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WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? A NORMAL HYGIENE RITUAL MAY BE DESTROYING YOUR HEALTH!When did everyday Hygiene become so dangerous? Does this sound familiar? Upon waking in the morning, you take a shower; brush your teeth and put on some under-arm deodorant. Sounds good, no problem, right? Well, wrong. We have not been awake for even thirty minutes and there is a good chance that we have covered our body with at least three different type of harmful chemicals. “Huh?” If you don’t filter your water and you are using municipal water you are showering with heavily chlorinated water, your toothpaste possibly is loaded with fluoride, and your under-arm deodorant has a strong element of aluminum. And you were thinking you just wanted to look and smell good. Sorry for the bad news. So, what are some of the concerns that we create during our every day hygiene ritual? CHLORINE: Chlorinated tap water can increase the risk of bladder and rectal cancers. The byproducts of chlorine combined with water are “mutagenic and/or carcinogenic”. The chlorination is needed though, because of the high amount of bacteria in the municipal water. We don't use chlorine because it's the safest or even the most effective means of disinfection, we use it because it is the cheapest. In spite of all our technological advances, we essentially still pour bleach in our water before we drink it. The long term effects of chlorinated drinking water have just recently being recognized. According to the U.S. Council of Environmental Quality, "Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine." FLUORIDE: The most widely accepted adverse effect of low concentration fluoridation at this time is fluorosis. It is a condition caused by 'excessive' intake of fluorine compounds over an extended period of time, and can cause yellowing of teeth, hypothyroidism, or brittling of bones and teeth. Fluoride is more poisonous than lead, and just less poisonous than arsenic - Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products – 1984 "A seven ounce tube of toothpaste, theoretically at least, contains enough fluoride to kill a small child." - Procter&Gamble, quoted in Fluoride the Aging Factor Fluoride supplements should not be given to children under three years old - 1992 Canadian Dental Association Proposed Fluoride Guidelines, Dr. Limeback ALUMINUM: As with the other elements, aluminum is absorbed and accumulated in the body, and has been linked to serious illnesses including osteoporosis, extreme nervousness, anemia, headache, decreased liver and kidney function, forgetfulness, speech disturbances and memory loss. Aluminum has also been widely associated with Alzheimer’s disease. People who have died from Alzheimer’s disease have been found to have up to four times the average amount of aluminum accumulated in the brain’s nerve cells (Mercola.com, 2004). Antiperspirants contain aluminum that is absorbed by your body. It’s best to avoid it all together and use simple soap and water instead. Deodorants aren't as bad as antiperspirants, but I would also avoid using them unless it was made from some form of baking soda. Other Common Sources:
Tap Water Aluminum cookware Aluminum foil Over-the-counter drugs: These include many antacids, anti-diarrhea drugs and drugs used for pain and inflammation. Several douche brands Some baking powders: Most baking powders contain aluminum as an additive, but health food stores carry non-aluminum varieties. Refined foods, refined flours, baked goods, processed cheeses, and common table salt What can you do and still meet your everyday hygiene needs, but safely? CHLORINE: There are a number of carbon-filters available for your shower/bath-tub/faucet to filter out the chlorine found in your tap water. An interesting point to realize is that your skin is the body’s largest organ, so you cannot drink chlorinated water fast enough to equal the exposure during a shower. Plus, the amount of fumes you inhale during your hot and steaming chlorinated shower just add great insult to an even greater injury. FLUORIDE: There are numerous companies that now produce fluoride-less tooth paste. Those fluoride warnings on your toothpaste are there for a reason. Please check with your favorite natural food store for what is available. ALUMINUM: There are a number of companies that produce aluminum-free under arm deodorant. If you don’t want to just move to soap and baking soda, please check with your favorite natural food store to see what is on the market. The truth is, this hygiene information has been available for years, but is now just becoming main-stream. The science is there, we just need to start taking the small steps needed to protect our health.
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