Don't Sweat It! :: Weight Loss

Don't Sweat It!
by author Kim De Lutis, BComm CLU, CEP

A 2004 study published in the American Journal of Applied Toxicology has many women sweating over the latest buzzword: Parabens.

Parabens are petroleum-based chemicals used as a preservative in food and many household products including deodorants and antiperspirants. The label may list them as methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-paraben, E216, or Phenonip.

The study has scientists researching a possible link between parabens in deodorants and breast cancer. Researchers tested 20 breast tumours and found 18 of the cancerous tissues contained parabens.

A Cancer Link?

John Sumpter, from the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at Brunel University in Middlesex, found that parabens are weakly estrogenic. Scientists believe that certain chemicals can mimic estrogen in the body, promoting the growth of breast cancer cells.

Although the study could not confirm that parabens cause breast cancer or that deodorants
were directly responsible, it does indicate that parabens accumulate in our bodies over time.

“The human skin is a relatively good barrier to bacteria. However, it is not a good barrier to many chemicals, especially fat-soluble ones,” explains Dr. Peter Eckhart, MD, of the Women’s Therapeutic Institute in Colorado. “Anything absorbed through the skin bypasses the liver and the body gets 100 percent of it.” Substances applied to the skin are more readily absorbed than if ingested orally.

This accumulation is not surprising when you consider that most cosmetics products contain some form of parabens, according to Dr. Deborah Baker-Racine, Doctor of Natural Medicine. “Other safe alternatives need to be developed for widespread use in cosmetics.”

The cosmetics industry insists that parabens, approved by regulators, are safe. Chris Flower, Director General of the UK’s Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association insists there is “an enormous amount of information which supports the safety of these chemicals.”

Pick Your Stick Carefully

The good news is there is a new generation of paraben-free deodorants that are more effective at preventing odour than ever before. If natural sticks aren’t working for you, keep trying until you find one that does. The botanical flora on the surface of the skin may differ from one person to another and can change, so try other brands containing different antibacterials.

A shaved armpit is a one-way ticket to your lymphatic system. Shoppers should know that even paraben-free brands can carry a slew of other harmful chemicals. Look for products that use natural ingredients rather than propylene glycol and ethylhexyl glycerine.

And as Dr. Baker-Racine reminds us, “Read the labels. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t put it on your body. Choose paraben-free products.”

Shoppers Beware

It’s a good idea to research the ingredients in products you are using. Resources to consult include: The Natural Institute for Health, FDA, National Toxicology Program.

Kim De Lutis, BComm CLU, CEP, is a certified fitness trainer and consultant for Terra Naturals. She can be reached at terranaturals.com or ExerciseCertification.com.

Source: alive #276, October 2005

Don't Sweat It!
Everyone sweats. Sweating is the body's way of controlling temperature, while regulating water and mineral content. We have over three million sweat glands that release fluids to ensure that our bodies are coo.

Cook Less, Feel Better
Eighty million species on earth (about 700,000 of which are animals) thrive on raw food. Only humans apply heat to food and, on average, die at or below half of our potential life span from chronic illness.

Pesticide Cocktail
If Canadians want a clean environment, they will have to take action themselves. Governments are not going to do it. The Back to the Farm Research Foundation in Davidson, Saskatchewan (of which I am president) has started a program of testing community water supplies for pesticides.

Xenoestrogens
Sperm counts down? Still not pregnant? Breast cancer on the rise? Chemical pollutants in our water and food may be the culprits. It's not a sci-fi scenario, nor a far-off reality.

Rising Cancer Rates
A recent article in the Regina Leader Post reported a statement made by Shiv Chopra, one of a group of four worried Health Canada scientists.

Pit Stop
"Aren't you glad you use Dial? Don't you wish everybody did?" Thirty years ago consumers happily purchased soaps and antiperspirants with catc.

Pain, Infertility, Hormone Problems?
I met Mary in the spring of 2004. Through tears she explained her history of endometriosis: years of repeated surgeries, pain, drugs to suppress estrogen, and the inability to ovulate due to scar tissue on her ovaries.

Deodorants and Breast Cancer
Remember the e-mails that circulated several years ago about deodorants being linked to breast cancer? It didn't take long for that information to be declared a hoax. But was it? Dr. James W.

Seeing Deception Is Your Only Protection
Every October since 1985, the pink ribbon, symbol of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), is seen everywhere. It is prominently displayed on TV ads, posters, and in women's magazines.

The Art of Beauty
Many of the ingredients in our body and beauty care products originate from the same petroleum that runs our cars and heats our homes. While most of us wouldn't sip engine oil, we often lick it from our lipsticks, rub it into our eyes, and soak in it in the bathtub.

Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer
According to the Canadian Breast Cancer Society, 21,600 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and 5,300 women will die from it. With these statistics in mind, it is important

Breast Cancer and Dioxins
Evidence has been mounting that man-made chemicals may be the underlying cause of many cases of breast cancer. Once ingested, these synthetic compounds mimic the action of estrogen-long considered to be a risk factor for breast cancer-and throw the hormone system into chaos.

Invisible Dangers of the Nuclear Age
More than 80 radioactive products from nuclear reactors escape into air, soil, water and food and can remain active for millions of years. About 300 existing chemicals also create a radioactive effect during the breakdown process.

Environmental Weight Gain
According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the latest studies indicate that in the past 20 years overweight and obesity rates have more than doubled for adults and tripled for children. So why the sudden expansion (pun intended)?

Xenoestrogens
Endocrine disruptors or xenoestrogens are defined as exogenous (external) substances that can interfere with the functions of the endocrine system, causing adverse health effects in the organism directly exposed to it or in its offspring. These man-made chemicals, routinely and intensively used, and found in herbicides, fertilizers, and plastics, have been discovered to leak hormone-like substances.

Counterfeit Estrogens and Your Metabolism
Ask most women about their hormones and they usually think of the natural estrogens produced by the body. But how many women realize that numerous other substances-many of which come from our environment-can fool the body into processing them as if they were also estrogens?

Reason to Sweat?
Rolling a deodorant under the arms after a shower prevents odour, and antiperspirants effectively block sweat ducts. But at what price? Natural product manufacturers make available a variety of deodorant and antiperspirant products that work effectively to prevent body odour but are not health hazards.

Radiated Homes a Hazard

Port Colborne residents sue Inco for $750 Million
Almost every citizen in and around Port Colborne, Ontario has joined a $750 million class-action lawsuit against International Nickle Company (Inco). It's the largest case of its kind in Canadian histor.

Cancerous Pork Drug Ban
You now have extra reason to stop eating pork. Canadian hog farmers use a known carcinogenic drug to speed the growth of pigs destined for market. New evidence shows the hormone drug, Carbadox, can harm workers, animals and the environment and is being systematically abused by farmers.

CCA-Treated Wood Claims Puppy Casualty
The same arsenic-based wood preservative used on children's playground equipment has been blamed for the unexpected death of a puppy. Newfoundland doctor Wayne Chaulk was having a new deck installed when his granddaughter's pet chewed on a piece of the chemical-treated wood.

Europe Rejects Food Irradiation Bid

Tide Turning for Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Canadians: a Vitamin-Friendly Bunch

Beware Teflon Pan Fans

Have a Happy Holiday: Be Lead Free

Herbs and spices: new weapons against cancer
The next time you're preparing dinner, try using a variety of spices to flavour the meal-they just might save your life.A growing body of research indicates that many spices can help prevent cancer.

Xenoestrogens: Endocrine disruptors

Say no to smoking

Know Sweat
An old saying goes, "Horses sweat, men perspire, and women glow. Whatever we choose to call it-sweat, perspiration, or a healthy glow-the body's cooling mechanism is truly ingenious.

New Information to Prevent and Treat Breast Cancer Naturally
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers for women. Awareness and fundraising campaigns are everywhere, but many of us are still confused about how to translate cancer research into strategies that may prevent breast cancer. In this article, discover cancer-fighting foods and new screening techniques that can help prevent cancer naturally.

Petro Problems in Cowboy Country
When it comes to mega-profits from mega-oil, the province of Alberta was not careful enough about what it wished for. What it has been granted, along with the riches, is a nightmarish mess of pollution that it has not begun to address.

Sticking it to body odour
Stroll through the health and beauty section of any store, and you’ll find rows of deodorants and antiperspirants. The trouble is many of these conventional products contain ingredients that may be toxic for you and the environment.