There are more cleaning and other household products available today which are safer for people as well as the environment, such as Neways household products range. If, for some reason, you do not have these safer cleaning products at hand, here are some home made cleaning products you can rustle up yourself.

Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Mix 1 cup of white vinegar and I cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray on surfaces like sinks and kitchen countertops and wipe clean.

Tile Cleaner
Use a damp sponge to rub in bicarbonate of soda, then rinse. For tougher stains, wipe surfaces with vinegar first, then follow up with bicarbonate of soda.

Furniture Polish
Mix two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice. Put a small amount on a clean cloth or paper towel and apply evenly over furniture surface. Polish with a dry cloth.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda into the toilet bowl then add a small amount of vinegar. Leave for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing. To clean the rim, spray undiluted vinegar directly on it.

Window, Glass and Mirror Cleaner
If the glass is not too dirty, rubbing it with a crumpled up ball of newspaper may be sufficient. Otherwise, mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter of warm water. Dip crumpled newspaper into the solution and wipe the glass. Use another sheet of newspaper to wipe dry.

Chopping Board Cleaner & Disinfectant
Pour boiling water over the board to kill the germs. You can also rub a slice of lemon or pour some vinegar over the chopping board. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot, let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe. Alternatively, soak the board in vinegar for 5-10 minutes.

Odor Remover
A classic trick is to put a small bowl of bicarbonate of soda in the refrigerator or cupboard. To remove stale smells from food containers, soak the container overnight in a mixture of baking soda and water.

Carpet & Rug Deodoriser
Mix together 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/2 cup flour and 3/4 cup bicarbonate of soda. Sprinkle the mixture on the carpet, rub in lightly, and let it stand for 15 minutes before vacuuming.

Estrogen is actually not a single hormone, but a family of hormones with varying chemical strengths. Some are dangerous, others are less so. Estradiol, an aggressive form of estrogen, is one troublemaker. Research shows that some prostate cancers are driven by a chemical called DHT – produced when estradiol attacks the male hormone, testosterone.

Two in three breast cancers are driven by estrogen, specifically estradiol. This troublesome hormone can cause healthy cells to mutate and stem cells to stay in their rapidly dividing state. It can lower oxygen levels in the cell by 40 per cent, cause malfunctioning of the transport systems across the cell membrane, poison the cell and even help the spread of the cancer message. Trouble starts when dangerous forms of estrogen bind to cell receptor sites, feeding the cancer.

When you have an estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) cancer, you need to avoid adding to the estrogen pool in your body. However, we are constantly exposed to chemicals in our environment, personal care products, household products and our foods which act like estrogen in the body. Examples of some external estrogen-like chemicals are pesticides, BPA, phthalates, toluene, perfumes, and parabens. These exogenous estrogens are called xenoestrogens. Some can be just as harmful as the more aggressive natural estrogens like estradiol.

Xenoestrogens are not the same as phytoestrogens, which are natural estrogens or estrogen-mimics derived from plants. Typically, xenoestrogens are far more potent and dangerous. They can wreak havoc on our endocrine system, creating a host of health problems.

What are some sources of xenoestrogens? Here are some bad guys to watch out for:

Nail varnishes and cleaners – these may contain xylene, formaldehyde and toluene, ingredients associated with health risks like damage to DNA and the liver, skin and respiratory irritation, and neurotoxins. Toulene, an estrogen-mimic, also affects the endocrine system.

Perfume and products with synthetic fragrances – these can be a mixture of over 100 different ingredients, and they are not all required to be named on the label. You need to be vigilant, as several are potent endocrine system disrupters and estrogen mimics. Toluene, for instance, is used in the manufacture of many perfumes.

Swedish research shows that 75 per cent of ordinary, everyday perfumed products used on the body produced DEHP – a very powerful estrogen mimic – once in the blood stream. The researchers discovered that that three-quarters of toiletry products tested contained DEHP and phthalates. Synthetic fragrances, perfumed body sprays, hairsprays and hair products were the main culprits. US research with pregnant women found that DEHP was so powerful that 11 per cent of male offspring born to mothers with high DEHP levels had genital defects. Another study concluded that some testicular cancers can start in the womb because of the use of synthetic fragrances or other xenoestrogens on the skin during pregnancy.

Men should not be complacent as DEHP is also found in soaps, shaving foam and aftershave. Practically all these products contain synthetic perfumes.

Cleaning agents, textiles, plastics, cosmetics and some kinds of paper – these are typical sources of a chemical called 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), an endocrine disrupter as well as an estrogen-mimic. 4-nonylphenol has proven to be a breast cancer threat , as reported by the Journal of Applied Toxicology in 2005. It has also been reported to affect semen quality.

Plastics and plastic additives – bisphenol A (BPA) is an ingredient previously used as a fungicide which is now used to manufacture many plastics and plastic additives. It is an endocrine disrupter, mimicking hormones like estrogen. Epoxy resins containing bisphenol A are used as coatings on the inside of almost all food and beverage cans, including bottle caps. Even water supply lines are coated with this chemical.

Bisphenol A is a key component in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic, a clear and nearly shatter-proof plastic used to make a variety of common products including baby and water bottles, sports equipment, medical and dental devices, dental fillings and sealants, eyeglass lenses, CDs and DVDs, and household electronics. Bisphenol A is a popular color developer in thermal paper and in carbonless copy paper.

Flexible plastics, toys, toiletries and other personal care or beauty products – these widely contain phthalates, another endocrine disrupter and estrogen-mimic. Like other endocrine disrupters, phthalates can elevate estradiol production and cause chromosomal damage. Phthalates leach from certain plasticisers used in plastic bottles, used to contain anything from drinking water to hair shampoo and other personal care products.

Cosmetics like face creams, lipsticks etc – many contain estrogen mimics. Dr Ana Soto of Tuft’s experimented with 10 such estrogen mimics, all normal product ingredients designated as safe levels by the US Government. In studies with rats she got a full estrogen response, the sort of effect you might see from the most potent form of estrogen, estradiol. That was just 10 ingredients! How many more estrogen mimics are you exposed to each week in your own home? Probably hundreds.

Finally (for this post any way) sodium lauryl sulphate in soaps, bubble bath, shampoos, dishwashing detergent and so on can increase the permeability of the skin by up to 40 per cent. This just allows more hormone mimics to pass into the blood stream. If you’re still using personal care and household products with sodium lauryl sulphate, for goodness sake WAKE UP! There are alternative, safe toiletry, skin care and household products available today. At least one brand, Neways International, avoids using 3,000 questionable ingredients, including the estrogen-mimics mentioned here.

If you haven’t already done so, switch to using personal care and household care products which are free from questionable ingredients, like xenoestrogens. It could save your life.

Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics flexible. The specific phthalates found in the toy were dibutyl phthalates (DBP) and diethylhexyl phthalates (DEHP). The US has classified DEHP as a “probable human carcinogen” while the European Chemical Agency calls it a “Substance of Very High Concern”.

Phthalates are widely used. They are in soft PVC products like packaging, flooring, mats, milk bottles, toys, food containers and so on. Soft PVC products contain over 40% of phthalates by weight. The “new car” smell that motorists love comes from phthalates emitting from the dashboards of vehicles that have been in the sun. As the motor vehicle cools downs, the phthalates re-condense as an oily film on the inside of the windscreen. Yet another reason not to buy new cars.

I always avoid heating food up in plastic containers. Plastics with recycling codes 3 and 7, in particular, tend to contain phthalates. I also stay away from personal care products which contain phthalates. Yes, many cosmetics, fragrances, soaps, shampoos, lotions, deodorants and even baby powder contain phthalates. Phthalates are popularly used to enhance fragrances in skin care, hair care and beauty products like perfumes, hair spray, and nail polish. These chemicals are also found in environmental products like wood finishers and lubricants.

Manufacturers are sneaky. Phthalates are rarely listed on the ingredients label. Be smart; look out for proxy ingredients like “fragrance”.

A 2009 survey on phthalate levels in the environment by the US Centre For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that exposure to these chemicals was extremely widespread. Concerned, US authorities warned that DEHP was particularly likely to cause serious development problems in the sexual reproductive systems of young male children. Phthalates act as hormone disrupters. DBP and DEHP, especially, disrupt aromotase, an enzyme crucial to the metabolism of sex hormones. These chemicals cats as anti-androgens, or anti-male hormones.

In 2003, a Boston study discovered that men exposed to phthalates had fewer sperm, which also tended to be weaker and deformed. Statistics shows that male infertility is increasing at an alarming rate in industrialized nations, where exposure to phthalates is high. Two common male birth defects are undescended testes and hypospadias (a penile deformity).

Even more alarmingly, it is women of child-bearing age who have the most exposure to phthalates, very likely because of their heavy usage of personal care products containing harmful ingredients like phthalates. Not only are they in danger of producing male babies with sexual development problems, but they are also at risk of developing cancer. Are you using phthalate-free skin care products?

Safety-conscious company Neways International avoids using at least 3,000 questionable ingredients – including phthalates – in its personal care products, such as skin care, hair care, oral hygiene and beauty products. Instead, it uses safe and gentle ingredients as well as technological processes. What’s in the personal care products you use?

Beauty at any price – is it worth dying for?

My family was well-to-do, so we indulged in anything we liked. The dining table groaned with meat dishes, the larder was well-stocked with snacks, chocolates and other confectionery – you get the picture. As for personal care and household care products, we had all the well-known brands. Nothing but the “best” for us. What ingredients went into those products? Who knew and who cared? We were washed and powdered, and we smelled nice. That’s all that mattered.

From my teens, I bought lots of beauty products. They were a mix of unknown brands as well as famous brands. Skin care, hair products, cosmetics, I had the works. All I cared about was whether they made me look and smell good. In those days, what did anybody know about harmful and even carcinogenic ingredients in personal care products? We believed that well-known brands would only be made of the best ingredients, certainly nothing questionable or damaging to health. We never realised that the personal care and beauty products which we used daily could potentially harm us and make us sick.

We’ve come a long way, baby. Consumers today are better-informed about the dangers of common beauty and personal care ingredients such as:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Propylene Glycol
Ethanol / alcohol
Fluoride
Mineral Oil
Petrolatum
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)
Retinoic Acid
Avobenzone
Homosalate
Benzophenone
Formaldehyde
PEGs
Parabens
Ceteareth-20
Diethanolamine (DEA)

There are many more toxic chemicals and harmful ingredients we are exposed to at home which can cause illnesses like cancer, respiratory problems, eye problems like cataracts, liver and kidney ailments, Alzheimer’s Disease, and allergic reactions. Many of these harmful ingredients are in products we love to slather on our skin, apply on our eyes, put in our hair and clean our mouths with.

Had I known years ago what I know today, I probably would have avoided using most kinds of commercial skin care, hair and other beauty products, and gone natural as far as possible (safe personal care products were virtually unheard of until recent years). Had my parents known what many people know today, I’m sure they would have made better dietary choices.

Today, half my siblings – including myself – have been afflicted with cancer. One lost the battle. My other siblings grapple with a variety of health problems. My father spent the last 30 years of his life fighting a host of medical conditions. My mother has been in poor health for many years and her memory comes and goes. Sheer coincidence?

Prevention is obviously better than cure. We cannot undo the damage that has already been done, but we can do our best from now on to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This is particularly essential for those who are already dealing with health conditions like cancer. Boycott personal care and household products which use inferior and potentially harmful ingredients. Choose brands which avoid using questionable ingredients. Safety-conscious Neways International avoids using more than 3,000 questionable ingredients, and counting. What about the brands you use? What poison are you putting on your skin today?

Propylene glycol, parabens, PEGs, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulphate, alcohol, petrolatum and talc are some widely-used ingredients which are potentially harmful and even carcinogenic. These are just a few of thousands of questionable ingredients which are used in bath products, skincare, make-up and other personal care products. You may not know it, but what you apply daily on your face and body may be making you sick and aging you prematurely.

Before I buy any personal care or beauty products, I read the ingredients on the label thoroughly. Nine out of 10 times, I end up putting the item back on the shelf. Even so-called “natural” or “organic” personal care products often contain questionable ingredients. When your family has a history of cancer as bad as mine does, you learn to get picky about what you expose yourself to, whether in food, the environment or personal care and household products. Any guest who stays in my home for a while will probably leave in better health than if they had stayed at a six-star hotel, because my family is so fussy about the safety and quality of the products we use.

This weekend brought happy news to me and many other safety-conscious consumers. My favorite safety-conscious health and wellness company, Neways International, launched a new skincare and beauty line which is comprehensive and effective while avoiding the use of at least 3,000 questionable ingredients, like toxins, dioxins, irritants, carcinogens, and contaminants. Can you think of any brand which has achieved this? Three cheers for Neways!

Ingredients and technologies used by Neways are typically safer and superior in quality than those typically used by many commercial brands. What’s got me even more excited is that Neways’ new True Touch skincare and cosmetics range uses a dizzying array of newly-discovered or little-known botanical ingredients. I pride myself in being well-informed, but Neways is now using healthy ingredients and technologies which are totally new even to me. Neways is also using more environmentally-friendly ingredients, such as bamboo, an environmentally-sustainable agricultural product (it’s the world’s fastest-growing plant) in the True Touch skin exfoliator called Clarifier.

After one beauty workshop yesterday, where I got to try many of the skincare products from Neways’ new True Touch line, my body was left tingling. Not just because the products had refreshed and invigorated my skin, but because I was excited to get the whole range home for my family to use. The products are so good they’re like vitamins and antioxidants for the skin, almost good enough to eat. No wonder they leave the skin looking and feeling great.

If you know of any other beauty brand which avoids using at least 3,000 questionable ingredients, while providing a range of skincare and make-up products as wide, comprehensive, effective and luxurious as Neways’ True Touch line, please write about it here. The more beauty options we have which are safe and healthy– and, preferably, even nourishing and healing – the better. Why put up with inferior and harmful personal care products anymore? Hallelujah!

So we’ll be using our own fluoride-free, sodium laurel sulphate-free and alcohol-free toothpaste when we brush our dog’s teeth. Remember how it used to be so difficult to find a toothpaste which was free from harmful ingredients? Most toothpaste brands contained fluoride, a by-product of copper, iron and aluminum manufacturing. Did you know that before fluoride was deemed a “cavity fighter,” it was used as an insecticide and rat poison? Yikes! Did you also know that fluoride increases the risk of bone cancer in adolescent males? It can also cause osteoporosis and has led to hip fractures.

If this isn’t horrifying enough, this big, bad “F” word has been found to interfere with the pineal gland and its release of melatonin, an antioxidant produced naturally in our bodies. Early puberty has also been shown to occur in areas where there is fluoride in the water.

Thankfully, it’s possible nowadays to find safe toothpaste which is free from harmful ingredients like fluoride and sodium laurel sulphate. Don’t even get me started on sodium laurel sulphate, which is actually an engine degreaser. That stuff isn’t coming anywhere near me or my family, not if I can help it!

Since we discovered Neways UltraShine Radiance toothpaste years ago, we haven’t used anything else. Instead of using cheap and harmful ingredients like fluoride and sodium laurel sulphate, it uses superior safe ingredients like:

Casein, a natural protein found in milk that has demonstrated effectiveness in preventing tooth decay. Casein remains the only natural food constituent known to improve the ratio of good bacteria-to-bad bacteria in the mouth. Casein has also been shown to prevent decay causing bacteria from attaching to teeth. Rich in bio-available phosphates and calcium, it also supports the re-mineralizing of tooth surfaces. Studies have shown that 1 percent of casein solution is as effective as 500 ppm fluoride in aiding the prevention of cavities.

Calcium Glycerophosphate, a natural constituent found in the human body. It helps prevent cavities through enzymatic cleansing. Calcium glycerophosphate complements casein in promoting the re-mineralizing of tooth enamel.

Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide, the same effective ingredient found in Neways Eliminator® mouthwash and which has been clinically proven to strengthen gums. Stabilized chlorine dioxide was originally developed to treat canker sores, also called aphthous ulcers. It is very gentle on the delicate tissues of the mouth, yet very aggressive toward bacteria and plaque. Like in Eliminator, it neutralizes volatile sulfur compounds, which have been shown to be a major source of bad breath. Similarly, its odour- preventative effects last up to four hours.

Natural Mint Extract, which containis 25 percent peppermint oil, the only essential oil licensed as a medicine. Peppermint oil inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi. Mint extract contains menthol, which will leave your mouth feeling tingly-fresh.

Xylitol, which has been shown to decrease oral levels of cavity causing bacteria. It complements the effects of casein, stabilized chlorine dioxide, and mint extract to prevent cavity formation.

Neways UltraShine Radiance Toothpaste is most effective as part of a regular program of brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups. Dogs, of course, may be excused for not flossing :)

Believe it or not, all it takes is a pea-sized amount of UltraShine Radiance toothpaste on a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush all tooth surfaces thoroughly. Talk about mileage! For best results, rinse with Eliminator Mouthwash. Then wait for 10 minutes before eating or drinking (or kissing) to allow the casein, calcium glycerophosphate, and stabilised chlorine dioxide to complete their activity.

Dental hygiene is now safer, and more effective, then it’s ever been. Now that’s something to smile about!

MICRO-ORGANISMS
Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium
Found in human and animal faecal waste. Causes gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhoea, vomiting and cramps.

Legionella
Found in water and multiplies in heating systems. Causes Legionnaire’s Disease, a type of pneumonia.

Chlorite
A by-product of drinking water disinfection. Causes anaemia and can affect the nervous system in infants and young children.

Chlorine
Added to water to control microbes. Causes eye or nose irritation and stomach discomfort.

INORGANIC CHEMICALS
Arsenic
From natural deposits and in the run-offs from orchards and glass and electronics production wastes. Causes skin damage or problems with the circulatory systems and may increase the risk of getting cancer.

Copper
From corrosion of household plumbing systems and natural deposits. Short-term exposure causes gastrointestinal distress while long-term exposure causes liver or kidney damage.

Fluoride
Added to water to promote strong teeth. Can also enter drinking water from erosion of natural deposits and discharge from fertiliser and aluminium factories. It can cause bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones) and children may get mottled teeth. Ironically, fluoride is found in most brands of toothpaste so, at the very least, use a toothpaste which is free from fluoride and other harmful ingredients like Neway’s Ultrashime Radiance toothpaste.

Safe, clean water is the foundation of health and wellness. What’s in your water?

If you were offered two glasses of sparkling mineral water, one comprising pure mineral water and the other comprising mineral water with just one drop of drainwater added, which one would you choose to drink? Isn’t it obvious which glass most people would go for? When you think about it, really, one drop of drainwater probably wouldn’t kill you but, given a choice, you wouldn’t touch that glass with a ten-foot pole when you know it’s contaminated.

So why do consumers keep buying food contaminated with toxins like pesticides, hormones and fungicides? Why do they use personal care and household products which are contaminated with carcinogens and other harmful chemicals? We’re exposing ourselves to the equivalent, or worse, of drainwater everytime we put these poisons in or on our bodies.

People are getting sicker and dying longer, rather than LIVING longer. Is it any surprise? Wouldn’t you rather spend a little more to protect your health now, rather than spend a lot later on expensive medical treatment?

No toxins or carcinogens for me, thanks. Care for some in your beverage or food, or perhaps in your shampoo, toothpaste, moisturiser or dishwashing detergent?

Free radicals are dangerous little buggers because they are the common cause of tissue damage. In fact, thousands of scientific studies have linked them to every known disease. They are damaged molecules which have become unstable because they have lost an electron. When that happens, they attack healthy cells nearby and steal electrons from them. Those cells then become unstable as well and end up attacking and stealing electrons from other nearby cells. Incidentally, these radicals are ‘free’ because they float around until they stabilise.

Unless something is done to stop the process, the instability spreads in a chain reaction, healthy cells quickly become damaged, and sickness or disease results. The signs of aging also begin to show. In fact, free radical damage accumulates with age.

More than a thousand different families of free radicals attack our bodies everyday. The onslaught is relentless, as free radicals are found everywhere, in food and drink, in the air, in chemicals like pesticides, in tobacco smoke, and countless other pollutants. Free radicals can also result from emotional and physical stress, overexposure to the sun, and over consumption of fats and alcohol.

Can anything be done to fight free radical damage? Making healthy lifestyle choices will certainly help. At the very least:
• Eat foods which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other health-giving and protective qualities. Modern farming methods, though, have resulted in over-farming, and nutritionally-depleted and contaminated crops. Meat and even fish are often corrupted with harmful chemicals. Choose organic where possible.
• Quit bad habits like smoking and drinking too much alcohol (wine in moderation, however, can be beneficial)
• Exercise regularly, but be careful not to overstrain your body. Weekend warriors – who are mostly sedentary but exercise vigorously when they get around to it – may actually be doing themselves more harm than good.
• Get plenty of rest. Don’t compromise on sleep.
• Enjoy some sunshine everyday. It helps to manufacture Vitamin D, a powerful antioxidant.
• Stay peaceful. Avoid conflict, and don’t allow anything or anyone to stress you out or upset you. Don’t hold grudges, but let it go. Forgive. Do things which make you happy and help to calm you, like listening to music, enjoying a nice walk, spending some time with people who encourage you and build you up, and going to church.
• Avoid harmful personal care products and household products. Make sure everything you use is absolutely safe and free from carcinogens and other harmful ingredients. Learn to read labels.
• Take antioxidant supplements. Antioxidants neutralise free radicals. Supplements which combine a wide variety of antioxidants are best, as free radicals are also very varied. Be sure that your antioxidant supplements have high ORAC values. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity and measures how well the food or antioxidant supplement combats health conditions like heart disease and cancer. It’s also important to ensure that your supplements have high bio-availability (easily absorbed and assimilated right up to cell level). Otherwise, you’re just wasting your money.

Here are some toxic chemicals and harmful ingredients to watch out for:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
This is a sneaky one as it has 144 known alternative names.

• This is an industrial degreaser and garage floor cleaner.
• Used in personal care and household products because it is cheap.
• SLS has a low molecular weight, so it is easily absorbed into the body where it builds up in the eyes, brain, heart and liver.
• Caustic cleanser. Harms hair and skin follicles.
• Routinely used in clinical studies to irritate the skin, so that the effects of other substances can be tested (Source : Wall Street Journal, Nov.1, 1988).
• Can keep children’s eyes from developing properly.
• Can cause cataracts in adults.
• Can retard healing.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
SLES is the alcohol form (ethoxylated) of SLS. Both SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic formations of nitrates and dioxins to form in shampoos and cleansers by reacting with other product ingredients.

1,4-Dioxane (or Dioxin)
• One of the principal components of Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War. Implicated in the host of cancers that surfaced after the war.
• 1,4-dioxane may be created during ethoxylation i.e. the process that makes degreasing agents like SLS less abrasive and more foamy.
• 1,4-dioxane is an estrogen mimic (estrogen can trigger cancer).

Ingredients most likely contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane :
PEG, Polyethylene, Polyethylene Glycol, eth (as in sodium laureth sulfate), Polyoxyethylene, or oxynol. Also Polysorbate 60 and Polysorbate 80.

Propylene Glycol
Another sneaky one as it has 41 alternative names. Propylene glycol is a cosmetic form of mineral oil found in brake and hydraulic fluids, paint, varnishes, and anti-freeze. In skin and hair care products, propylene glycol works as a humectant, which is a substance that retains the moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. Drums of Propylene Glycol are accompanied by a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which reads “If on skin, thoroughly wash with soap and water”. Can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

Diethanolamine (DEA), Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA, Triethanolamine (TEA), Monethanolamine (MEA)
A colourless liquid or crystalline alcohol that is used as a solvent, emulsifier, and wetting agent. DEA works as an emollient in skin softening lotions or as a humectant on other personal care products. When found in products containing nitrates, it reacts chemically with the nitrates to from potentially carcinogenic nitrosamines. Although earlier studies seemed to indicate that DEA itself was not a carcinogen, more recent studies show its carcinogenic potential, even in formulations that exclude nitrates.

Fluorides (Sodium Fluoride & Hexaflurosillicic Acid)
• Fluoride is a toxic waste product of many industries eg.glass production, phosphate fertliser production, aluminium smelting etc.
• Sodium Fluoride is used in rat poison
• Fluorine : used as a battlefield gas in both world wars.
• Fluoride accumulates in the body like lead.
• It is more toxic than lead and just slightly less toxic than arsenic (Source : Clinical Toxicology 1984)
• Hip fractures are 20%-40% higher on fluoridated communities (reported in a news release titled “Study Links Fluoride to Rare Bone Cancer” issued on December 8, 1993, by the American Medical Association)

Alcohol
• Used as a solvent and found in medicines and beverages.
• Mouthwash with an alcohol content of 25% or more has been implicated in mouth, tongue and throat cancers (1991 study by the National Cancer Institute),
• Can also lead to accidental poisoning.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)
An organic acid produced by anaerobic respiration. Skin care products containing AHA exfoliate not only dead skin cells, but the skin’s protective barrier as well. Long-term skin damage may result.

Aluminium
Used in aircraft components, antiperspirants, antacids and antiseptics. Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.

Bentonite
A porous clay that expands to many times its dry volume as it absorbs water. Used by fire fighters to suffocate forest fires by eliminating available oxygen. Found in cosmetic foundations. Healthy cells need oxygen and this blocks it out.

Collagen and Elastin
Derived from animal carcasses and ground-up chicken feet. Found in most skincare products. Forms a layer of film that may suffocate the skin.

Kaolin
A fine white clay used in making porcelain. Like bentonite, kaolin smothers and weakens the skin.

Fluorocarbons
A colourless, nonflammable gas or liquid that can produce mild upper respiratory tract irritation. Commonly used as a propellant in hairsprays.

Formaldehyde
When combined with water, it is used as a disinfectant, fixative or preservative. Irritant and a carcinogen. Found in many cosmetic products and conventional nail care systems.

Lanolin
A fatty substance extracted from wool. Used in lotions and cosmetics. Can cause allergic reactions due to toxic pesticides in the wool. Some 16 pesticides were identified in lanolin sampled in 1988.

Mineral Oil
Used in baby oils. And you thought baby products should be the safest ever! Derived from crude oil (petroleum). Mineral oil forms an oily film over skin to lock in moisture, toxins and wastes. Hinders normal skin respiration by keeping oxygen out.

Petrolatum
Petroleum-based grease similar to mineral oil, with the same potentially harmful properties.

Salt
Drying, corrosive, irritating. Used to thicken personal care product preparations because it is cheap.

Talc
One of the leading causes of ovarian cancer.

Protect your family. Clean out your toxic home now!