|
|
|
Acai Berry Making for a Healthy Heart
Acai is a new fruit from Brazil that offers vital nutritional benefits for people over 40 years of age. The Acai contains 33 times the cholesterol fighting anthocyanin than a glass of red wine, a Daily Value (DVS) of calcium, twice the DVS at the...
Estrogen Side Effects - Do You Know Them?
Estrogen side effects definitely exist, and one should understand the difference between natural estrogen and synthetic estrogen.
The most commonly prescribed synthetic estrogen is Premarin, currently manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals....
Mindfulness and Mammaries: Grinning With Gratitude
I am truly inspired by a most mindful group of breast cancer survivors. Referring to themselves as "The Golden Mammaries", these women gather weekly to support each other, share stories, and mostly, to laugh. In their fifties and sixties,...
Stress link to breast cancer ?
WOMEN with high levels of stress in their everyday lives are at less risk than others of developing breast cancer for the first time, according to research.
Scientists from Denmark drew their conclusions after studying 6,689 women for 18 years,...
Your Health and Your Weight
Healthy Living Through The Ages! Like a good friend, a good attitude towards fitness and nutrition doesn't abandon us as we age. It matures right along with us, evolving as our lives change. That means we don't have to give up the activities or...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Is There Danger Lurking in Your Anti-Aging Cream?
The anti aging industry is booming. Aging baby boomers seem to
be obsessed with preserving their youthful look. Anti aging
preparations claim to make you look younger as you get older.
But are the ingredients in these products safe?
Here are 10 ingredients to avoid in anti-aging preparations:
Propylene glycol is a strong irritant, a neurotoxin (toxic to
the nervous system) and may cause kidney and liver damage. It
may cause delayed allergic reactions, acne and contact
dermatitis. It absorbs quickly and is a penetration enhancer,
i.e. it increases the absorption of other ingredients in the
product through the skin into the bloodstream.
Diazolidinyl urea is a skin irritant and a potential cause of
dermatitis. It is a formaldehyde releaser. Formaldehyde is a
Group 1 carcinogen (known to cause cancer) as determined by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Imidazolidinyl urea is a strong irritant. It causes contact
dermatitis. It's also a formaldehyde releaser. Phenoxyethanol is
a skin and eye irritant with a rose fragrance. It can cause
contact dermatitis and is harmful if absorbed through the skin.
DMDM hydantoin is another formaldehyde releaser. It may cause
contact dermatitis and has cause caused cancer in experimental
animals.
Triethanolamine (TEA) is an irritant, a sensitizer and causes
contact dermatitis. It may cause the formation of carcinogenic
nitrosamines in products containing nitrogen compounds. It may
also contain nitrosamine contaminants not listed on the label.
Parabens (ethyl-, methyl-, butyl- and propylparaben) are
endocrine disrupters. They disturb the hormonal balance in the
body. They are absorbed through the skin and may irritate the
skin. They have been found in breast cancer tumors, but it is
not known if they had a part in causing the tumors.
PEG-n
(4-200) is an eye and skin irritant and is hazardous on
large areas of the body. It may be contaminated with dangerous
levels of the carcinogen, 1,4-dioxane.
HGH is human growth hormone. Some prducts may contain HGH or
ingredients that stimulate the body to produce it's own HGH.
Ironically, the hormones don't slow the aging process, they just
hide the symptoms. Animal studies have shown that those animals
which produce more growth hormone in old age have a shorter life
span, not longer. Studies have also shown that HGH causes carpal
tunnel and diabetes. And it has not been adequately tested.
Ultrasomes, keratinocyte growth factor and DNA enzyme complex
are known bioengineered ingredients that are used in some
anti-aging products. The biotech industry is not very open about
bio-engineered or genetically modified ingredients in cosmetics
and personal care products. They're not required to identify
ingredients that are bioengineered and they're not required to
be listed on the label. The safety of bioengineered ingredients
has not been adequately studied.
Look for products with safe ingredients like aloe vera,
essential oils, shea butter, grape seed oil, emu oil,
antioxidants like vitamins A,C and E, green tea and Co-Q10. But
also remember, it's more than just skin care. Slowing the aging
process involves eating a healthy diet with lots of healthy
anti-oxidant rich foods and enzymes, regular exercise, stress
reduction and adequate rest. It's vitally important to pay
attention to your whole body, not just your skin.
About the author:
Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. has been researching ingredient
safety since 1991. She is the author of three books, including
the new, second edition of DYING TO LOOK GOOD. To learn more
about the safety of ingredients in your cosmetics and personal
care products, visit www.dyingtolookgood.com.
|
|
|
|
|
|