With all of our medical advances and all of the advances in the field of healthy living we’ve made, why is it that we’re so run down all the time? Could it be that all the whiz-bang technology we’ve surrounded ourselves with is doing us harm?
Whereas back in the day, consumer products were derived from organic elements, nowadays producers have discovered ways to increase their profits by increasing their shelf life. Many of the products we ingest contain all sorts of chemicals that you’d need a degree in bio-engineering to figure out.
In fact, we here at SuperLiving can think of at least five things you expose yourself to before you leave the house in the morning.
Shampoo
You wake up after a peaceful sleep to the sound of the alarm clock mocking you. You roll out of bed and stumble to the shower. At this point in time, we’re not really in much of a state to think about anything, let alone the chemical makeup of the shampoo we’re rubbing against our scalps.
We’ve been somewhat conditioned (forgive the pun) to believe that shampoo is supposed to give us a nice lather. This lather is caused by Sodium Lauyrl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
They’re basically mild forms of Sulphuric Acid, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate can sometimes be infected with dioxane, a known carcinogen.
Soap
Our old friend Sodium Lauryl Sulfate makes an appearance in soap as well, along with animal fats and synthetic scents.
These synthetic scents help in making the soap smell like ‘Tropic Rainwater’ or any other variety you care to name. These scents often have hidden ingredients such as phthalates which have been linked to serious reproductive problems in both people and animals.
Bread
Now you’re out of the shower and your mind turns to having a nutritious and fulfilling breakfast. Unfortunately, all of our good intentions usually end up with toast. The preservatives in store-bought bread are well documented. Preservative 282 is amongst the most notorious offenders. Known as Calcium propionate, it’s not something that will hit you straight away. Instead, its effects will build up cumulatively. Reactions can range from migraines and headaches, to rashes and ‘urinary urgency’.
Coffee
The morning coffee has almost become a religious practice in this country with amateur baristas buying coffee machines at record rates. However for most of us in the morning, instant coffee is about as hands-on as we’re going to get.
Many instant coffees use lower-grade beans than the Arabica beans you find at a café. As such the main priority for producers of the lower-grade bean isn’t necessarily the quality of the bean, but instead ensuring that the beans get to market in serviceable condition.
Most importers don’t have direct control on whether pesticides are used on the beans during the growing process, and they’re not exactly looking for quality beans. They’re looking for cheap beans.
Lipstick
Before leaving the house, you have to make sure that you look good. Cosmetics are an absolute minefield when it comes to harmful chemicals, but lipstick is amongst the worst offenders.
Lipstick can contain lead (although less common that it has been in the past) can be found in red lipsticks, and ingestion of too much can lead to brain damage and behavioral abnormalities.
Lipsticks can also use Mineral Oils, which is a petroleum-based ingredient. There is a possibility that these oils may contain Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons which are carcinogens.
You can find more articles on organic living and other subjects at http://www.superliving.com.au
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