Healthy Luxurious Body Soaps

Body soap is a great example of a product that is supposedly good and healthy and hygienic, but is actually damaging to our human systems over long term use. Lets take a look at some of the common ingredients in commercial body soaps and learn why they should be avoided at all costs. And while we are at it, let's learn about some of the healthy and luxurious alternatives to main stream body soaps.

Many soaps include antibacterial cleansers like Triclosan and Benzethonium chloride. These ingredients can damage our immune system and ultimately make it more difficult for our bodies to fight infection. Even the Center for Disease Control makes this claim. Beyond being damaging to human systems, they also pollute our water supplies and endanger aquatic life.

Artificial colorants are found in many main stream body soaps. Ingredients like Yellow 5 contain carcinogens and can contain heavy metals like lead acetate.

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is often used in soaps, and it is banned in many countries but not in the USA. These chemicals are toxic to our neurologic, immune, liver and respiratory systems.

Parabens (methylparaben, polyparaben, ethylparaben, etc.) are a very common ingredient in body soaps. They act as a preservative, and these days it is almost impossible to find a body soap that does not list Parabens in their ingredients. The information available claims that Parabens are carcinogenic and toxic to the human system. Although no final conclusions have been drawn, Parabens have been detected in breast tumor tissue.

PEG ingredients often occur in body soaps because they are a foaming agent. They are also carcinogenic, and have been proven to be damaging to human kidneys and skin.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a big culprit in regards of the most dangerous ingredients in commercial body care products! It is also a foaming agent, and is a proven skin irritant and one of the primary suspects for causing eczema. It seems strange that a product that boasts the ability to cleanse and purify our skin would contain this ingredient.

Synthetic fragrances are common occurrences in body soaps. They are often petroleum derived and contain phthalates. Phthalates are industrial chemicals that build up in our systems over long term use. These chemicals are linked to endocrine and hormone disruption, prostate cancer, liver, kidney and lung damage and male reproductive defects. The European Union has banned the use of phthalates.

So what are some alternatives to all this garbage junking up commercial body soaps? How can we stay clean in a manner that is healthful and non toxic?

One alternative is to make our own body soaps. Making our own body products allows total control over the ingredients used. One can invest in high quality, luxurious ingredients and create products that are healthy and sumptuous. Most of the ingredients needed can be found at a local health food store. There are many great recipes available online that walk the user step by step through the process of creating body soaps.



By Dave Adamson