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DIY Natural Body Wash

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DIY Natural Body Wash

Would you have ever guessed that your personal care products could be harmful to you and your loved ones' health? I know that this was news to me the first time I stumbled upon the idea, but now as I continue to rid my home and life of harmful chemicals and toxins I couldn't wait to share some of the information I've found with you (& a super simple recipe), in hopes that you will begin to do the same. 

Let's be honest, the average person uses hundreds of personal care products over the course of a lifetime, exposing our bodies to thousands of foreign ingredients. If you've ever attempted to read the label on your favorite body lotion I'm willing to bet you couldn't pronounce 90% of the ingredients listed, and not only could you not pronounce them, I'm fairly certain you had no idea what they even were. Problem is that a majority of these ingredients are synthetic (man-made) and have been linked with adverse effects of the nervous and immune systems and the FDA has very little regulation over these products. 

Some of the most common hazardous ingredients present in everything from deodorant to body wash are parabens, phthalates, sodium laurel sulfate (SFS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), synthetic colors, and fragrance. There are many more, but these are the 5 I would be sure to avoid.  

Parabens: are preservatives present in the majority of skincare products with the purpose of decreasing the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast and increasing the shelf life of a product. These chemicals have been found to posses estrogen mimicking properties and have been linked to an increased risk for breast cancer.

Phythalates: are known as "plastic softeners" and are not only found in skincare products, but also are ingredients in many children's toys, household cleaners, and even garden hoses. Exposure to these chemicals may be linked to carcinogenic effects as well as endocrine system disruption, which poses threats of hormone and reproductive system interference. 

Sodium Laurel Sulfate(SFS)/Sodium Laureth Sulfate(SLES): astoundingly this ingredient is found in 90% of personal care and cleaning products. This particular ingredient is of high concern due to the interaction it may have with other chemicals resulting in formation of a carcinogen known as nitrosamine. Other health concerns involve prolonged exposure leading to kidney and liver dysfunction. 

Synthetic Colors: Artificial colors are prevalent in lotions, cosmetics, hair dyes, and many other products of daily use. The base of many of these colors is petroleum or coal tar, both thought to be carcinogens and linked to behavioral disorders in children. 

Fragrance: Perfumes used to be made from flower or herb extracts, however now they are almost completely man made, meaning full of synthetic ingredients and harmful as ever. Petroleum based chemicals are the most common ingredient in fragrances yet have been known to cause adverse effects to both the nervous & immune systems. Reported effects after long term exposure to this substance include (but are not limited to) autoimmune disorders, asthma, infertility, and learning disabilities. 

Now for the recipe I promised you...