Personal care products found to increase diabetes risk by 60 percent in women

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 by: John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Would you continue to liberally apply personal care products including moisturizers, nail polishes, soaps, hair sprays and perfumes if you knew that your risk of developing diabetes was dramatically increased? Many healthy-minded individuals are aware of endocrine-disrupting synthetic chemicals known as phthalates that are commonly found in plastic toys, electronics and adhesives, but few understand how these dangerous compounds can leach through our skin from the application of a host of common sprays, polishes and cosmetics.

A team of researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has published the result of their work assessing the health dangers of phthalates in the journal, Environmental Health Perspectives. In the past, scientists have closely monitored how the ingestion of the petrochemical, BPH disrupts metabolic homeostasis to increase risk of digestive disorders and certain lines of cancer. Less research has been published to document how the chemicals in common household products pass through our skin and nails to increase risk of cancer and diabetes.

To conduct the study, researchers analyzed urinary concentrations of phthalates in 2,350 women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found that women with higher levels of phthalates in their urine were much more likely to have diabetes. Specifically, it was determined that women who had the highest levels of the chemicals mono-benzyl phthalate and mono-isobutyl phthalate had almost twice the risk of diabetes as compared to women with the lowest levels of those chemicals.

Synthetically produced personal care products disrupt homeostasis to promote metabolic dysfunction

The most startling finding in this research was that women with higher than average urine levels of mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalates (commonly found in soaps, cosmetics and skin care products) had approximately a 60 percent increased risk of diabetes. Women with moderately high levels of the chemicals mono-n-butyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (primarily from the application of hair spray and gas-propelled products) had approximately a 70 percent increased risk of diabetes.
The study leader, Dr.Tamarra James-Todd concluded "This is an important first step in exploring the connection between phthalates and diabetes... we know that in addition to being present in personal care products, phthalates also exist in certain types of medical devices and medication that is used to treat diabetes and this could also explain the higher level of phthalates in diabetic women."

We are under constant assault from a barrage of synthetic chemical compounds that have infiltrated many common household products and personal care items that are 'generally regarded as safe' by regulating authorities. This research only scratches the surface in an attempt to uncover the many health concerns surrounding many seemingly safe products that millions use every day. Always select products manufactured using natural ingredients and read product labels to avoid chemicals that are shown to dramatically increase risk of metabolic disorders and chronic illness.

Sources for this article include:
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104717
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120713083103.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/247852.php

About the author:
John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your Free 48 page copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.

Is your Shampoo or Other Personal Care Products Making you Fat?

Paula Baillie-Hamilton, an expert on metabolism and environmental toxins, was one of the first to make a link between the obesity epidemic and the increase in environmental chemicals. Baillie-Hamilton argued that exposure to chemicals can damage your body's natural weight-control mechanisms. She calls toxic chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors "chemical calories."

Environmental researchers now call these chemical calories "obesogens." These organic pollutants can derail the hormonal mechanisms that control your weight.

According to Grist:
"... [I]t is impossible, now, to tease out how much of obesity is caused by chemicals, and how much by energy balance. They're intertwined, anyway, with imbalances in appetite-regulating hormones like leptin and ghrelin causing us to want to eat more of the available food ... [S]teer clear of Bisphenol-A ... [and] shampoos, cosmetics, and soaps containing phthalates."

Even buying organic shampoo and other personal care products may not protect you. As the Center for Environmental Health recently reported:

"Dozens of shampoos, lotions, toothpastes,and other personal care products sold by national retailers including Target, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Whole Foods and other stores are mislabeled as organic, in violation of California law, according to a lawsuit filed … by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH)."

Several of the products contain potentially toxic ingredients, including disrupting hormones, despite being labeled as organic.

Sources:
Grist June 28, 2011
Obesity Reviews April 4, 2011
Center for Environmental Health June 16, 2011

Comments from Janis at JESorganics.com

It may sound like a joke to think about your shampoo or any of your personal care products making you fat.  However, the majority of personal care products contain a host of toxic chemicals in addition to endocrine disruptors.  Endocrine distrupors cause premature puberty, obesity and increased risk of cancer, just to name a few.  As far as your shampoo is concerned, the primary endocrine-disrupting chemical culprits are phthalates. Phthalates are used as plasticizers in everything from vinyl flooring to detergents, hoses, raincoats, adhesives, air fresheners, and toys, but they're also found in some soaps, shampoos, lotions and nail polish. One 2002 study by the Environmental Working Group detected phthalates in nearly three-quarters of personal care products tested, noting that:

"Major loopholes in federal law allow the … cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of phthalates into many personal care products with no required testing, no required monitoring of health effects, and no required labeling."

Phthalates are not only being linked to weight gain … they are the same group of "gender-bending" chemicals also causing males of all species to become more female.

We founded JES Organics because of our research into ingredients and toxic chemicals.  Toxic chemicals are everywhere and they have an accumulative effect on our bodies.  Over time, our bodies start breaking down from the toxic onslaught. 

Please become an educated consumer and read your labels.  It is highly unlikely that you will find non-toxic quality products at large high end or low end stores.  And if you think you are getting quality by buying expensive brand name products or even products promoted by doctors, think again!

Read the label, don't be fooled by false marketing on labels (natural, organic, dermatologist tested or recommended, hypoallergenic, etc).  These words are not regulated and have no standards.  We joined the Compact for Safe Cosmetics immediately upon starting JES Organics and we continue to be a company in full compliance with full disclosure of our ingredients.