastics, including those in water bottles and children's toys, as well as the lining of most canned goods. It was recently discovered that even many cash register receipts contain this chemical. BPA is so pervasive it has been detected in the umbilical cord blood of 90 percent of newborn infants tested!

Recent studies have confirmed suspicions that BPA is affecting male fertility, primarily by reducing semen quality. One such study, which provides the first epidemiological evidence of an adverse effect on semen quality, was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility.² The researchers found that higher urine levels of BPA were significantly associated with:

1. Decreased sperm concentration
2. Decreased total sperm count
3. Decreased sperm vitality
4. Decreased sperm motility

Compared with those who did not have detectable levels, the men with detectable levels of BPA had more than:

• Three times the risk of lowered sperm concentration and lower sperm vitality
• Four times the risk of lower sperm count
• Twice the risk of lower sperm motility

In women, BPA can also reduce chances of successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) by interfering with oocyte (immature egg cell) quality. Two recent studies attest to this. One found an inverse association between BPA concentration and normal fertilization,³ and the other found that "BPA was detected in the urine of the majority of women undergoing IVF, and was inversely associated with number of oocytes retrieved and peak estradiol levels."⁴

Phthalates
Phthalates are another group of chemicals that wreak havoc with reproductive health. Exposure to phthalates can lead to incomplete testicular descent in fetuses, reduced sperm counts, testicular atrophy or structural abnormality and inflammation in newborns.

Phthalates are commonly found in vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, soap, shampoo, deodorants, fragrances, hair spray, nail polish, plastic bags, food packaging, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage bags, intravenous medical tubing, and more.

A 200% Increase in Male Genital Birth Defects

Gender-bending chemicals are the likely culprit behind a 200% increase in male genital birth defects in recent years, the film cited, highlighting one woman who believes her son’s undescended testes falls into this category.

Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act in 1996, which required the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) to screen pesticides and other environmental chemicals for their potential to affect the endocrine systems of both animals and humans. According to the EPA:⁵

“In the 1990s, some scientists proposed that certain chemicals might be disrupting the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. A variety of chemicals have been found to disrupt the endocrine systems of animals in laboratory studies, and compelling evidence shows that endocrine systems of certain fish and wildlife have been affected by chemical contaminants, resulting in developmental and reproductive problems.”

However, despite the fact that nearly two decades have passed since the beginning of the program, the market is literally flooded with chemicals that have the potential to wreak havoc on reproductive health, especially when exposure occurs in utero or during childhood (as is often the case).

The strongest evidence showing that exposure to environmental chemicals can lead to disruption of endocrine function comes from the bizarre changes seen in a number of wildlife species, such as male fish transforming into females; frogs developing a variety of defects like multiple testes or ovaries; and hermaphrodite bears, just to name a few.

The effects are being seen in humans as well. The endocrine-disrupting chemicals phthalates, for instance are linked to testicular atrophy or structural abnormality. In experiments on rats, phthalates have demonstrably blocked the action of fetal androgens, which affects gender development in male offspring, leading to undescended testes at birth and testicular tumors later in life.

Studies have also found that boys whose mothers had high phthalate exposures while pregnant were much more likely to have certain demasculinized traits and produce less testosterone.

The more a pregnant woman is exposed to high levels of phthalates, the greater the risk her son will have smaller genitals and incomplete testicular descent, leading to impaired reproductive development. The chemical also appears to make the overall genital tracts of boys slightly more feminine. It is believed that phthalates have these adverse effects because they reduce testosterone synthesis by interfering with an enzyme needed to produce the male hormone.

Even the Most Vulnerable Are Being Inundated with Gender-Bending Chemicals

Studies have shown that premature babies are exposed to extremely high concentrations of phthalates, which are widely used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in medical tubing and other medical equipment. With each plastic tube that a newborn is hooked up to, the rate of phthalate exposure increases. And for those premature infants who spend weeks and months in the neonatal intensive care unit, the exposure levels can be extraordinary.

A report released by the nonprofit organization Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) found that male infants exposed to phthalates through medical procedures are most at risk of suffering health effects.⁶ The phthalate di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, or DEHP, in particular, is raising concern because of research linking it to:

Disturbed lactation	"Decreased dysgenesis syndrome": A syndrome involving cryptorchidism (undescended testicles), hypospadias (birth defect in which opening of urethra is on the underside of the penis instead of at the end), oligospermia (low sperm count), and testicular cancer
Interference with sexual differentiation in utero	Enlarged prostate glands
Impaired ovulatory cycles and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)	Numerous hormonal disruptions
Early or delayed puberty	Breast cancer and uterine fibroids

A typical American comes in regular contact with some 6,000 chemicals and an untold number of potentially toxic substances on a less frequent basis. There are approximately 75,000 chemicals regularly manufactured and imported by US industries, so you could be exposed to any number of them. Disturbingly, most of them have never been adequately tested for safety for adults, let alone their impacts on the most vulnerable among us, our children.

The chemical industry has, in fact, resisted testing chemicals on developing bodies, as might occur when a fetus is exposed in utero, likely because they’d have trouble explaining away all the ill effects that are likely to be revealed. Furthermore, there is absolutely no toxicology research that takes into account the effects of multiple, simultaneous chemical exposures and their resultant synergistic toxicity, which is what actually happens to exposed populations in the real world.

The Chemical Industry Is One of the Most Powerful Lobbyists

Like the biotech, pharmaceutical and processed food industries, the chemical industry wields incredible power over Congress, and uses it to have bills passed in their favor – and regulatory violations overlooked. Perhaps that is why, despite the proven risks, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has denied a petition to ban BPA from food packaging. The FDA and most other US regulatory agencies are backed by pro-industry, pro-corporation advocates who often have massive conflicts of interest when it comes to protecting the health of the public.

In fact, the revolving door between private industry and government oversight agencies like the FDA is so well established these days, it has become business as usual to read about scandal, conflicts of interest and blatant pro-industry bias, even when it flies in the face of science or the law. The fact is, if you want to stay safe, you can’t depend on the FDA, the EPA or any other government agency; you’ve got to look out for yourself.

Protecting Yourself in a Chemically Driven World

No one knows what health consequences to this toxic chemical cocktail will cause to an adult, let alone a developing baby. Unfortunately, it is our future generations, and possibly the species as a whole, who will likely pay the heftiest price for this lack of safety concern, as an embryo and fetus develop at a much faster rate than adults.

While this development occurs, cell division and growth is rapid -- and these rapid changes provide many opportunities for mistakes to occur. It’s clear that boys appear to be at particular risk but, really, no one is safe. I encourage everyone with children or grandchildren to review Theo Colburn's Our Stolen Future, which is one of the BEST resources on this topic. Further, while you make the switch to remove and reduce chemicals around your home, remember that one of the ways to significantly reduce your toxic load is to pay careful attention to what you eat.

Organically-grown, biodynamic whole foods are really the key to success here, and, as an added bonus, when you eat right, you're also optimizing your body's natural detoxification system, which can help eliminate toxins your body encounters from other sources. Rather than compile an endless list of what you should avoid, it's far easier to focus on what you should do to lead a healthy lifestyle with as minimal a chemical exposure as possible:

1. As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and organic free-range foods to reduce your exposure to pesticides and fertilizers.
2. Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury, supplement with a high-quality purified krill oil, or eat fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity.
3. Eat mostly raw, fresh foods, steering clear of processed, prepackaged foods of all kinds. This way you automatically avoid artificial food additives, including dangerous artificial sweeteners, food coloring and MSG.
4. Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap and canned foods (which are often lined with BPA-containing liners).
5. Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or bath).
6. Only use natural cleaning products in your home.
7. Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group has a great database⁷ to help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals. I also offer one of the highest quality organic skin care lines, shampoo and conditioner, and body butter that are completely natural and safe.
8. Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.
9. Replace your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware.
10. When redoing your home, look for "green," toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings.
11. Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric, or install a glass shower door. Most all flexible plastics, like shower curtains, contain dangerous plasticizers like phthalates.
12. Limit your use of drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) as much as possible. Drugs are chemicals too, and they will leave residues and accumulate in your body over time.
13. Avoid spraying pesticides around your home or insect repellants that contain DEET on your body. There are safe, effective and natural alternatives out there.

Reduce Unnecessary Chemical Exposure to Your Family

The list is endless and depressing of what you should avoid so let's focus on what you can do to lead a healthier lifestyle and minimize chemical exposures as much as possible. 

 

Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or bath).  Look at purified alkaline ionized water as a alternative.  The Alkal-Life 7000sL Water Ionizer utilizes a process, known as electrolysis, which is capable of breaking down large water molecules into smaller micro-clusters that are more completely absorbed by human cells, producing superior hydration and stimulating a range of health benefits:

• Slows the aging effects of oxidization
• Reduces exposure to disease from untreated water
• Promotes healthy weight loss through reduced acidity
• Boosts immunity for improved health and resilience
• Increases nutrient absorption for increased vitality

As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic foods to reduce your exposure to pesticides and fertilizers.  Use the EWG list of the worst pesticide foods if you can’t afford to buy all organic, at least buy organic on the worst offenders of pesticides.  

Eat only wild caught fish that is lab tested for purify.  Avoid eating farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury.  Supplement with a high-quality purified krill oil, as even eating too much wild caught fish can have dangers.  

Use only natural brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. Don’t be fooled by labels and advertising, learn to read the ingredients of any products you are buying.  JES Organics offers some of the highest quality natural organic products that are non-toxic.  

Eat mostly raw, fresh foods, avoiding processed, prepackaged foods of all kinds. This way you automatically avoid artificial food additives, including dangerous artificial sweeteners, food coloring and MSG.

Use glass rather than plastic for food & beverage storage.  Avoid using plastic wrap and canned foods (which are often lined with BPA-containing liners).

Only use natural cleaning products in your home.  Baking soda & vinegar can be used for many household cleaning chores.  

Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.  JES Organics has natural organic aromatherapy sprays that can be used around the house, on your body and on your clothing.  

 Replace your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware.

Avoid spraying pesticides around your home or insect repellants that contain DEET on your body. There are safe, effective and natural alternatives out there.   JESOrganics has an organic insect deterrent. 

 

When designing, buying a new home or re-modeling your existing home, look for "green," toxin-free alternatives for flooring, paint, wood, etc.  

Replace your vinyl shower curtain with a fabric shower curtain, or install a glass shower door. Most all flexible plastics, like shower curtains, contain dangerous plasticizers like phthalates.

Limit your use of drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) as much as possible. Drugs are chemicals too, and they will leave residues and accumulate in your body over time.

Babies are born pre-polluted with as many as 300 industrial chemicals in their bodies.

Personal care products found to increase diabetes risk by 60 percent in women

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 by: John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Would you continue to liberally apply personal care products including moisturizers, nail polishes, soaps, hair sprays and perfumes if you knew that your risk of developing diabetes was dramatically increased? Many healthy-minded individuals are aware of endocrine-disrupting synthetic chemicals known as phthalates that are commonly found in plastic toys, electronics and adhesives, but few understand how these dangerous compounds can leach through our skin from the application of a host of common sprays, polishes and cosmetics.

A team of researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has published the result of their work assessing the health dangers of phthalates in the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives. In the past, scientists have closely monitored how the ingestion of the petrochemical, BPH disrupts metabolic homeostasis to increase risk of digestive disorders and certain lines of cancer. Less research has been published to document how the chemicals in common household products pass through our skin and nails to increase risk of cancer and diabetes.

To conduct the study, researchers analyzed urinary concentrations of phthalates in 2,350 women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found that women with higher levels of phthalates in their urine were much more likely to have diabetes. Specifically, it was determined that women who had the highest levels of the chemicals mono-benzyl phthalate and mono-isobutyl phthalate had almost twice the risk of diabetes as compared to women with the lowest levels of those chemicals.

Synthetically produced personal care products disrupt homeostasis to promote metabolic dysfunction

The most startling finding in this research was that women with higher than average urine levels of mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalates (commonly found in soaps, cosmetics and skin care products) had approximately a 60 percent increased risk of diabetes. Women with moderately high levels of the chemicals mono-n-butyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (primarily from the application of hair spray and gas-propelled products) had approximately a 70 percent increased risk of diabetes.
The study leader, Dr.Tamarra James-Todd concluded "This is an important first step in exploring the connection between phthalates and diabetes... we know that in addition to being present in personal care products, phthalates also exist in certain types of medical devices and medication that is used to treat diabetes and this could also explain the higher level of phthalates in diabetic women."

We are under constant assault from a barrage of synthetic chemical compounds that have infiltrated many common household products and personal care items that are 'generally regarded as safe' by regulating authorities. This research only scratches the surface in an attempt to uncover the many health concerns surrounding many seemingly safe products that millions use every day. Always select products manufactured using natural ingredients and read product labels to avoid chemicals that are shown to dramatically increase risk of metabolic disorders and chronic illness.

Sources for this article include:
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104717
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120713083103.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/247852.php

About the author:
John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal.  Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.

Is Your Shampoo or Other Personal Care Products Making You Fat?

Paula Baillie-Hamilton, an expert on metabolism and environmental toxins, was one of the first to make a link between the obesity epidemic and the increase in environmental chemicals. Baillie-Hamilton argued that exposure to chemicals can damage your body's natural weight-control mechanisms. She calls toxic chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors "chemical calories."

Environmental researchers now call these chemical calories "obesogens." These organic pollutants can derail the hormonal mechanisms that control your weight.

According to Grist:
"... [I]t is impossible, now, to tease out how much of obesity is caused by chemicals, and how much by energy balance. They're intertwined, anyway, with imbalances in appetite-regulating hormones like leptin and ghrelin causing us to want to eat more of the available food ... [S]teer clear of Bisphenol-A ... [and] shampoos, cosmetics, and soaps containing phthalates."

Even buying organic shampoo and other personal care products may not protect you. As the Center for Environmental Health recently reported:

"Dozens of shampoos, lotions, toothpastes,and other personal care products sold by national retailers including Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Whole Foods and other stores are mislabeled as organic, in violation of California law, according to a lawsuit filed … by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH)."

Several of the products contain potentially toxic ingredients, including disrupting hormones, despite being labeled as organic.

Sources:
Grist June 28, 2011
Obesity Reviews April 4, 2011
Center for Environmental Health June 16, 2011

Comments from Janis at JESorganics.com

It may sound like a joke to think about your shampoo or any of your personal care products making you fat.  However, the majority of personal care products contain a host of toxic chemicals in addition to endocrine disruptors.  Endocrine distrupors cause premature puberty, obesity and increased risk of cancer, just to name a few.  As far as your shampoo is concerned, the primary endocrine-disrupting chemical culprits are phthalates. Phthalates are used as plasticizers in everything from vinyl flooring to detergents, hoses, raincoats, adhesives, air fresheners, and toys, but they're also found in some soaps, shampoos, lotions and nail polish. One 2002 study by the Environmental Working Group detected phthalates in nearly three-quarters of personal care products tested, noting that:

"Major loopholes in federal law allow the … cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of phthalates into many personal care products with no required testing, no required monitoring of health effects, and no required labeling."

Phthalates are not only being linked to weight gain … they are the same group of "gender-bending" chemicals also causing males of all species to become more female. 

We founded JES Organics because of our research into ingredients and toxic chemicals.  Toxic chemicals are everywhere and they have an accumulative effect on our bodies.  Over time, our bodies start breaking down from the toxic onslaught. 

Please become an educated consumer and read your labels.  It is highly unlikely that you will find non-toxic quality products at large high end or low end stores.  And if you think you are getting quality by buying expensive brand name products or even products promoted by doctors, think again! 

Read the label, don't be fooled by false marketing on labels (natural, organic, dermatologist tested or recommended, hypoallergenic, etc).  These words are not regulated and have no standards.  We joined the Compact for Safe Cosmetics immediately upon starting JES Organics and we continue to be a company in full compliance with full disclosure of our ingredients. 


 

Is your skin crying for help?

Have you heard the saying we are what we eat? Is your skin crying for help? With summer around the corner, many people are realizing that their skin doesn't look as good as they wish. You will find practical tips and suggestions in this article that will help you achieve radiant skin by improving your health on the inside and improving your skin on the outside. Having beautiful skin requires health on the inside and good skin care on the outside.

Your skin is your largest organ and often a reflection of what’s going on inside your body. Whether it's dry skin, oily skin, acne, rashes, lack of skin tone, or premature aging it's important to go beyond covering up our flaws and get to their root causes of why your skin isn’t radiant. The secrets to perfect skin care are NOT just what you put on your skin but also what you put in your body. So just buying expensive creams and potions will not give you flawless skin if you are not taking care of the inside of your body and if those anti-aging potions contain toxic chemicals or simply worthless in the quality of the ingredients you are just defeating the purpose. The majority of the big brand names in skin care carry a whole list of toxic ingredients. Don’t focus on brand and a big price tag, focus on quality ingredients! Just because doctor so and so promotes it or sells it doesn’t mean it is good or non-toxic.

Healthy radiant skin can be achieved through the following:
• Good nutrition with plenty of fresh living fruits and vegetables
• Good hydration with plenty of water (caffeine in soda, tea and coffee increase dehydration)
• Exercise for good blood flow and lymphatic drainage
• Skin exfoliation through dry brushing or loofah pads for the body and gentle cream exfoliants for the face and neck
• Avoid toxic chemicals internally and externally
• Use good quality organic skin care products

Skin-Healthy Diet
Fresh whole foods such as berries, nuts, seeds and leafy vegetable are the main staples of a skin-healthy diet. An occasional glass of red wine or a cup of green tea is beneficial too because of their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help to combat free radicals and protect your skin from premature aging. Ellagic acid (EA) is a type of antioxidant referred to as a “polyphenol”. Ellagic acid protects collagen. The most plentiful food sources of EA are blackberries, cranberries, pecans, pomegranates, purple/red grapes, raspberries, strawberries and walnuts. Some of the benefits of all of these fruits and nuts may be directly attributable to their EA content. The trace mineral Zinc found in shellfish and pumpkin seeds is also beneficial for skin regeneration.

It is important to avoid all processed sugars and trans fats and be aware of your own food sensitivities. For example if you are sensitive or intolerant to gluten, this will increase inflammation in your body which leads to disease and dull looking skin. Sugar also increases pain and fatigue. A diet high in trans fats such as French fats, processed and junk foods can increase your bad LDL cholesterol and lead to cholesterol ‘plugs’ in your pores.

Vitamins C and E found in fruits and vegetables naturally support skin structure, reduce free radical damage and provide protection from damage caused by sun exposure. "Vitamin C can regenerate oxidized vitamin E, making this antioxidant combination work synergistically on your skin," explains Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP in her article at the Huffington Post. "Together, they can increase antioxidant power up to 70 times greater than when used individually."

Last but not least, don't underestimate the importance of drinking enough water. Chronic dehydration makes our skin look older, and less smooth.

Skin-Healthy Lifestyle
Today we live in a world full of toxic substances. Toxic exposure to x-rays, pollution, cigarette smoke and thousands of chemicals found in your hair products, make-up, lotions, bath soaps, household cleaners, pesticides on food, antibiotics and steroids in food, even the chlorine in your shower water can all contribute to premature aging and worsening of your skin. You can purchase a chlorine filter that goes on your shower head from your local home improvement store.

Don’t be fooled by false advertising on labels that products are natural, organic, dermatologist recommended, etc. Dermatologist tested and recommended can simply mean that the dermatologist getting paid by that company making the product tested it and recommended it or it can be a complete lie altogether. You really have to be informed about what ingredients are and read labels as you can pick up a product that says natural and just see a long list of chemical names or a product touted as organic and you may see only 1 organic ingredient or none in a long list of chemicals.

Women use more products than men, and are exposed to more unique ingredients daily, but men use a surprisingly high number of products. The average woman uses 12 products containing 168 ingredients every day. Men use on average 6 products daily with 85 unique ingredients. Chemical exposures add up. All of these chemicals have an accumulative effect and take their toll on our bodies’ ability to fight off these toxins.

Chemical exposure includes known or probable human carcinogens, known or probable reproductive and developmental toxins, linked to infertility or developmental harm for a baby in the womb or a child. Phthalates are a toxic family of chemicals used in everyday household products and nail polish, lipstick, perfumes and many other personal care products. If you see fragrance or fragrant oils on the label, avoid these products. Buy unscented or products that only use good quality essential oils for scenting.

Protect Your Skin Naturally
Sweat the toxins out of your skin and body with dry or infrared type saunas and steam baths. The dry heat of a sauna penetrates your tissues and releases poisons, heavy metals and chemicals. In the process, the blood flow to your skin increases, bringing more nutrients for the surface and subcutaneous tissue. As a result, the quality of your skin gradually improves.

Dry skin brushing is another technique that can improve your skin’s appearance. Of course, dry brushing should not be done on the face or neck but can be done on the body. Dry brushing moves the lymph, improves circulation, reduces cellulite, wakes up your immune system, sloughs off dead skin cells and makes your skin soft. You can purchase a natural bristle brush with a long handle at a health food store. Loofahs are also good for daily dead skin removal.

Use only non-toxic anti-aging products on your skin. Look for products that contain ingredients such as Organic Aloe Juice, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Rooibos Tea Extract, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Papaya Extract, Organic Pineapple Extract, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, MSM, Organic Pomegranate Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin B, Vitamin A, Rosehip Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Blue Green Algae Extract, Cranberry Seed Oil, Carrot Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, etc. to feed your skin on the outside. Avoid the use of Vitamin A as a leave-on product for your skin. Vitamin A is fine in a cleanser because you are washing it off. Vitamin A should be avoided if it is an ingredient in a leave on product such as a toner, moisturizer, sunscreen or eye cream as Vitamin A makes your skin more sensitive to sun damage which can lead to skin cancer.

Everyone should start thinking of anti-aging when they are young, if you wait until you have wrinkles, you can’t remove them without some type of cosmetic procedure, and you can only reduce the appearance. Prevention is the best medicine! Products with Alpha Hydroxyl Acids for example Bilberry Extract, Sugar Cane Extract, Sugar Maple Extract, Orange Fruit Extract, Lemon Extract, Cranberry Extract, etc. can be beneficial for those with teenage or adult acne.

Don’t wash your skin with commercial bath soaps and shower gels which contain toxic sulfates and detergents that dry out your skin and lead to premature aging. Detergents containing sulfates come by many different names: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, and sodium C14-16 olefin sulfate.

Avoid anti-bacterial soaps which contain a toxic ingredient called Triclosan. Studies have shown that anti-bacterial soaps don’t get your hands/skin cleaner than regular soaps. If you are concerned about bacteria, you can use soaps with tea tree in the ingredient list as tea tree is a natural anti-bacterial agent. However, unless you have acne, skin infections, stinky feet or smell more than others when they sweat, antibacterial soaps shouldn’t be used routinely as your body may build a tolerance or resistance to even a natural antibacterial substance. If your feet stink, you may have foot fungus and if your sweat smells more than normal, you are probably not eating a healthy diet or drinking enough water and the toxins are coming out in your sweat.

Avoid fragrances in any product. Your skin will noticeably improve if you use only natural or organic soaps. Good quality soaps provide lather and last a long time without drying out your skin.

Many times, people talk about how dry their skin is in spite of using lotions. The majority of the time, it is because they are using sulfates on their skin, using poor quality lotions and not drinking enough water. If you are doing everything right and still have dry skin, ask your doctor to check your thyroid levels including reverse T3. Look at your lotion and see if the first ingredient is water. The majority of the commercial brand lotions list water as the first ingredient. Water is great when taken internally for hydration but doesn’t do much when applied to the skin as a moisturizer. Ingredients are listed on the label in order of percentages/concentration so the ingredients at the beginning have the highest concentration and the ingredients towards the end of the label have a smaller amount of that ingredient.

Follow these steps for beautiful radiant skin!

Measuring the Pollution in People

A number of striking studies (i) have shown that the man-made chemicals in our environment and in consumer products—including cosmetics—make their way into our bodies. Many of the chemicals found in cosmetics are absorbed by the skin into the body, and can be detected in blood or urine.

The length of time chemicals remain in the body varies from chemical to chemical and ranges from hours to decades. For chemicals that are excreted quickly, the fact that we can so consistently measure them indicates continual exposures that may have long-term effects on health.

Body Burden and Biomonitoring
Body burden refers to the levels of man-made chemicals in an individual’s body, generally measured through blood or urine. Large-scale biomonitoring programs that assess the levels of chemicals in a population or subset of a population would greatly support the ability of researchers to explore the links between exposures and disease. A gap in determining the long-term effects of chemical exposures upon disease has long been a lack of knowledge about chemical exposures and the intake of environmental toxins into the body. Ongoing biomonitoring programs would fill this vital data gap.

The Pollution in People
The largest U.S. body burden study to date measured the levels of 148 chemicals in approximately 3,000 people of varying ages, ethnicities and geographical locations (ii). This study, by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, detected a common sunscreen ingredient, benzophenone-3 (BP-3) in 96.8 percent of individuals (iii), and triclosan, an antibacterial agent often used in antibacterial soaps, in 74.6 percent of individuals (iv). A CDC study found residues of four different phthalates in more than 75 percent of subjects (v). Phthalates are found in numerous cosmetics, often as a constituent ingredient of fragrances. A 2008 study of teen girls by the Environmental Working Group revealed 16 hormone-altering cosmetics chemicals in their young test subjects (vi).

The CDC tests of 148 chemicals represents a very small percentage of the over 80,000 chemicals manufactured and the approximately 10,000 chemicals used in cosmetic products. The next edition of the CDC report, anticipated in 2009, will include measurements of 250 chemicals, an increase that still doesn't approach the total number of chemicals in commerce. Nevertheless, this and other studies illustrate that chemicals we use in an array of consumer products make their way into our bodies (vii). This knowledge also furthers our understanding of the links between the chemicals we use, the absorption of these chemicals into our bodies, and the known and probable health effects of these chemicals.

i.Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center (2005). Taking It All In: Documenting Chemical Pollution in Californians through Biomonitoring. Available online at http://www.commonweal.org/programs/download/TIAI_1205.pdf. Accessed August 19, 2008.

Environmental Working Group (2006). Across Generations: Industrial Chemicals in Mothers and Daughters: The pollution we share and inherit. Available online at http://www.ewg.org/reports/generations/. Accessed August 19, 2008.

Environmental Working Group (2005). Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns. Available online at: http://www.ewg.org/node/17686. Accessed August 19, 2008.

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