Our society has officially crossed the border into the “I want it five minutes ago” mentality. Because of this, we are much more inclined to hunt down the easiest, most convenient products and services to enhance our lives. You know, as long as it doesn’t take too much effort to do that.
Sometimes when I’m in the grocery store, I look around in amazement at the sheer amount of products that are available at any time of the day. It is truly remarkable and I know that we are lucky to live in a society that has so much to offer. Not everyone has the same advantages.
The problem with this kind of culture, though, is that we are subjected to so many more chemicals and additives than we realize. Yeah it’s great to be able to grab some nail polish on clearance for $1 or to pay a low price for a huge package of processed cereal from a bulk store like Costco, but I believe this convenience is costing us in other ways.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, there are many cosmetics that contain known carcinogens. Chemicals like formaldehyde, arsenic, benzene, and even coal tar are used to perfect these low-priced personal care products so companies can produce them faster and make them last longer.
Even everyday products like deodorant contain ingredients like aluminum and parabens, which are endocrine disruptors called xenoestrogens that act like estrogen. Not only does this mess up hormones, but it can also lead to serious health issues. Some scientists have even linked products like this to breast cancer.
Personal care products are not the only problem. Even our food contains dangerous additives that hugely affect the health of the nation. According to Jillian Michaels (AKA trainer, nutrition author, and my spirit animal), Americans eat a diet that consists of roughly 60 percent processed foods. 60 percent!
Ingredients like palm oil contain trans fat, which messes up your cholesterol and puts you at a much greater risk for issues like a stroke or heart attack. White processed foods like bread and cereal have been stripped of any nutritional value. This modified grain is much easier for your body to digest, but that really effs with your blood sugar and puts you at higher risk for things like diabetes. Soda often contains preservatives like sodium benzene, which prevents mold, but is also known to cause cancer. I could continue, but I think you’re probably getting the idea.
What I’m saying is these huge companies that are producing these products are, understandably, trying to make money. But the best way for them to make money is to create products that last way longer than they should and have low price tags to be more appealing to buyers. Unfortunately, that means that have to add so many chemicals that it is getting harder and harder to avoid them.
The average women will put 126 ingredients onto her face, neck, and hands in one day from just following a normal makeup and skincare routine. In one year, most women absorb about five pounds of chemicals from these products.
I’m not saying you should throw out the contents of your home and start using leaves for personal hygiene. Let’s be honest, no one wants to be known as the smelly one. But I do think it is extremely important to do some research and find out which products are doing more harm than good. Especially if you are a woman with hormonal issues or you want to have children.
One of the biggest changes I’ve made in my life to deal with my PCOS is to try to avoid some of the worst chemicals in my daily life. I started using honey to wash my face. To be honest, it feels nice, it’s cheaper than face wash, and I have gotten a lot of compliments on my skin lately. Instead of deodorant I can grab at Target, I started using a version that is free of aluminum and parabens that I found at the health food store. I switched over to safer nail polish brands and I’m more careful about the makeup I use. I only spray perfume onto my clothes instead of onto my skin.
I’m definitely not perfect with it, but I try to eat fewer processed foods than I used to eat and I hardly ever drink soda. These small changes have made a noticeable difference with my hormones and I don’t suffer from things like cystic acne and excessive hair shedding like I once did. Being more diligent about the things I’m putting into my body also makes me feel like I have more control over my health.