SKIN CARE PRODUCTS & YOUR HEALTH

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We often don't think too much about what we put on our skin and the impact that it can have where our health is concerned. Lately there has been a lot of talk around specific chemicals that are endocrine disruptors and that create an imbalace for our hormones. I am a firm believer that we should always do what we can to eliminate or reduce the levels of toxins that can enter into our bodies. Compounds like parabens and phthalates are used in skin care products to help preserve them for a longer period of time and also to enhance their fragrance.

Chemicals in our skin care have a cumulative effect on the body and even little amounts here and there can add up in our blood stream and start to impact our overall health. Many don't know that products that mothers apply on their skin can be passed on in utero to the baby leaving the potential for the developing fetus to develop health conditions very early on.

Parabens and Phthalates are added into our skin care products, insect repellents, sun screen, laundry detergents, dryer sheets and so on. As you can see, there are many different ways in which these endocrine disruptors can creep into our bodies, we are surrounded by them!.

We as consumers have the opportunity to change what we are being sold simply by not purchasing these chemical products and encourage retailers to sell more sustainable products (both for our bodies and the environment). But outside of that there is so much we can do to tend to our own health, for example we can choose to use lemon eucalyptus essential oils to deter insects instead of Deet and other chemical bug sprays. There are also many cosmetic products that contain heavy metals like lead and other compounds that again can create toxicity in our cells and make us sick.

We store these chemicals in our fat tissue and if you are a person who often finds that you struggle with your hormonal health or health in general, looking into your nutrition may be a good place to start.

So the BIG question is, what can we do?

A good starting place is to consult with a physician or Naturopathic doctor to see what your hormonal levels are at and what they can recommend. You may want to inquire into nutritional supplementation to see if there are ways that you can assist your body in reducing embedded toxins. We can take action to help support the body's natural detox pathways.

Here are some ways to help detoxify the body!

• Break a sweat - Using the sauna, exercise, yoga, receiving massage

• Focus on optimal gut function - high fibre diet & healthy microbiome

• Drinking enough water for your weight

• B vitamins, magnesium

• Sulfur rich foods like broccoli, kale, brussles sprouts, onion, garlic, dark leafy greens, chickpeas

• prebiotic rich foods like apples & chia

• Antioxidant fruits and vegetable

• Cold Therapy

Sometimes it feels like we are always fighting off an attack from pollutants in our environment. We are in an interesting moment in life where we have become even more aware of our health and the choices we make day to day. Maybe there is no need to change anything that you are doing but perhaps becoming more aware of what we are consuming and applying on our skin can help to create long lasting health in the body.

***Always check with your trusted health care practitioner before making any sudden changes to your diet and wellness practice!