By Gene Ayres

Last week I talked about all the interesting things we are urged, invited, required to, or are at least willing to ingest, in our food. Or, which is no excuse, we’re oblivious to. Many of us still actually believe that if the FDA allows it, it must be OK. This is the same FDA that gutted all regulations, then announced (and has now been supported by the Supreme Court, no less!) that if the FDA approved something, you can’t sue the manufacturer if it kills you!

So, with that cozy thought in mind, let’s take a look at some of the other wonderful products the FDA allows, requires, or otherwise rams down our throats. Or in this case, urges us (through their marketing and manufacturing cronies) to slather on our bodies, hair, teeth, nails, and other surfaces.

Last month, an NGO called the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) discovered that a lot of your so-called "natural" and "organic" brand shampoos, body lotions, and washes contain something called 1,4-Dioxane. 1,4-Dioxane has been found, by no less than the State of California, to be a known carcinogen. In other words, it’s been proven to cause cancer. California, unlike the US of A, still has a functional Environmental Protection Agency. They are the ones who uncovered this charming fact. Too bad they were overruled by the Feds and are not allowed to take any actual action, such as banning these substances in their state. Still, just so you know, this nifty ingredient can be found in the following products:

• JASON Pure Natural & Organics

• Giovanni Organic Cosmetics

• Kiss My Face

• Nature’s Gate Organics

The California EPA recommends, against the Fed’s vehement ill wishes, that you read ingredient labels and avoid products listing anything to do with a process called “ethoxylation.” This will include the codes "myreth," "oleth," "laureth," "ceteareth," any other "eth," "PEG," "polyethylene," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," or "oxynol," in their ingredient names.

Meanwhile, courtesy of my longtime health and nutrition advisory sources at Mercola.com, here’s another list of additives to avoid in your skin and hair care products:

• Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum – These are petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clog your pores and create a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Slows cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. Suspected cause of cancer. Disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there’s an oil spill in the ocean, don’t they rush to clean it up – fast? Why put that stuff on your skin?

• Parabens – Widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone-disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body’s endocrine system.

• Phenol carbolic acid– Found in many lotions and skin creams. Can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.

• Propylene glycol – Used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.

• Acrylamide– Found in many hand and face creams. Linked to mammary tumors in lab research.

• Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)– Found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to easily penetrate. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine,” a potent class of carcinogen. It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived”.

• Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Made from petroleum or coal tar, and found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.

If you want products that truly safe and effective, having quoted from Dr. Mercola on these matters, I can only reciprocate by touting not only his excellent web page, but also the products that his own research staff has found and recommended to be safe. Go there and take a look. For a safe alternative to that commercial skin lotion you use, you might try his Organic Body Butter (see website). Or make your own, with three truly safe ingredients that are actually good for your skin: organic aloe vera, organic jojoba oil, and my favorite, organic virgin coconut oil, which is also (in spite of amazing claims to the contrary) far and away the best and healthiest cooking oil there is.

Take care!