Organic Cosmetics, Toiletries to be Defined
The U.S. Agriculture Department is now applying its strict
organic food standards to personal care products as well. There
are hundreds of soaps, shampoos, skin creams, and cosmetics that
call themselves organic, but until now those labels have often
been confusing or misleading.
Few Will Qualify
However, few organic beauty products are likely to qualify for
the Agriculture Department's seal, which mandates that at least
95 percent of the ingredients must be organic. Many products
that do not make the grade may still be labeled "made with
organic" ingredients, a designation that does not mean as much.
Forced By a Lawsuit
The extension of the organic regulations was forced by a lawsuit
brought by one of the oldest natural soap producers, Dr.
Bronner's. Dr. Bronner's has already put the organic seal on its
Sun Dog's lotions and balms. The Nourish line of body care
products and Aubrey Organics have also been approved for the
organic seal, and Terressentials is in the process of having its
skin and hair products certified.
In 2004, $4 billion was spent on beauty products labeled natural
or organic.
New York Times October 20, 2005 Registration Required
Dr. Mercola's Comment:This sounds like good news, considering
consumers have until now mostly had to rely on manufacturers'
largely unproven and often bogus claims. It may finally be
possible to tell, at least to some degree, just how safe or
dangerous some cosmetics, soaps and other toiletries really are.
Considering all the chemicals found in common productsyou use
every day -- and all the harm they can do to you and your
children -- these changing federal regulations certainly make it
easier for you to make better and safer decisions. And there's
nothing wrong at all with that.
Remember, in order to avoid environmental toxins as much as
possible:- Only use natural cleaning products in your
home. Most health food stores will have these available or you
can search online for them.
- Switch over to natural brands of
toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and
cosmetics. Remember that most antiperspirants are loaded with
toxic aluminum.
- Buy and eat, as much as possible, organic
produce and free-range, organic foods.
- Rather than eating
fish, which is largely contaminated with PCBs and mercury,
consume a high-quality purified fish or cod liver oil like
Carlson'sthat is mercury and PCB free.
- Avoid processed foods
-- remember that they're processed with chemicals!
- Remove
anyamalgam (silver)fillings as they're a major source of
mercury. But be sure to have this done by a biological dentist
as if yousee a conventional dentistthe replacement process could
actually make you worse-- it will liberate large amounts of
mercury immediately into your brain.
- Avoid using artificial
air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other
synthetic fragrances as they can pollute the air you are
breathing.
- Avoid artificial food additives of all kind,
including artificial sweeteners and MSG.
- Have your tap water
tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate
water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or
bath).
- Seek to build your health up through the nutrition
insights detailed in my Total Health Program, and then limit
your use of drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) as much as
possible. Drugs are chemicals too, and they will leave residues
and accumulate in your body over time.