What's In Your Deodorant?So it may not be a glamorous subject or one you talk about all the time, but do you really know what is in the deodorant that you use every day?  Most deodorants contain antiperspirants, which may not be in the best interest of our health.

The earliest antiperspirants were sticky pastes first trademarked in the United States in 1888   as a product called MUM.  A few years later, the first antiperspirant to use aluminum chloride was developed.  Today, deodorants are classified as cosmetics and antiperspirants are classified as drugs by the FDA, meaning that antiperspirants are intended to “treat” something.  How antiperspirants work is the aluminum base complex reacts with the electrolytes in the sweat glad to form a gel that plugs the sweat gland’s duct.  However, the lymph glands under our arms are important because they cleanse the blood, when those sweat glands are clogged there is no way for the body to sweat or detox those toxins out.  And because aluminum based compounds absorbed by the skin result in estrogen like behavior that has been known to promote the growth of breast cancer cells, some researchers have suggested that it can contribute to breast cancer and Alzheimers Disease. Today most breast cancer patients are advised to stop the use of all aluminum based products after their diagnosis.

At some point, we have been convinced that sweating is bad. However, sweating actually has numerous health and beauty benefits.  For example, sweating helps your body:

  • Maintain proper temperature and keeps your body from over  heating
  • Expel toxins, which supports proper immune function
  • Clean your pores
  • Fight viruses and bacteria that can’t survive in temperatures above 98.6

Many people are surprised to learn that there are no FDA regulations for the $70 Billion dollar a year health and beauty industry.  According to the Environmental Working Group, there are 10,500 ingredients in the health and beauty products we use every day.  On average the consumer is exposed to 126 ingredients on a daily basis.   Can you guess how many of those ingredients are required to be tested for safety?  ZERO !!!!!!

Of course, becoming an educated consumer is in your best health interest.  Organic health and beauty products are safe for us and can actually have health benefits.  For more information on the toxicity of the health and beauty products we use you can visit www.ewg.org/skindeep.  You can search the products that you currently use and they will give you a detailed list of ingredients and the possible side effects of each one. HAPPY SWEATING!

Sue Simon is an Independent Distributor for NYR Organic Health and Beauty Products. Visit her website at:  www.ssimonorganic.com

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