April 2012 - Page 2 of 2 - Hormones Matter

Toxins in Cosmetics – Contaminants in Your Personal Care Products

Published on April 10, 2012

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In the US alone, women spend 50 billion dollars on cosmetic products annually. Each day women smear anti-aging, anti-blemish, cover-up, foundation, powder and more on our faces and bodies in the name of beauty. The FDA does not monitor toxins in cosmetic and personal products because we don’t ingest it; however, our skin is the largest organ in our body and absorbs chemicals directly into the bloodstream faster than if it were digested. The digestive system has a natural process to filter toxins, whereas the epidermis acts more like a sponge. This will be the first in a three part series.

We are what we eat AND what we wear.

What are these nasty chemicals lurking in our beauty and bath products, how do we avoid them and most importantly how do we make changes in legislation to protect us?

There are over 10,500 ingredients in personal care products, but the most common and most dangerous are:

Please click on the chemical name for more information.

Cosmetic Toxin – Triclosan – used as an antimicrobial in soaps and hand sanitizers. Triclosan is a known hormone disrupter and provides a suitable environment for the emergence of antimicrobial drug-resistant bacteria.
Cosmetic Toxin – Synthetic Musks – used to create scents. Did you honestly think, ‘Midnight Jasmine Hummingbird Orchestra Love Song’ was bottled in a lovely, toxin-free field? The chemicals galaxolide and tonalide are used to make synthetic scents, but also bind to and stimulate human estrogen receptors and have been shown to affect androgen and progesterone receptors. Tonalide increases the proliferation of estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells and has been identified as a photosensitizer, a chemical that becomes more toxic when exposed to sunlight on the skin. It has also been linked to liver toxicity.
Cosmetic Toxin – Formaldehyde/Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservative (FRP) – A preservative found in nail polish, eyelash glues, hair gels, hair-smoothing products like Brazilian keratin treatments. FRPs do not have to be listed as an ingredient and can be found in personal care products including baby shampoos, soap and body washes. Formaldehyde is recognized as a known human carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been linked to leukemia. Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with formaldehyde or FRPs include: quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea.
Cosmetic Toxin – 1,4-dioxane – Commonly seen as, “sodium laureth sulfate” on shampoo and soaps is used as a foaming agent. It is listed by the California Environmental Protection Agency as a suspected kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant. Other ingredients likely to be contaminated: PEG-100 stearate, polyethylene, ceteareth-20.
Cosmetic Toxin – Hydroguinone – Used as a skin lightener and considered one of the most dangerous toxins in cosmetics. Hydroguinone is also found as an impurity in ingredients in facial and skin cleansers, facial moisturizers and hair conditioners. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found the ingredient tocopheral acetate, and any ingredient with “toco” in the root, is at risk for contamination. Hydroguinone decreases the production of melanin pigments in the skin and simultaneously increases exposure to UVA and UVB rays, thus increasing skin cancer risks.
Cosmetic Toxin – Phthalates – Used to hold color and scents and aren’t usually listed except for in nail polish. A loophole in regulations allows phtalates to be added to fragrances (and therefore almost every cosmetic and personal care product) without being added to the label. Extensive research suggests that phthalates disrupt hormonal systems by reducing the level of sex hormones. Exposure in pregnant women has been linked to shortened distance between the anus and genitals of male babies indicating feminization occurred during genital development. Exposure in adult human males is associated with poor sperm quality and infertility. In women, phthalates have been shown to cause an increase of breast tumor cells and reduces the effectiveness of anti-estrogen treatments against tumors.
Cosmetic Toxin – Parabens – Used in products to prevent growth of microbes. “Parabens,” actually describes several chemicals with similar molecular structure, but the most common to cosmetic products are: ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben. Parabens have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and skin irritation.
Cosmetic Toxin – Lead and other heavy metals – Metals including arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc, chromium, and iron have been found in lipstick, foundation, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner and more; both as intentional ingredients and as contaminants. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are often used in sunscreens (I will get into the dangers of sunscreen in a separate post), foundation, concealer, and diaper rash ointments. Iron oxides, aluminum, and chromium are used as a colorant in make-up. Color additives like D&C Red 6, may contain contaminants including arsenic, lead, and mercury. Zinc is used in moisturizers, shampoos and foundations. Heavy metal poisoning in the body can have a variety of adverse health concerns including neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, birth defects, cancer, and more.
Cosmetic Toxin – Nitrosamines – An impurity and, therefore, not a labeled ingredient. Nitrosamines is a known impurity in 53 ingredients and virtually every cosmetic and personal care product including baby products, sunless tanning lotion and pain relief salves. They are actually created in products when nitrates and various amino acids are combined. Specifically, when diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA), used to adjust the pH of products, are used in products with preservatives that break down into nitrates. Numerous studies have linked nitrosamines to cancer. They are listed by the EPA, International Agency for Research on Cancer, the US National Toxicology Report on Carcinogens and the California Prop 65 as chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. And if that wasn’t severe enough, nitrosamines are linked to endocrine disruption, developmental or reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and systemic toxicity.

So, you buy organic and natural products to protect yourself and your family, right? Well, more bad news: In the world of cosmetics the words natural, herbal, and even organic have no legal definition. Unfortunately, companies slap an organic sticker on products and then raise the price for unsuspecting consumers more often than not. The only way to truly protect your family is to make your own personal care products or research the products you buy. The good news is the EWG has created an electronic database analyzing 70,547 products and 2,912 brands of these dangerous products. The EWG’s Skin Deep database is an amazing tool to protect both your health and your wallet.

Furthermore, we can take action. First, stop buying products containing these chemicals. Second, spread the word. Not only are you saving someone’s health and potentially life, but you are taking away more customers, eventually forcing these companies to change their ingredients. Third, join or start a campaign to force legislation and regulations to protect the consumer. Organizations like the Environmental Working Group and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are dedicated to awareness and change, and have tools for consumers to lobby for change.

Photo by ehensley, Creative Commons

Sugar and our Hormones

by Lisbeth Prifogle, MFA

Published on April 2, 2012

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It’s Easter season, which outside of religious practices, means candy, candy and more candy for a lot of Americans. Peeps, Cadbury Eggs, jelly beans are just a few of the hallmarks of this spring holiday. But, along with our growing waistline, scientists and Americans are both scrutinizing our diet and a common culprit seems to repeatedly point back to the white stuff. Even CBS News, 60 Minutes is looking at the toxicity of sugar. Is candy and sugar in our diet really the cause of America’s obesity and health problems? It’s now estimated that the average American consumes up to 180 lbs of added sugar per year. Here’s another statistic that demonstrates the increase of sugar in our diets over the years:

In 1700, the average person consumed about 4 pounds of sugar per year.
In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 pounds of sugar per year.
In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year.
In 2009, more than 50 percent of all Americans consume one-half pound of sugar per person
DAY—translating to a whopping 180 pounds of sugar per year!

“Walk away from the Peeps, Ma’am!” might be what you’re telling yourself, but this sugar epidemic is out of control thanks to the highly processed foods and soft drinks where sugar hides under a variety of names. Here are some fancier names for sugar:

Sucrose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), corn syrup, maltodextrin, maltose, syrup, mannitol, molasses, ethyl maltol, fruit juice, fruit juice concentrate, diatase, cane sugar, caramel, carob syrup, barley malt, beet sugar, C12H22O11,

But, that’s not all. There are as many names for sugar as Eskimos have for snow. As the public becomes more aware of the many dangers of sugar, the food industry has to try to hide it under different names.

Is it ironic or coincidental that this heavenly, legal substance that give us so much pleasure looks identical to illegal drugs such as cocaine, meth, heroine? In my opinion the only difference is that sugar is a legal drug. Am I exaggerating? No, actually I’m not. In a recent study where rats were given the choice between water, sugar and cocaine the rats choose … SUGAR! This is vital information for you and your family’s health because when you start cutting sugar out of your diet you will likely go through withdrawal symptoms as you would with any addictive substance. As an adult you can cope with the headaches, irritability and fatigue; but if you are cutting sugar out of a child’s diet they won’t understand what is happening to their body. Something to be aware of as a parent when you start cutting processed foods and sugary treats out of your children’s diet.

I’m sure some of you are reading this thinking, I’m not diabetic, this doesn’t apply to me. What if I told you that your high cholesterol and muffin top is more likely linked to the sugar than bacon? Interested now? To break it down barney-style, sugar (whether it be white rice, processed bread, soda, lemonade, plain ol’ sugar in your coffee) turns into glucose in your body. Your body releases insulin, a hormone, to cleanse the blood. What your body can’t use immediately as energy is stored in the liver and fat tissue of the body for later use. When you overload your system with sugar, your whole body has to work overtime to clean it out of your system and this means putting its everyday tasks aside to deal with this toxic overload. So, instead of processing healthy fats, proteins, good carbs, etc., your system is processing junk. Then, it has to do its normal jobs after that. No wonder you’re so tired and lethargic all the time – you’re forcing your whole body to work double shifts everytime you reach for that candy bar or soda!

SUGAR = FAT = HEART DISEASE/CANCER/DIABETES/OBESITY/LIVER DAMAGE/INFERTILITY/ACNE/AND MORE.

Can it get worst? Actually, yes. In 2007, Child and Family Resource Institute released findings that sugar disrupts the sex hormones as well.

“Glucose and fructose are metabolized in the liver. When there’s too much sugar in the diet, the liver converts it to lipid. Using a mouse model and human liver cell cultures, the scientists discovered that the increased production of lipid shut down a gene called SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), reducing the amount of SHBG protein in the blood. SHBG protein plays a key role in controlling the amount of testosterone and estrogen that’s available throughout the body. If there’s less SHBG protein, then more testosterone and estrogen will be released throughout the body, which is associated with an increased risk of acne, infertility, polycystic ovaries, and uterine cancer in overweight women. Abnormal amounts of SHBG also disturb the delicate balance between estrogen and testosterone, which is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, especially in women.”

So, what can you do? How do you beat the cravings? The first step is to remove table sugar and processed foods out of your house. If it’s not there, you can’t be tempted. The second step is educating yourself on the hidden ingredients that are actually sugar. (Here’s a scary tip – did you know that juice is depleted of all nutrients, flavor and color, stored for a year, and then artificially flavored and colored?!) Thirdly, check out my post, Sweet Alternatives, for some healthy alternatives that will help you and your family beat that sweet tooth for good.

Photos Jdurham, jasoncangialosi Creative Common 2.0

Sweet Alternatives for Sugar

by Lisbeth Prifogle, MFA

Published on April 2, 2012

2623 views

Everyone has a sweet tooth, so let’s look at some healthy alternatives to sugar and aspartame that can help you control the cravings without loosing control of your waistline. One very important tip when consuming sugar, whether it be natural from fruit or a candy bar, is to eat it with protein. An apple with a little bit of peanut butter is a great snack because the protein in the PB will actually lower the glycemic level of the apple, this means your insulin won’t spike up and crash later on. Here are some of my favorite sweeteners, please add your own favorites in the comments section!

Raw honey – full of enzymes, but has to be RAW as pasteurizing food kills the nutrients. Honey has a lower glycemic level than sugar, but is higher in calories than other alternatives.

Xylitol – looks smells, and tastes like sugar – guess what it is sugar. Xylitol is a low-calorie sugar made from fruit. There are even studies showing it helps FIGHT cavities!

Stevia – Stevia is a plant from South America that has been used as a sweetener for a long time with no evidence of side effects. Stevia doesn’t have calories and is actually sweeter than sugar, so use sparingly. In the place of regular or diet soda, my boyfriend and I are big fans of Stevia sweetened sodas like Zevia and Virgil’s diet (which comes in glass for those trying to avoid aluminum and plastic)

Coconut or Palm Sugar – like raw honey, coconut sugar has a low glycemic level. It’s not as low in calories as xylitol or stevia, but it doesn’t cause an insulin spike, which is the cause of fat gain with sugar consumption. It doesn’t taste like coconut and is the same consistency as raw or brown sugar. Can also be used as a 1-to-1 substitute in baking.

For more information on the dangers of sugar I highly recommend the following:

Sugar and our Hormones

Sugar Blues – a book by William Dufty on the dangerous and toxic effects of sugar first published in 1975 – This book will change your life.

Is Sugar Toxic? – an excellent article from the NYTimes evaluating one mans research and “controversial” video (controversial to the company’s loosing money).

Sugar: The Bitter Truth – Video by Dr. Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology that explores the damage caused by sugar.

Photo by frenchbyte, Creative Commons 2.0