Aluminum Foil Safety | Toxic Tuesday

Aluminum is one of our modern day conveniences. We cook with it, store food in it, take it in antacids, vaccines, water, and use it in antiperspirants to clog pores and prevent sweating.  Aluminum foil is one avenue you could eliminate and cut down on your aluminum Aluminum Foil Safetyexposure with.

 

What is aluminum foil?

It is flattened sheets of pure aluminum (with some oils so it doesn’t stick to the roll) Here’s how it comes to be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4OTj9yNOak

 

What happens when you cook with aluminum foil?

Much like plastic leaching BPA or phthalates, aluminum foil will leach aluminum into your foods.  Acidic or spicy foods will be the worst offenders. Acidic foods create a process that dissolves the aluminum right into the food. If you insist on using aluminum foil wait until your food is cooled and make sure it is not for long stretches.

 

While we do have aluminum in our everyday environment there is no proven safe amount in our bodies. Although the CDC and FDA have set some guidelines: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=1076&tid=34.  One of the aluminum risks is the build up in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease. High levels of aluminum exposure have been associated with neurological declines in balance, coordination and memory. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2782734/). Some studies have even suggested that aluminum may reduce the growth rate of human brain cells. Aluminum can also interfere with the digestion of calcium. Liver damage, kidney impairment, sleep disturbances, anemia, speech problems and Parkinson’s also make the list.

 

I have found having a collection of glass storage containers make it easier to store leftover in. This eliminates aluminum leaching, plastic leaching AND cuts down on your trash.  When I need to line a pan parchment paper has become a safer option. Aside that, it seems scrubbing the pan a few extra minutes is worth my long-term health.

Aluminum Foil Safety

 


 

Toxins in Eye Shadow

I have never been a make up person-to the extent that my husband still points out that I didn’t “bother” Eye Shadow Toxinsto wear make up on our first date. Now knowing what I know I am so glad I skipped applying all those toxins on a daily basis.

Since I am not the majority though, make up has its place.

What ingredients should you skip?

-Coal Tar:  This has come up in other products we have discussed. Coal tar is a known carcinogen and has been associated with skin tumors, lung, bladder and kidney cancer.

-Formaldehyde: Found in fewer eye shadows these days but is harmful to your liver and can cause skin irritations.

-Parabens: Found in almost all beauty products to give them an extended shelf life. Parabens (propylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben) can disrupt hormones and are known carcinogens.

-Thimerosal: Oddly banned from most other make up except eye make up. It is a compound based on mercury, which is proven to impair brain function.

-Talc: You may remember the recent lawsuit won against Johnson & Johnson for the talc causing a woman’s deadly ovarian cancer recently. Unfortunately it is still sold and in many products. It is a known carcinogen.

-Aluminum Powder: This is what most make-ups use for color. If your make up uses both aluminum powder and the above-mentioned thimerosal it is twice as dangerous. Aluminum inhibits the body’s ability to detox mercury.

Bismuth Oxychloride: This is not a heavy metal but it does tend to clog pores and is often the culprit for those who suffer redness and itching from eye shadow. This ingredient is more of a lung irritant and skin irritant than a Make-up artist placing eye shadow on womantoxin.

Nano particles: such as mica and titanium dioxide if inhaled can accumulate in your lungs and damage your DNA. You will find mica even in your natural eye shadows-be conscious of not inhaling it.

What Is safe?

Mineral make up is the way to go-however be aware that not all mineral make up was created equal.  Many contain the ingredients listed above so be sure to choose wisely!

Iron oxides would be a safer choice for where your colorants are coming from.

Mica is mentioned above as well but it is the safer of your natural ingredients for shimmer and is found in most of even the organic choices. Sericite may also be on your ingredient list.  Sericite is a finer version of mica.

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safe as long as they are not nano particles.

As always-read the ingredients and know what’s in your products!

Toxins in Eye Shadow


 

Toxins in Deodorant and Antiperspirants?

Yes, toxins are in deodorant and antiperspirants, but there are  safer, effective alternatives.

This is one of the most important swaps you can make.  Before getting into the toxic ingredients in most Toxins in Deodorant deodorants and antiperspirants it is important to know the difference and what makes them effective.

Antiperspirants

An antiperspirant contains aluminum of one form or another. The aluminum clogs your pores to prevent your body from sweating. There are two major problems with that. First off, your body needs to perspire to eliminate toxins. Second,  you are applying it to under your arms, directly after a shower or shaving. It is a fact that your pores open more at that time.

Research (link http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013413001608) has shown that 50% of breast cancers begin in the upper outer quadrant of the breast by the underarm region. While the American Cancer Society has not established a “direct link” to breast cancer and aluminum there are no safe levels of aluminum for your body. Keep in mind that while a direct link has not been established at this time it is due to lack of studies and there is also no study that can eliminate it entirely yet. Aluminum has also been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s  Disease.

You won’t find an aluminum free antiperspirant since aluminum is what makes them work, so that leaves deodorant.

Deodorant

Let me be clear-I believe we should all wear deodorant.  What can we wear without toxic consequences?

The most common toxic ingredients found in most deodorants:

  1. Parabens: You will find these in any mass produced personal care products so they will have an extended shelf life. Unfortunately, although there is no conclusive proof here either-evidence DOES suggest that long term toxin exposure could cause cancer.
  2. Triclosan: A hormone disruptor. Banned in hand soaps beginning next year, the same rule has not applied to other products as of yet.
  3. Phthalates: Phthalates generally show up in any products that contain fragrances (note: an essential oil will be labeled as such on your ingredient list. Fragrances may contain many ingredients including toxins of their own that have never been tested for safety.)
  4. Propylene Glycol: a known neurotoxin that ironically warns workers against contact with skin.
  5. TEA and DEA: (triethanolamine and diethanolamine) these are both banned in Europe. They can be toxic when accumulating over time. DEA can result in liver or kidney damage.
  6. Talc (magnesium Silicate) -as you know from previous blog posts this is a carcinogen.

Solutions:

You have all this information. You checked your label and you want to make a change. What are some of the best solutions? First off, expect it to take a little time for your body to adjust. When eliminating aluminum you will feel like you are sweating more. (You are not eliminating deodorant too so that doesn’t mean you will smell bad!). Cooler temperatures this season is the perfect time to let your body make this change.

I have not used an antiperspirant in 3 years. It definitely took some adjusting since my body was used to aluminum clogged pores.  I also learned that many of the natural deodorants contain baking soda.  While I love baking soda for many things it did not agree with my underarms. There was a lot of trial and error on my part.  Like any other product not all of them work great.  I tried a Crystal brand once as well until I learned it actually contained aluminum as well. Although it is deemed a “safer form” and the label states it is specific types of aluminum free-be sure to take note before  you purchase if your goal is to be aluminum free. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/02/16/aluminum-lurks-in-crystal-deodorants.aspx)

Do-It-Yourself

I did find a DIY recipe that I liked but I found it too “soft” to travel with (Coconut oil as you know liquifies over 76 degrees) I have heard people swear by “Pit Paste” but I have no personal experience or opinion on how well it works. This spring I discovered Schmidt’s. (https://schmidtsdeodorant.com/our-shop.html) The anti bacterial and anti fungal properties come from the essential oils.  They are vegan, gluten free, and free of parabens and Phthalates, and aluminum.

BONUS: they are also on Amazon so if you are like me that makes life easy and shipping free. This is the first deodorant I have been able to use that contains baking soda, however there is now a baking soda free option for those who are not able to use it. I used it all summer,  and it was still working by days end.