 "Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food" (Hippocrates 400BC) |
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Your skin is your body's largest organ of elimination. It can help to get rid of any impurities but at the same time it is also able to absorb any too. So, it makes sense to take into consideration what you are putting into your body, as any impurities that have been absorbed then need to be dealt with and safely processed and excreted. This process uses up vital energy that your body could be using to repair itself. The amount of toxins (poisons) that your body has to deal with is known as your toxic load. The daily application of skin care products that contain chemicals are thought to contribute to this toxic overload, which can impair the general health and vitality of otherwise healthy skin. By reducing your toxic load you then free - up energy so that your body can use it instead to repair itself. Your body can only work with what it has available to it and its primary function is to keep us alive. Only if there is spare energy will it then use this to re generate itself. So, it makes sense to give your body a helping hand by cutting down on your intake of chemicals or toxins. As your skin is the largest detoxification organ in the body it is important to ensure that it's not clogged up with chemicals that you maybe putting on it, as deodorants and make- up are often full of these. This will ensure that it can do it's job effectively for you as well as ensuring that you are not absorbing chemicals unnecessarily into your body. Many of the ingredients used in the manufacture of personal care products are known to have harmful effects on your health. Some have never even been tested for long term effects to human health. In addition to this there are some ingredients that are worryingly allowed to be used in this country that have been banned in other countries. The oils used in most skin care products are either mineral oil by products of the petro-chemical industry or chemically extracted and refined plant oils which have been bleached and deodorised, removing the vitamins, producing a de- natured oil with little nutritional value. Deodorants that contain aluminium chlorohydrate not only block the pores but have been associated with various skin and lymphatic problems. Choose other deodorant alternatives such as a crystal deodorant such as I use that works by leaving a minute film of mineral salts on the skin that inhibit the growth of odour causing bacteria without stopping perspiration. They are ideal for those people that have sensitive skin. There are many companies now who offer skincare products that are free from parabens and other toxic chemicals which can cause sensitivity and toxicity. You therefore have the choice to avoid the chemical cocktails that are in most skincare products and make healthier purchases instead. Look for these names which are generally available from most good health stores. • Green people • Faith in Nature • A'kin products • ECO cosmetics • Organic Botanics Here are just a few links to some suppliers of body care products that are free from such harmful chemicals. www.livingethically.co.uk - This website is quite useful as it gives you a selection of companies to choose from that all sell products that are free from chemicals, it also gives you information on what chemicals to avoid in make- up and skin care products so that you can make better informed choices. www.akamuti.co.uk A local company supplying organic skin care products. For further reading I would recommend purchasing: The Chemical Maze': Your guide to food additives and Cosmetic Ingredients by Bill Statham. |
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