Laundry and other household chemicals could be making you fatter!!
/Little known fact: 99% of laundry detergents are chock full of harmful chemicals that impregnate your clothes and rub off into your skin,
These chemicals can enter your bloodstream and wreak havoc inside your body.
One type of chemical is called phthalates.
Studies show phthalates produce more and BIGGER fat cells once exposed.
Scientists also found they can interfere with metabolism and appetite, making it more likely to overeat and gain weight.
This makes phthalates one of the significant chemicals to AVOID.
In addition to washing powders, phthalates are in many other products, including food containers, food packaging, children's toys, plastic wraps made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and some colognes perfumes, hair products, car interiors, Air fresheners and plugins, electronics, Pesticides (so in our food chain), waterproof fabrics, deodorants, lotions and body washes.
Phthalates are semi-volatile organic compounds in plastics because they make them soft and flexible. Though commercially valuable, these chemicals can easily leach out of plastics to contaminate our food, water supply, and even the air we breathe. This is when phthalates become a real problem.
So how does this happen?
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors. Your endocrine system is a network of glands (thyroid gland, ovaries, etc.) and the hormones (insulin, estrogen, etc.) they produce. These hormones communicate with cells and tissues to regulate many functions – this can result in insulin resistance, obesity and thyroid disease.
Phthalates, once in the body, disrupt the endocrine system in the following negative ways:
They mimic, or partly mimic, our naturally occurring hormones.
When they mimic, they bind to our hormone receptors so that our naturally occurring hormones can't
This bonding causes our bodies to have irregular physical responses since the hormones that are supposed to attach to our receptors can't
When this happens to our natural hormone function, our bodies can't regulate our systems efficiently.
The interesting thing about these chemicals is that they are often used to cover certain medications.
Phthalates are used as inactive ingredients in producing enteric coatings (to slow down the absorption in the gut).
It is unknown how many medications use phthalates, but some include omeprazole, didanosine, mesalamine and theophylline.
Avoid excessive exposure to this chemical and others we haven't covered here.
Here are a few suggestions to limit exposure to Phthalates:-
Only use natural skin products
Avoid laundry detergents with fragrances in them. Purchase ones that use essential oils to scent them.
Keep clear of all perfumes and infused products, and use essential oils instead.
Avoid reheating food in plastic containers -
Purchase products in glass containers
Purchase food in its original form - not cut up for ease of use
Only purchase milk in glass bottles
Buy organic products where available
Look at your medication and ask for alternatives.
Don't eat in fast food restaurants - Phthalates abound in fast foods!
Make your cleaning products using white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda etc.
Do one or more of the above suggestions, and you could be reducing your risk, not just of obesity but of other Diseases. So it is definitely worth the effort.
Could those LOVELY-SMELLING perfumes, toiletries and other HOUSEHOLD products be making you fat?
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