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The truth is, products are not always safe, and manufacturers do not have to reveal their degree of safety to us. An FDA document posted on the agency’s World Wide Web home page says, “A cosmetic manufacturer may use an ingredient or raw material, and market the final product without government approval.” In 1938, the FDA granted self-regulation to the cosmetics industry, allowing the industry to determine what to put into products, regardless of what tests may show. Most of the 25,000 chemicals used therein have not been tested for long-term toxic and systemic effects (affecting the entire body system). Many are outright toxins or contain toxic byproducts. According to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, “Even if the FDA suspects that serious adverse health effects are caused by a cosmetic product, they cannot require the manufacturer to provide test data to prove the product safety.” During our daily personal care regimen, most of us have exposed ourselves to more than 200 different chemicals. A recent surge of media attention reveals new concern about detrimental ingredients that are affecting more than our physical health. An article in a recent USA Weekend says: “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is increasing research of synthetic chemicals (pesticides, plastics, and industrial mutants) that may be juggling your hormone signals. After reviewing nearly 300 studies, the EPA concluded that ingredients in shampoos, dyes, and other everyday products may be playing havoc with hormones that control reproduction and development.” How about those so-called “natural” products? Since there are no regulations about what is “natural”, the term is often abused, and many such alternatives have the same dangerous ingredients as the products they claim to replace. Consumers must be educated and aware. Of the hundreds of toxic chemicals used in personal and skin care products, we have chosen some of the “worst offenders” to describe. If you learn about even these few and start reading ingredient labels, you can avoid some of the most serious carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting chemicals. Please take action now. The health and well-being of your family depends on it! Ingredients To Be Avoided What you put on your skin can go into your body to affect your health and sense of well-being, either negatively or positively. You can choose what to put on your skin if you know the facts – which the “cosmetic conspiracy” wants to hide from you. As your body’s largest organ, your skin is your first and most important immune defense barrier as well as the largest organ for eliminating waste. Commercial products with harmful petroleum ingredients can plasticize and “constipate” your skin, making germs more likely to get in and toxins less likely to get out of your body. The result: Neither you nor your skin are as radiant and healthy as you could be! Every day we use products that we think are safe; but the truth is that products are NOT always safe, and manufacturers don’t have to tell us so. Ever since the FDA granted self-regulation to the cosmetics industry, such products can be marketed without government approval of the ingredients, regardless of what tests show. Most of the 25,000 chemicals used in the cosmetics industry have not been tested for long-term toxic effects. In a typical day, you might be exposed to over 200 different chemicals, many of which are suspected of causing cancer or juggling hormones. EPA tests conclude that ingredients in shampoos, dyes, and other personal care products “may be playing havoc with hormones that control reproduction and development.”
CHECK All PRODUCT LABELS!!!
AVOID THESE HARMFUL, HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS!!! • Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40) – a very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your skin’s moisture and natural immune barrier, making you more vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative and is found in many skin and hair products, fragrance, antibacterial hand washes as well as shellac and antifreeze. It can act as a “carrier” accelerating the penetration of other harmful chemicals into your skin. May promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients says it may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia, and coma. Fatal ingested dose is one ounce or less. ALTERNATIVE: BGSE • DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), and TEA (triethanolamine) – Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These are already restricted in Europe, due to known carcinogenic effects; but, Americans may be exposed 10-20 times per day! Used to create “foam” in products like shampoo, shaving creams, and bubble bath. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois) says that repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of liver and kidney cancer. The FDA’s John Bailey says this is especially important since “the risk equation changes significantly for children.” • DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl) – Just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure may also irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, and aggravate coughs and colds. Other possible side effects include weakening the immune system and cancer. ALTERNATIVE: LONICERA JAPONICA • FD&C Color Pigments – synthetic colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic. NO ALTERNATIVE NECESSARY • Fragrances – mostly synthetic ingredients, often containing animal urine or feces! Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic. Symptoms reported to the FDA include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes. ALTERNATIVES: AROMATHERAPEUTIC, ORGANIC ESSENTIAL OILS. • Mineral Oil – petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Used in many products (baby oil is 100% mineral oil!) ALTERNATIVES: MOISTURE MAGNETS (SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE) FROM BEETS; CERAMIDES, JOJOBA AND OTHER VEGETABLE OILS, ETC. • Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) – potentially carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin’s natural moisture factor. This could increase the appearance of aging and leave you more vulnerable to bacteria. Used in cleansers to dissolve oil and grease. It adjusts the melting point and thickens products. Also used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners. ONE ALTERNATIVE: PLANTEREN TM (DECYL GLUCOSIDE) • Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol – petroleum plastics that act as “surfactants” (wetting agents and solvents). They easily penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to make extracts from herbs. PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats! The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles and to dispose of any PG solutions by burying in the ground. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. But there isn’t even a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than in most industrial applications. ALTERNATIVES: WATER EXTRACTED HERBS, ESSENTIAL OILS, ETC. • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) – detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats. Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners, and engine degreasers, and in 90% of personal-care products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. SLS may also damage the skin’s immune system by causing layers to separate and inflame. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain the SLS for up to five days, during which time it may enter and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, the lungs, and the brain. ALTERNATIVE: AMMONIUM COCOYL ISETHIONATE. • Triclosan – a synthetic “antibacterial” ingredient with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! The EPA registers it as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to both human health and the environment. It is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin, a powerful hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects measured in the parts per trillion; that is only one drop in 300 Olympic-size swimming pools! Hormone disruptors pose enormous long-term chronic health risks by interfering with the way hormones perform, such as changing genetic material, decreasing fertility and sexual function, and fostering birth defects. It can temporarily deactivate sensory nerve endings, so contact with it often causes little or no pain. Internally, it can lead to cold sweats, circulatory collapse, and convulsions. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs, and can causing paralysis, suppression of immune function, brain hemorrhages, and heart problems. Tufts University School of Medicine says that triclosan is capable of forcing the emergence of 'super bugs' that it cannot kill. Its widespread use in popular antibacterial cleansers, toothpastes and household products may have nightmare implications for our future. ALTERNATIVE: BGSE
"Every day we use products that we think are safe - we assume the product has been tested and any dangerous ingredients labeled. The truth is, products are not always safe and manufacturers don't have to tell us. A GAO (Government Accounting Office) document states that "a cosmetic manufacturer may use an ingredient or raw material and market the final product without government approval." During our daily personal care regimen, most of us have exposed ourselves to more than 200 different chemicals, and often the same dangerous chemical in multiple products. A recent surge of media attention reveals new concerns about detrimental ingredients that are affecting our physical health. An article in USA Weekend says: "The EPA is increasing research on dozens of synthetic chemicals (pesticides, plastics, and industrial pollutants) that may be juggling your hormone signals. After reviewing nearly 300 studies, the EPA concluded that ingredients in shampoos, dyes, and other everyday products may be playing havoc with hormones that control reproduction.” “The New Beginning” in Skin Care Systems
Hyaluronic Acid – Anti-Aging Skin Treatment
Platinum Health Products (PHP) presents the most effective wrinkle erasing anti-aging skin treatments on the market today! Aestheticians, Cosmetologists, and Spas across the country are thrilled with this product and have seen the results first hand. Hyaluronic Acid, found in healthy skin, is missing from dry and wrinkled skin. When Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is applied to the skin, the results are immediately visible. With our system, we are not only re-hydrating the skin, we are infusing over 140 nutrients that penetrate deep into the lines, wrinkles, and sub-dermas. HealthStyles4URx believes this is the perfect system for any Spa, Clinical Dermatologist, Aesthetician, or Cosmetologist who is selling Hyaluronic Acid (HA) injections. Unlike most all other systems, the Rejuvenating Hyaluronic Skin Care System from PHP, is hypo-allergenic, and good for all skin types. It is developed from all vegetarian sources, and uses NO animal testing.  Just like the butterfly that emerges from the cocoon, watch our Rejuvenating Hyaluronic Skin Care System transform the texture, color, firmness and overall quality of dry, wrinkled, or aging skin. See the results yourself and experience “The New Beginning” in Skin Care. Call today to order at: 1.888.542.8833
Hyaluronic Acid
(Hyaluronan) What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (also called Hyaluronan) is a component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. Hyaluronan occurs throughout the body in abundant amounts in many of the places people with hereditary connective tissue disorders have problems, such as joints, heart valves and eyes. Hyaluronic acid abnormalities are a common thread in connective tissue disorders. Interestingly, they are also common biochemical anomalies in most of the individual features of connective tissue disorders such as mitral valve prolapse, TMJ, osteoarthritis, and keratoconus. Hyaluronic acid has been nicknamed by the press as the "key to the fountain of youth" because it has been noted that at least some people who ingest a lot of it in their diets tend to live to ripe old ages. ABC News had a show on a village in Japan and hyaluronic acid entitled, "The Village of Long Life: Could Hyaluronic Acid Be an Anti-Aging Remedy?". Hyaluronic Acid and Connective Tissue Disorders
The list below contains links to a sample of the studies where subjects with connective tissue disorders have been shown to have hyaluronic acid (HA) abnormalities:
Not surprisingly, these disorders all have a lot of overlapping features, and many of these overlapping features, when studied individually, are also linked to hyaluronic acid abnormalities. In every study that was researched for connective tissue disorders that examined hyaluronic acid, the levels were always abnormal in patients with connective tissue disorders. In human and animal studies, hyaluronic acid abnormalities occur in:
Hyaluronic acid, or commercial preparations containing hyaluronic acid, are in use, or being studied to be used, to prevent, treat or aid in the surgical repair for many of the types of problems people with connective tissue disorders tend to have, such as:
The list below contains a partial list of common features of several connective tissue disorders. Both the syndromes and the individual features of the syndrome (even when the individual features are studied in the general population, not only in people with genetic disorders), all have links to hyaluronic acid abnormalities.
American Academy of Family Physicians on beneficial effects of using Hyaluronic Acid (HA) for osteoarthritis. Canada Family Physicians Hyaluronic Acid and Environmental Factors
There are many factors known to influence hyaluronic acid levels. Genes are likely to be a factor, but there are many environmental factors that are known to have an impact, including zinc and magnesium availability. Not surprisingly, magnesium and zinc deficiencies are known to be associated with many of the same symptoms associated with hyaluronic acid abnormalities, such as mitral valve prolapse and poor wound healing, respectively. Perhaps this is because the zinc or magnesium deficiency contributes to the hyaluronic acid abnormality, which in turn causes the symptom. There are a multitude of studies on Medline regarding hyaluronic acid and a wide variety of environmental factors. Here is a sample of some of the interesting ones that relate to connective tissue disorders: Hyaluronic acid becomes abnormally elevated in the skin of swine who have zinc deficiencies. Magnesium is needed for hyaluronic acid synthesis. Perhaps a lack of magnesium is one of the factors in some connective tissue disorders. Magnesium supplementation is an established treatment for many of the symptoms of connective tissue disorders, such as fibromyalgia, mitral valve prolapse and contractures. Ascorbic acid can degrade hyaluronic acid. Estrogen treatment increases activity of hyaluronic acid. Estrogen is known to increase utilization of nutrients like magnesium and zinc - nutrients that are known to affect hyaluronic acid levels. Cigarette smoke is known to degrade hyaluronic acid. In a study of rats, hyaluronic acid turnover and metabolism were affected by age, dietary composition, and caloric intake. If what rats ate affected their hyaluronic acid levels, then this may be a good clue that diet may well affect hyaluronic levels in humans, too. In another study on rats, hyaluronic acid deposition in rat cerebellum is affected by thyroid deficiency, thyroxine treatment and undernutrition. In a study of humans, hyaluronic acid levels were altered by physical activity and food ingestion. In a study on rats, skin hyaluronic acid concentration was higher than normal in energy deficiency, but below normal levels in prolonged protein deficiency. In rats suffering from prolonged malnutrition, the collagen concentrations are reduced. (Reduced collagen concentrations are also found in some of the connective tissue disorders such as osteogenesis imperfecta, as are a plethora of other conditions also associated with hyaluronic acid abnormalities. Not surprisingly, zinc deficits are known to affect hyaluronic acid levels and are also known to cause reduced collagen levels in humans.) Strep and staph bacteria emit an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme which breaks down hyaluronic acid, thus allowing an entry point for the bacteria to enter the body. This may be why people may become hypermobile or develop heart aliments like mitral valve prolapse after illnesses such as rheumatic fever – because the hyaluronic acid in their connective tissue has been degraded by the bacteria that causes their illness. (See "What Causes Mitral Valve Prolapse? Hyaluronic acid is a clue") If animals that are genetically similar to humans (such as rats) can have reduced collagen levels and hyaluronic acid abnormalities from changes in their diets, then it would be logical to consider diet as a causative factor in people with the hyaluronic acid abnormalities. Summary
Hyaluronic acid occurs in abundant amounts in many of the places people with connective tissue disorders have problems such as the joints, the eyes, the skin and heart valves. Hyaluronic acid is needed to cushion and lubricate joints, eyes, skin and heart valves. People with connective tissue disorders and related features all seem to have abnormalities of hyaluronic acid. In every study it was found that analyzed hyaluronic acid levels in people with connective tissue disorders or related disorders, when compared to controls they always had hyaluronic acid abnormalities. HA is influenced by nutrition and other environmental factors. Many of the features of premature aging syndromes and connective tissue disorders are also known to be caused by nutritional deficiencies; not surprisingly these are often the same nutritional factors that influence the manufacture of hyaluronic acid. My theory is that this is not all one big coincidence. Logically, it is more likely to be a predictable sequence of causes and effects. Hyaluronic acid is being used commercially, or experimentally, to correct a large portion of the problems found in connective tissue disorders such as fractures, eye disorders, poor wound healing and prematurely wrinkled skin. It would be highly logical to consider the possibility that hyaluronic acid works to correct these problems, because defects or deficiencies of hyaluronic acid are what cause these problems in the first place. Perhaps controlling or optimizing the environmental factors, such as modifying the diet, to optimize hyaluronic acid levels would be helpful in treating many inherited connective tissue disorders and premature aging syndrome. “The New Beginnings” Rejuvenating Skin Care System
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