Household toxins, natural solutions (Long)

Hi :) I have been doing a little reading about household toxins in our day to day items like cosmetics, shampoo, and cleaners. Another member asked me to post some of my information here at this forum that I was posting elswhere so that it might benefit some of you as well. :) A site I gleaned a lot of useful information from is below, I especially found the information on Sodium Lauryl Sulfate interesting--and shocking.

http://freelife.com/sites/bewell/redir.cfm?page=info/personalcare/a...

Here is that information for those that are interested...
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & 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 experience 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.

http://freelife.com/sites/bewell/redir.cfm?page=/info/personalcare/...

This is a url for articles in the media about dangers in our products, a couple of the articles where interesting.

http://www.additivesout.org.uk/

This url is mainly about the horrors of artificial sweetners, but also has information about other food additives in the facts link.

I am slowly wanting to start changing over and buying all natural products-- my makeup, shampoo, deodorants, and sunscreens. I was amazed at how many (6 actually) of the danger chemicals on that one pages list my favorite Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Lotion contains. The body wash was a little better, only 4. So instead of my traditional Bath and Body Works for Christmas this year I have given my husband some natural catologs and circled the items I am most interested in. Most of them have web sites, so I thought I might list them here for those of you that might be interested. :) I also stumbled across a seller on ebay that sells her own line of all natural products, terranaturals is her ebay screenname. I'm sure there are more on ebay that I have not found as of yet. Just reading her auctions are very informative! :) Where I am looking at getting my makeup is www.eccobella.com There are a few for hair care and personal items and they include www.highoctavehealing.com www.dermae.net www.aubrey-organics.com
Also the page that had the chemical articles has their own line that I have not looked at as of yet. At www.tropicaltraditions.com they have several all natural skin products using coconut oil. I just ordered their coconut oil deodorant and lip balm today. For those of you who order virgin coconut oil http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/mall/virgin_coconut_oil.asp
has cheaper prices on their Phillipines oil than Tropical Traditions and is made the same way and with the same great quality. I'm wanting to order a 5 gallon pail of it soon...:) They also have virgin coconut oil from India that is absolutely excellent, I have teasted it and it is fabulous! It is a little more expensive. I just talked with the owner today and she said they are expecting their shipment of Phillipine oil to arrive by Tuesday, so even though their site says out of stock for four weeks, you can give them a call on Tuesday and get it sooner since they are tracking it and is currently in the South Pacific on the way.
Also for those concerned about chemicals and toxins, I highly recommend getting a shower filter to filter out the chlorine ect. In one shower you can inhale more chlorine than drinking 20 gallons of tap water from the evaporating chlorine fumes and absorbing it through your skin. I bought a regular carbon shower filter at Lowe's for about $30. Lapis recommends a KDF shower filter--she gave this url for a search on google that brought several results. http://www.google.ca/search?q=kdf+shower+filters&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&...
At this url http://thewaterexchange.net/#shower they are having a sale on their KDF shower filters for $39 instead of the regular $85. And the KDF filter lasts a year, my carbon only lasts six months. I just replaced it in June, I believe the replacemnt filter cost me $14 if I remember correctly. So essentially it would be cost effective to buy a KDF on sale. :)
Anyway, hope some of this information is useful for someone, and ya'll have a great weekend. :) Caitlin Lorraine Tweet