Something to think about ya'll..

So, instead of boring ya'll with another post about what the Hodgsons have been up to, I thought today I would share a bit of information with you. This is a shout out to all the lovely ladies in my life who use things such as lotions, shampoos and conditions, and make-up everyday (or most days...lets be honest, us stay at home moms are NOT wearing make-up every day).

Most of us care about what goes in our bodies right? 

Isn't that why they are calling us a smarter generation?

Because we care about such things like eating organic foods so we don't fill our bodies with pesticides. Or using cloth diapers so we don't put chemicals on our babies bums and fill up our planet with non 

bio-degradable diapers. Or not cleaning our houses with harmful chemicals that slowly poison us, our children and our pets.

But what about the stuff we put on our skin? Being the largest organ in our body, I think this is something that needs to be explored more.

Anyone ever heard of mineral oil ya'll?

Ok, quick break. Everyone go grab your lotion, your lipsticks, your facial cleaners, and anything else you put on your body. Look at the ingredients. Is mineral oil an ingredient? If it is, you are currently being poisoned by something that is KNOWN to cause cancer.

Now that I have all your attention, allow me to explain.

Mineral oil. Sounds nice doesn't it. Sounds natural doesn't it.

Wrong.

Mineral oil is clear, liquid oil with no scent and will not spoil. It is produced as a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil. Mineral oil is leftover liquid, and because it is abundant, it is very inexpensive. In fact, it is more expensive to dispose of mineral oil, than to purchase it.

Yes, thats right. Mineral oil, something that is used in most of the things we put on our skin, is made from gasoline. You know when you leave a glass of milk sitting out for a long time, and the milk separates, leaving a fatty layer on top, and a liquid layer on the bottom? That is what happens when they make gasoline. So instead of paying to get rid of it, they actually MAKE money by selling it to cosmetic companies. Now why would cosmetic companies want to use mineral oil? Like I said, it does not spoil. Legally the cosmetic companies need to make their products have a seven year SHELF life. Their products cannot expire for seven years once it hits the shelves (thats not even including the time it takes to ship to the store, sit in the back of the store, then sit in your home once you buy it). Pretty gross right. 

Mineral oil acts as a thin layer on the skin. It is difficult to absorb and clogs the pores, which slows the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins. Remember, the skin is the body’s largest organ and plays an important role in maintaining overall health! Once the oil is absorbed, it is broken down by the liver and passes through the intestinal tract, it will absorb all of the fat-soluble vitamins found there. It is essentially stealing important vitamins from the body, which the body will not be able to replace. This can eventually lead to nutritional deficiencies. Studies have also shown forms of pneumonia caused by mineral oil decreasing lung function, known as lipoid pneumonia.

So how did I stumble upon this knowledge?

While out in BC, Christy had an Arbonne party. I didn't go to the party by choice, I just happened to be staying at her house, so I had to go to the party. I sat down, more excited to socialize with my friends then learn about the products. But when she started talking about the poison that I was putting on my body, I got interested. So, you know me, I did some research.  I couldn't believe that while I thought I was taking care of my body by using the products I was using, I was actually harming my body. On a side note, mineral oil isn't the only harmful thing in cosmetics. Most products contain some sort of alcohol in it, which is meant to dry out your skin, so you have to keep using the product.

After finding out how bad mineral oil is for you, imagine how upset I was when I checked out what I was putting on my baby. In the Johnsons baby lotion that I had been putting on Coral since the day she was born, the second ingredient is mineral oil, the first being water. Yes I am telling you that a company that is suppose to be baby friendly, is letting you rub gasoline all over your baby. It gets worse. Another name for mineral oil, is petroleum jelly, also known as Vaseline. The nurse in the hospital gave me petroleum jelly to rub on Corals bum right after she was born. Mineral oil is also in baby oil, and baby body wash.

Of course when I found this out, I instantly threw out Corals baby lotion, all vaseline that we had in the house, and the current lotions and cosmetics of mine that have mineral oil in it. The good news is, there are products out there that are safe for us to use. Aveeno  (both baby and adult products) have no mineral oil in it. Also, Burts Bees is another excellent brand that makes safe products to use (Coral now uses Burts Bees baby lotion..yes they make a whole baby line). 

The point of this post isn't to scare you. Its to inform you of what you are putting on your body. The skin must have proper nutrition to carry out its many important functions. We should be just as concerned about what goes on our skin as what we eat and drink. One thing is certain, it's never too late to make a change and there is definitely something you can do about it.