It makes your life easier???

June 9, 2014
Time for Change

I am starting this blog with a sigh of a heavy heart. Too long have I tried not to step on toes, not to make people feel bad and not to focus attention to my differences to the norm. Am I just trying to be different… no unfortunately not- it would make life much easier for me. In fact I wish the world was without norm.. why cant people just be different and respect each others differences?  Why do so many people try to change others in their own perfect mould? I guess its also the thought of this very problem that made me stay away from this post for so long, because I have no intention of forcing my thoughts or beliefs upon others… in fact I encourage people to think for themselves, but yet I feel like I have to say something.  I feel like I have stayed quiet long enough and that my intentions of staying at peace with everyone is causing myself to look the other way around issues thats really a big problem in the world and is bothering me so much that Im physically getting sick about it. So I have to allow myself a platform where I can let go on the reigns of my thoughts so I can have time to process it and have the feeling of being heard without being ridiculed or without enforcing my opinions on others.  To me Facebook feels like sort of an enforcing platform… your friends feel obligated to stay friends or they really like you and your other posts a lot, but they dont want to hear the kind of things I am about to post… so thats why Im blogging… If you dont like it and its not your thing… dont follow my blog, easy as that! We can continue to be friends and never have to speak about it because youll be blissfully unaware of my thoughts and I wont feel like Im enforcing any thoughts on you because I will mostly never just talk about it in person and I really honestly understand that this big life change is not for everyone.  Even though most of my friends- if not all, believes in doing good, everyone is not always ready to do something like this. I know, I was there. I also just needed some time to accept, process, deny, accept again and start acting on the things that are just wrong in this world.

I wont be shy to state the fact that I am a Christian… a child of God who believes in Jesus Christ as my Saviour just because I know many people who tend to think beyond the norm, are not believers. I also wont enforce my beliefs on anyone, but I just want to make it clear that the reason why I believethat I have to start doing something to make a change in the world is because I am a Christian. Its because God made the earth and He said it was good. It was good… used to be until we got free will. See humans have such god complexes that we start to enforce our will upon others to do things… mostly to get money. Amazing how almost any problems in the world, the root of all evil can be traced back to money. Why do people steal? This one is easy… money. Why do people rape?  Because they are brought up in bad circumstances like no education, no food, parents was addicted to alcohol and tik and who knows what and was also an abuser… why?… money (or the lack thereof).  Why do we have such big political problems in the world? Because one percent of the leaders of a political party really believe they can change the circumstances and the rest of them want, wait for it… money. Why, if this world is being destroyed by chemicals in products, plastic bags in the ocean etc etc is the world still turning a blind eye on these manufacturers?…. money.

I know, I know, I am starting to sound like a true activist… it sounds silly when you are not used to thoughts like this… i know because I thought so of others before. It sounds like Im just going crazy now and most people will start to feel angry and not know why or stop reading because be honest… deep inside you actually feel a tug at your heart because you know these things are wrong and you actually feel the same but its honestly really not that easy to change. Some deny it because they like their salon approved shampoo because its a status symbol. Others want to deny it because they like their cheap store bought shampoo because it is cheap.  Now you may wonder whats all this talk about shampoo…. Im not just talking about shampoo… Im talking about almost every product that we use in the household and kitchen… If you are still reading, you either know all this and agree, or you are really interested to know whats so wrong with these products so let me break it down for you.  Now this is a long list so please bear with me:

Bad chemicals:

99% Of the products… thats toothpaste, roll ons, deodorant sprays, shampoos, cleaning supplies etc contain some or many of the chemicals below… (99% is my personal statistic based on reading labels of products)

DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine)
These three chemicals are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing agents — research indicates a strong link to liver and kidney cancer. They are commonly found in shampoos, soaps, bubble baths and facial cleansers.
Phthalates and Parabens
Banned by the European Union in 2003, phthalates and parabens are a group of chemicals commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. They keep hairsprays sticky and bacteria and fungus out of things like nail polish and perfume. Both have demonstrated themselves to be carcinogenic and particularly linked to breast cancer.
FD&C Color Pigments
Most FD&C color pigments are made from coal tar and studies show that almost all of them are carcinogenic. Many of these pigments cause skin sensitivity and irritation, or even oxygen depletion in the blood. FD&C Red #4 is no longer available for use in foods because of a known threat to the adrenal glands and urinary bladder.
Fragrance
“Fragrance” is a euphemism for nearly 4,000 different ingredients. Most “fragrances” are synthetic and are either cancer-causing or otherwise toxic. Exposure to fragrances has been shown to affect the central nervous system. “Fragrances” are found in most shampoos, deodorants, sunscreens, skincare and body care products.
Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin
These are formaldehyde donors, which means that they are derivatives of the formaldehyde, which is what scientists and morticians use to preserve corpses and body parts. Remember dissecting frogs in school? These chemicals are linked to allergies, chest pain, chronic fatigue, depression, dizziness, ear infections, headaches, joint pain, loss of sleep, and can trigger asthma. They can weaken the immune system, and, surprise surprise, cause cancer. Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin are used in skin, body and hair products, antiperspirants and nail polish.
Quaternium-15
Quarternium-15 commonly causes allergic reactions and dermatitis, and breaks down into formaldehyde. Quarternium-15 is used as a preservative in many skin and hair care products.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Isopropyl Alcohol is used in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotion and aftershave lotions as well as in your car’s antifreeze and shellac! Scientists believe that it has the ability to destroy intestinal flora, leaving the body’s major organs open to parasites, and thus to cancers. Beyond attacking the intestinal flora, isopropyl alcohol can cause headaches, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, and coma.
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is a petroleum derivative that coats the skin like saran wrap, which prevents the skin from breathing, absorbing and excreting. It also slows the skin’s natural cell development, causing the skin to age prematurely. Note that baby oil is 100% mineral oil – and 100% bad for your baby’s sensitive skin.
PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)
PEG’s are most commonly used in spray-on oven cleaners and in many hair and skin products. PEG’s main fuctions are to dissolve oil and grease. Thus, on the body, they take the protective oils off the skin and hair, making them more vulnerable to other toxins.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol is the active ingredient in antifreeze. It is also used in makeup, toothpaste and deodorant. Stick deodorants have a higher concentration of PG than is allowed for most industrial use! Direct contact can cause brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. The EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with it. And yet, the FDA says we can put it in our mouths!!
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are the most toxic ingredients on this list. When used in combination with other chemicals, they can form nitrosamines, a deadly class of carcinogen. They are used to clean engines, garage floors and at car washes. AND still the most popular ingredients for makeup, shampoo and conditioner and toothpaste. Exposure causes eye damage, depression, diarrhea and many other ailments.
Triclosan
A synthetic antibacterial ingredient that has been compared to Agent Orange. The Environmental Protection Agency registers it as a pesticide, highly toxic to any living organism. It is also classified as a chlorophenol. In other words, it is in a cancer causing chemical class. Triclosan disrupts hormones, can affect sexual function and fertility and may foster birth defects. Triclosan has been linked to paralysis, suppression of the immune system, brain hemorrhages, and heart problems. It is widely used in antibacterial cleansers, toothpaste, and household products.
Talc
Talc has been linked to ovarian and testicular cancer. It can be found in makeup, baby and adult powders and foundation.
Petrolatum
Petrolatum is a petrochemical that contains two well-known carcinogens: Benzo-A-Pyrene and Benzo-B-Fluroanthene. As you might imagine from a petroleum derivative, petrolatum prevents the skin breathing and excreting.
So why is it so common and why do we use them?
Well as I said before, they are often cheap because of mass production, (which causes massive big scale pollution to the water we drink and the air we breathe by the way). We, the consumer, are also being told by good marketing strategies that its good for us and that we “need” those products. Its also the easiest to come by unfortunately as biologically friendly products are unfortunately not around the corner yet, due to mass industries having a monopoly of the market. The final and most common reason is the fact that people are not aware of the dangers of these chemicals and maybe many people, like I used to feel, would rather not want to know about it because it makes life easier.
IT MAKES YOUR LIFE EASIER???
So its ok to do animal (and in some cases human) testing on products that causes severe rashes, allergies and inevitably death to other beings because it makes life easier? I am very sorry but I wont accept that for my family. I can show you many photos and links but I wont because they are terrible to look at and I hate it when my FB friends post such photos on my timeline when I had a perfectly good day. Words should be enough, but if not, google it… No one who is pro life should be ok with this. Darn it now Im sounding like such a bigger activist but maybe I am one.  I will accept that gladly if it means I am protecting what God gave me (all of us) to protect. Some of you may know that all of this started when my 16 month old boy, as a newborn baby started having terrible eczema. The root of the cause is not products… its something else I will talk about some other time, but the products entertained this rash that tortured him and kept him and his twin sister awake for months until I finally gave up on chemicals and whad’ya know?… hes 100% eczema free today because I got rid of those products and detoxed him and rebuilt his immune system from the inside out. This is something not many parents can say… most eczema sufferers have this problem for life. So my point is… the proof is in the pudding… these products cause allergies, cancer and death. If you can, stay away! Start by one thing at a time… I did… its not easy changing your life all at once.  Im not “there yet” all the way.  Im also in process of doing what is right one thing at a time. If you aren’t ready yet…maybe one day you will be and thats ok too, but at least be informed and don’t just accept it because it makes your life easier!

3 Comments

  • Christelle Lochner

    July 7, 2014 - 7:32 am

    Hi Elsabe,

    I really enjoyed your article, but it left me really curious as to what products you use instead of the ones you speak of cutting out? Like what do you use instead of shampoo, conditioner, dishwashing liquid??
    Maybe you could do a follow-up article, or just comment with a few links of article to browse through?

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