Happy Reading Everyone!

This morning I was just going through the motions of my morning routine.  I noticed the new tube of toothpaste, has flouride in it (it must have been on sale).  I'm not here to debate the safety of flouride (even though it is a waste product of aluminum, a known neurotoxin, and linked to Alzheimer's).  Then I looked at my Listerine, and remembered an e-mail someone sent me about using mouth wash to kill mosquitos, if it can kill a mosquito should I really be putting it in my mouth?  Then I started paying attention to everything else I was using, same as every morning: Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, soap, deodorant, toner, lotion, eye make-up, foundation, lipstick, and hair product.  Then I brushed my dyed hair, filed my polished nails, and changed into my scrubs that were washed in detergent and fabric softener.

Holy Chemicals Batman!

There are chemicals in everything that I put on my skin, hair, and nails, which are porous by the way.  Now all of these products have been deemed 'safe'.  A lot of these products have been tested on animals and showed no harmful effects.

Here is my issue:  All of those products are tested individually, and over what time period?  Maybe in a month or a year no animals would die, develop a tumor, or get sick, but I have been regularly doing the above routine since I was roughly 18 years old.  Now let's assume I continue doing that routine until I am 60, then what are the affects?  What if you add in all the chemicals that are in the the surfaces I touch, food that I eat, air that I breathe, and water that I drink and swim in?  Thank God I don't take any drugs... wait a minute, when I was a child I was given vaccines, antibiotics, and over the counter drugs.  Don't forget the chemicals from the nylons I've worn, diapers, diaper cream, water bottles I've drank from, microwaved plastic I've eaten out of, times that I didn't roll down the car widows before turning on the heat.

To my knowledge, the effects of this type of behavior over 40 years hasn't been studied, but what I do know is that humans are the sickest species on the planet.  Diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, lymphoma, melanoma, and auto-immune diseases are all on the rise.  There are over 80,000 chemicals found in consumer products.  A lot of these chemicals are proven to cause health problems at some level of potency.

Now, I try to be realistic about things.  There is no way that you will ever to be able to avoid all chemicals and pollutants.  Even brand new babies are born with over 100 banned chemicals in their blood.

The way I see it, here are your choices:

1) Pretend you were never given this information and continue living the way you are living.

2) Be depressed by this information assuming that there is nothing that you can do about it and realize that we are all going to die, a most likely slow, chemically induced death.

3) Be aware of the issue.  Realize what's at stake (the health of you and your loved ones).  Do the very best that you can to minimize or eliminate the chemical exposure that you can.

I debated options 1 and 2, but decided to go with number 3.  I did some research, I found this website, Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. It rates product safety based on the ingredients.  I also decided that I don't need to dye my hair, I can limit painting my nails to special occasions, and I can easily exchange some of the products I use for healthier options like castile soap, mineral make-up, and green cleaners.  

Some of you might say, but healthier options are so expensive!  Last week my grandmother and I were speaking to a nutritionalist who recommended switching to organic free range eggs, to which my grandmother later asked, "Who can afford $4 for a dozen eggs?"  I replied, "Healthy people who don't spend money on doctor's visits and prescriptions."  Her one word answer, "True."

The truth is the truth.  All that stuff is bad for us.  We have to CHOOSE for ourselves what we are capable and willing to change, because in the end, who wants to ask themselves, "What if?"

Health, Happiness, and Regular Chiropractic Adjustments,

Dr. Michelle Goldych, D.C.

P.S.  I considered myself 'low-maintenance' until I had to write out my morning routine.  Here's to knowing the difference between a want and a need.