Aspartame
In exchange for these payments, the FDA has hustled drugs through the approval process, flooding the market with poisons that were known to have dangerous and even deadly side effects.
Its despicable… a disgrace! Unfortunately, its not going to change anytime soon.
All you can do is protect yourself, and Im here to make sure you… your spouse… your children… and your grandchildren dont fall victims to these deadly drugs.
Aspartme is it safe or dangerous sweetener?
There are a growing number of Clinicians and Scientists who are convinced that Aspartmame is NOT a safe sweetener. It is considered an Excitotoxin. Excitotoxins play a critical role in the development of several neurological disorders, including migraines, seizures, infections, abnormal neural development, certain endocrine disorders, specific types of obesity, and especially the neurodegenerative diseases; a group of diseases which includes: ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and olivopontocerebellar degeneration. An enormous amount of both clinical and experimental evidence has accumulated over the past decade supporting this basic premise.
- In 1981, a researcher within the FDA was so concerned about data that pointed towards brain tumors caused by aspartame, that he stated he could not recommend its approval.
- Studies investigating aspartame’s possible link to birth defects were cut off before completion because of “damaging information” about aspartame.
- Other studies about aspartame’s effects on individuals with mood disorders were also stopped because of a dangerous increase of serious symptoms within the population being studied.
- Airline pilots have been warned against using aspartame in over twenty articles in various flight magazines including those published by the Air Force and the Navy. In fact, a hotline was set up for pilots to report adverse reactions to aspartame, and over 600 pilots reported experiencing seizures in the cockpit after using aspartame. How can the FDA ignore such data and continue to approve this toxic substance?
- In 1991, the FDA banned the import of the herbal sweetener stevia, and in the last few years resistance against stevia has surfaced in regulatory circles. It is estimated that stevia, which has been proven to be safe for human consumption, is a huge financial threat to the aspartame industry. Thus, it is very interesting that in 1992, shortly after this ban, the FDA approved widespread use of aspartame.
- There is also evidence that studies were falsified and misrepresented by G.D. Searle during the FDA pre-approval phase. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon in the world of FDA. Coincidentally, several high-ranking FDA officials that were involved in the ultimate approval of aspartame later moved into jobs with G.D. Searle or other companies linked to aspartame.
- Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and
Equal-Measure. - Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported
to the FDA. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being
caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness,
muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia,
vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks,
slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain. - According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects of aspartame, the
following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame: Brain
tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s disease,
Alzheimer’s, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes. - Aspartic acid, which makes up 40% of aspartame, acts as a transmitter for neurons in the
brain. In effect, it alters the transmissions and allows free radicals to enter the brain and kill
the neural cells. These are referred to as “excitotoxins” because they stimulate the neural
cells to death. - Phenylalanine, which makes up 50% of aspartame, is an amino acid normally found in the
brain. There are certain people with a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU) that
cannot properly process Phenylalanine, which builds up to toxic levels in the brain.
Researchers have discovered that aspartame, especially when consumed with
carbohydrates, causes people without PKU to develop toxic levels of phenylalanine in the - brain. This commonly leads to emotional disorders such as depression.
The Dangers of Aspartame (Artificial Sweeteners )
Yet, the FDA still refuses to recognize the immediate and long term danger to the public caused by the practice of allowing various excitotoxins to be added to the food supply, such as MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and aspartame. The amount of these neurotoxins added to our food has increased enormously since their first introduction. For example, since 1948 the amount of MSG added to foods has doubled every decade. By 1972, 262,000 metric tons were being added to foods. Over 800 million pounds of aspartame have been consumed in various products since it was first approved. Ironically, these food additives have nothing to do with preserving food or protecting its integrity. They are all used to alter the taste of food. MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and natural flavoring are used to enhance the taste of food so that it tastes better. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener.
The public must be made aware that these toxins (excitotoxins) are not present in just a few foods but rather in almost all processed foods. In many cases they are being added in disguised forms, such as natural flavoring, spices, yeast extract, textured protein, soy protein extract, etc. Experimentally, we know that when subtoxic (below toxic levels) of excitotoxins are given to animals, they experience full toxicity. Also, liquid forms of excitotoxins, as occurs in soups, gravies and diet soft drinks are more toxic than that added to solid foods. This is because they are more rapidly absorbed and reach higher blood levels.
So, what is an excitotoxin? These are substances, usually amino acids, that react with specialized receptors in the brain in such a way as to lead to destruction of certain types of brain cells. Glutamate is one of the more commonly known excitotoxins. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate. This amino acid is a normal neurotransmitter in the brain. In fact, it is the most commonly used neurotransmitter by the brain. Defenders of MSG and aspartame use, usually say: How could a substance that is used normally by the brain cause harm? This is because, glutamate, as a neurotransmitter, is used by the brain only in very, very small concentrations – no more than 8 to 12ug. When the concentration of this transmitter rises above this level the neurons begin to fire abnormally. At higher concentrations, the cells undergo a specialized process of cell death.
The brain has several elaborate mechanisms to prevent accumulation of MSG in the brain. First is the blood-brain barrier, a system that impedes glutamate entry into the area of the brain cells. But, this system was intended to protect the brain against occasional elevation of glutamate of a moderate degree, as would be found with un-processed food consumption. It was not designed to eliminate very high concentrations of glutamate and aspartate consumed daily, several times a day, as we see in modern society. Several experiments have demonstrated that under such conditions, glutamate can by-pass this barrier system and enter the brain in toxic concentrations. In fact, there is some evidence that it may actually be concentrated within the brain with prolonged exposures. There are also several conditions under which the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is made incompetent. Before birth, the BBB is incompetent and will allow glutamate to enter the brain. It may be that for a considerable period after birth the barrier may also incompletely developed as well. Hypertension, diabetes, head trauma, brain tumors, strokes, certain drugs, Alzheimer’s disease, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, severe hypoglycemia, heat stroke, electromagnetic radiation, ionizing radiation, multiple sclerosis, and certain infections can all cause the barrier to fail. In fact, as we age the barrier system becomes more porous, allowing excitotoxins in the blood to enter the brain. So there are numerous instances under which excitotoxin food additives can enter and damage the brain.
Finally, recent experiments have shown that glutamate and aspartate (as in aspartame) can open the barrier itself. Another system used to protect the brain against environmental excitotoxins, is a system within the brain that binds the glutamate molecule (called the glutamate transporter) and transports it to a special storage cell (the astrocyte) within a fraction of a second after it is used as a neurotransmitter. This system can be overwhelmed by high intakes of MSG, aspartame and other food excitotoxins. It is also known that excitotoxins themselves can cause the generation of numerous amounts of free radicals and that during the process of lipid peroxidation (oxidation of membrane fats) a substance is produced called 4-hydroxynonenal. This chemical inhibits the glutamate transporter, thus allowing glutamate to accumulate in the brain. Excitotoxins destroy neurons partly by stimulating the generation of large numbers of free radicals. Recently, it has been shown that this occurs not only within the brain, but also within other tissues and organs as well (liver and red blood cells). This could, from all available evidence, increase all sorts of degenerative diseases such as arthritis, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis,as well as induce cancer formation. Certainly, we would not want to do something that would significantly increase free radical production in the body. It is known that all of the neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and ALS, are associated with free radical injury of the nervous system.
It should also be appreciated that the effects of excitotoxin food additives generally are not dramatic. Some individuals may be especially sensitive and develop severe symptoms and even sudden death from cardiac irritability, but in most instances the effects are subtle and develop over a long period of time. While MSG and aspartame are probably not causes of the neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, they may well precipitate these disorders and certainly worsen their effects. It may be that many people with a propensity for developing one of these diseases would never develop a full blown disorder had it not been for their exposure to high levels of food borne excitotoxin additives. Some may have had a very mild form of the disease had it not been for the exposure.
In July, 1995, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) conducted a definitive study for the FDA on the question of safety of MSG. The FDA wrote a very deceptive summery of the report in which they implied that, except possibly for asthma patients, MSG was found to be safe by the FASEB reviewers. But, in fact, that is not what the report said at all. I summarized, in detail, my criticism of this widely reported FDA deception in the revised paperback edition of my book, Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, by analyzing exactly what the report said, and failed to say. For example, it never said that MSG did not aggravate neurodegenerative diseases. What they said was, there were no studies indicating such a link. Specifically, that no one has conducted any studies, positive or negative, to see if there is a link. In other words it has not been looked at. A vital difference.
Unfortunately, for the consumer, the corporate food processors not only continue to add MSG to our foods but they have gone to great lengths to disguise these harmful additives. For example, they use such names a hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vegetable protein, hydrolyzed plant protein, caseinate, yeast extract, and natural flavoring. We know experimentally, as stated, when these excitotoxin taste enhancers are added together they become much more toxic. In fact, excitotoxins in subtoxic concentrations can be fully toxic to specialized brain cells when used in combination.
Frequently, I see processed foods on supermarket shelves, especially frozen of diet food, that contain two, three or even four types of excitotoxins. We also know that excitotoxins in a liquid form are much more toxic than solid forms because they are rapidly absorbed and attain high concentration in the blood. This means that many of the commercial soups, sauces, and gravies containing MSG are very dangerous to nervous system health, and should especially be avoided by those either having one of the above mentioned disorders, or are at a high risk of developing one of them. They should also be avoided by cancer patients and those at high risk for cancer.
In the case of ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we know that consumption of red meats and especially MSG itself, can significantly elevate blood glutamate, much higher than is seen in the normal population. Similar studies, as far as I am aware, have not been conducted in patients with Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. But, as a general rule I would certainly suggest that person’s with either of these diseases avoid MSG containing foods as well as red meats, cheeses, and pureed tomatoes, all of which are known to have high levels of glutamate. It must be remembered that it is the glutamate molecule that is toxic in MSG (monosodium glutamate). Glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid found in varying concentrations in many foods. Defenders of MSG safety allude to this fact in their defense. But, it is free glutamate that is the culprit. Bound glutamate, found naturally in foods, is less dangerous because it is slowly broken down and absorbed by the gut, so that it can be utilized by the tissues, especially muscle, before toxic concentrations can build up. Therefore, a whole tomato is safer than a pureed tomato. The only exception to this, based on present knowledge, is in the case of ALS. Also, in the case of tomatoes, the plant contains several powerful antioxidants known to block glutamate toxicity.
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein should not be confused with hydrolyzed vegetable oil. The oil does not contain appreciable concentration of glutamate, it is an oil. Hydrolyzed vegetable protein is made by a chemical process that breaks down the vegetable’s protein structure to purposefully free the glutamate, as well as aspartate, another excitotoxin. This brown powdery substance is used to enhance the flavor of foods, especially meat dishes, soups, and sauces. Despite the fact that some health food manufacturers have attempted to sell the idea that this flavor enhancer is ” all natural” and “safe” because it is made from vegetables, it is not. It is the same substance added to processed foods. Experimentally, one can produce the same brain lesions using hydrolyzed vegetable protein as by using MSG or aspartate. A growing list of excitotoxins is being discovered, including several that are found naturally. For example, L- cysteine is a very powerful excitotoxin. Recently, it has been added to certain bread dough and is sold in health food stores as a supplement. Homocysteine, a metabolic derivative, is also an excitotoxin. Interestingly, elevated blood levels of homocysteine has recently been shown to be a major, if not the major, indicator of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Equally interesting, is the finding that elevated levels have also been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, especially anencephaly and spinal dysraphism (neural tube defects). It is thought that this is the protective mechanism of action of the prenatal vitamins B12, B6, and folate when used in combination. It remains to be seen if the toxic effect is excitatory or by some other mechanism. If it is excitatory, then unborn infants would be endangered as well by glutamate, aspartate (part of the aspartame molecule), and the other excitotoxins. Recently, several studies have been done in which it was found that all Alzheimer’s patients examined had elevated levels of homocysteine. Recent studies have shown that persons affected by Alzheimer’s disease also have widespread destruction of their retinal ganglion cells. Interestingly, this is the area found to be affected when Lucas and Newhouse first discovered the excitotoxicity of MSG. While this does not prove that dietary glutamate and other excitotoxins cause or aggravate Alzheimer’s disease, it makes one very suspicious. One could argue a common intrinsic etiology for central nervous system neuronal damage and retinal ganglion cell damage, but these findings are disconcerting enough to warrant further investigations.
Written by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, MD and adapted from: “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills”(264 pp., $27.00, ISBN: 0-929173-14-7, Santa Fe, NM, Health Press, 1994) See Our Lunch & Learn Seminars section for major corporations worldwide.
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals known to interfere with development and reproduction, and they may cause serious neurological and immune system effects.
The disruptions occur because such chemicals mimic hormones in your body, including the female sex hormone estrogen, the male sex hormone androgen, and thyroid hormones.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may block hormonal signals in your body or interfere with the way the hormones or receptors are made or controlled.1
Your normal hormone levels may be altered, or the chemicals may change the way such hormones travel through your body. As noted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):2
“The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulates many of the body’s functions, including growth, development and maturation, as well as the way various organs operate.
The endocrine glands including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, thymus, pancreas, ovaries, and testes release carefully-measured amounts of hormones into the bloodstream that act as natural chemical messengers, traveling to different parts of the body in order to control and adjust many life functions.”
As you might suspect, altering these precise systems is playing with fire, yet can happen on a daily basis when you use “normal” everyday products in your home. Part of what makes endocrine disruptors so dangerous is their ubiquitous nature and the fact that most of us are exposed to multiple such chemicals daily.
Endocrine Disruptors Linked to Cancer, ADHD, and More
In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report co-produced with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).3 Touted as one of the most comprehensive reports on endocrine-disrupting chemicals to date, the report revealed a wide variety of health problems associated with exposure to these pervasive chemicals, including:
Non-descended testes in young males Developmental effects on the nervous system in children Prostate cancer in men
Developmental effects on the nervous system in children Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children Thyroid cancer
According to the report:
“The diverse systems affected by endocrine-disrupting chemicals likely include all hormonal systems and range from those controlling development and function of reproductive organs to the tissues and organs regulating metabolism and satiety.
Effects on these systems can lead to obesity, infertility or reduced fertility, learning and memory difficulties, adult-onset diabetes or cardiovascular disease, as well as a variety of other diseases.”
Children, Pregnant Women Most at Risk But Damage Can Show Up Decades Later
The greatest risks appear to come from exposure during prenatal or early postnatal development, which is when organs and neural systems are forming.4
Some of the effects, however, may not show up until decades later, and it’s being increasingly suggested that many adult diseases actually have fetal origins.5
One of the most disturbing examples of this came from diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen drug that was widely prescribed to pregnant women prior to the 1970s in order to help prevent miscarriage and promote fetal growth.
This endocrine disruptor turned out to be incredibly dangerous and caused problems with reproductive development and vaginal cancer that appeared after puberty.6
And it’s not only humans that are being affected. Endocrine disruptors are found widely in contaminated water, air and food, and as such wildlife is also at risk.
Fish in the Great Lakes have been found with reproductive problems and abnormal swelling of thyroid glands due to endocrine disruptors known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Alligators in one region in Florida drastically declined after a pesticide spill caused diminished reproductive organs and inhibited successful reproduction. Both the alligators and their eggs were found to be contaminated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals.7
10 Common Sources of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals
How often are you likely to be exposed to these toxic chemicals? Probably far more often than you think.
According to Thomas Zoeller, a biology professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who specializes in how chemicals affect the endocrine system, there are an estimated 800-1,000 endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the market.
Epoch Times recently compiled 10 common sources of endocrine disruptors, as well as what you can do about them.8
1. Personal Care Products
Shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, cosmetics, and other personal care products often contain endocrine disruptors, including (but certainly not limited to) phthalates. Phthalates are a group of “gender-bending” chemicals causing males of many species to become more female.
These chemicals have disrupted the endocrine systems of wildlife, causing testicular cancer, genital deformations, low sperm counts, and infertility in a number of species, including polar bears, deer, whales, and otters, just to name a few.
One 2002 study by the Environmental Working Group detected phthalates in nearly three-quarters of personal care products tested, noting:9
“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.”
Another endocrine-disrupting chemical, triclosan, can even be found in certain brands of toothpaste. Switching to natural and/or homemade personal care products will help you avoid such exposures. You can also try to cut down on the number of personal care products you use every day.
2. Drinking Water
Your drinking water may be contaminated with atrazine, arsenic, and perchlorate, all of which may disrupt your endocrine system. Filtering your water, both at your tap and your shower/bath, using a high-quality water filtration system can help protect you and your family.
3. Canned Foods
In an analysis of 252 canned food brands, 78 are still using bisphenol-A (BPA) in their canned goods, even though it’s a known endocrine disruptor.10 BPA has been linked to a number of health concerns, particularly in pregnant women, fetuses and young children, but also in adults, including:
Structural damage to your brain Changes in gender-specific behavior and abnormal sexual behavior
Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles, ovarian dysfunction, and infertility
Increased fat formation and risk of obesity Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
Altered immune function Increased prostate size and decreased sperm production
BPA coats about 75 percent of cans in North America, which means if you eat canned foods, it’s likely a major source of BPA exposure for you. Even BPA-free cans may not be safe, as they’re often coated with a similar chemical known as BPS. Ideally, buy products that come in glass bottles and jars rather than plastic or cans.
4. Conventionally Grown Produce
Pesticides, herbicides, and industrial runoff may coat your conventionally grown fruits and vegetables in endocrine-disrupting chemicals. As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic foods to reduce your exposure to endocrine-disrupting pesticides and fertilizers.
5. CAFO Meat, Poultry, and Dairy Products
Animals raised on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) also typically contain antibiotics, hormones, and other industrial chemicals that may disrupt your endocrine system. Look for animal products that are free-range, organic and raised on small, local farms that avoid the use of such chemicals.
6. High-Mercury Fish
Fish contaminated with high levels of mercury and other heavy metals are problematic because such metals also disrupt hormonal balance. Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, and tilefish are among the worst offenders here, but even tuna has been found to be contaminated with dangerously high levels. Farmed fish (the “CAFOS of the sea”) also tend to be higher in contaminants and are better off avoided. When eating seafood, smaller fish like sardines, anchovies, and herring tend to be low in contaminants and high in omega-3 fats.
7. Kitchen Products
Plastic containers and non-stick cookware common in many kitchens are another type of hazards. The plastic containers may contain BPA or other endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can leach into your food, especially if the plastic is heated. Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used to create non-stick, stain-resistant, and water-repellant surfaces are also toxic and highly persistent, both in your body and in the environment.
When heated, non-stick cookware releases perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), linked to thyroid disease, infertility, and developmental and reproductive problems. Healthier options include ceramic and enameled cast iron cookware, both of which are durable, easy to clean (even the toughest cooked-on foods can be wiped away after soaking it in warm water), and completely inert, which means they won’t release any harmful chemicals into your home.
8. Cleaning Products
Commercial solutions used to clean your floors, toilets, oven, windows, and more typically contain industrial chemicals that may throw your hormones out of whack. For instance, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a common ingredient in laundry detergents and all-purpose cleaners, is banned in Europe and known to be a potent endocrine disrupter,11 causing male fish to transform into females. It’s surprisingly easy to create your own cleaning products at home using different combinations of vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and even coconut oil. Find simple tips for greener cleaning here.
9. Office Products
Ink cartridges, toner, and other solvents common in office environments are another common source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Handle such products with care and minimize your exposure as much as possible.
10. Cash Register Receipts
Thermal paper has a coating that turns black when heat is applied (the printer in a cash register applies heat to the paper, allowing it to print numbers and letters). It also contains BPA, and research shows that handling this type of paper is enough to increase your bodily levels. A study in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry found that of 13 thermal printing papers analyzed, 11 contained BPA.12
Holding the paper for just five seconds was enough to transfer BPA onto a person’s skin, and the amount of BPA transferred increased by about 10 times if the fingers were wet or greasy (such as if you’ve just applied lotion or eaten greasy food).
Finally, because receipts are often stored next to paper currency in people’s wallets, paper currency may also be contaminated with BPA. In a study published in Environmental Science and Technology, researchers analyzed paper currencies from 21 countries for the presence of BPA, and the chemical was detected in every sample.13
So, seek to limit or avoid carrying receipts in your wallet or purse, as it appears the chemical is transferring onto other surfaces it touches. It would also be wise to wash your hands after handling receipts and currency, and avoid handling them particularly if you’ve just put on lotion or have any other greasy substance on your hands, as this may increase your exposure). If you’re a cashier or bank teller who handles such papers often, you may want to wear gloves, especially if you’re pregnant or of child-bearing age.
19 More Tips to Reduce Your Chemical Exposure at Home
Implementing the following measures will help you avoid the worst endocrine-disrupting culprits as well as other chemicals from a wide variety of sources. To sum it up, try to stick with whole foods and natural products around your home. The fewer ingredients a product contains, the better, and try to make sure anything you put on or in your body or use around your home contains only substances you’re familiar with. If you can’t pronounce it, you probably don’t want it anywhere near your family.
As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic meats to reduce your exposure to added hormones, pesticides, and fertilizers. Also avoid milk and other dairy products that contain the genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST).
Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury, supplement with a high-quality purified krill oil, or eat smaller fish or fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity. Wild caught Alaskan salmon is about the only fish I eat for these reasons.
Buy products that come in glass bottles or jars rather than plastic or canned, since chemicals can leach out of plastics and into the contents.
Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap.
Use glass baby bottles and avoid plastic sippy cups for your little ones.
Eat mostly raw, fresh foods. Processed, prepackaged foods (of all kinds) are a common source of chemicals such as BPA and phthalates.
Replace your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware.
Filter your tap waterboth for drinking and bathing. If you can only afford to do one, filtering your bathing water may be more important, as your skin absorbs contaminants. To remove the endocrine-disrupting herbicide Atrazine, make sure the filter is certified to remove it. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), perchlorate can be filtered out using a reverse osmosis filter.
Look for products that are made by companies that are earth-friendly, animal-friendly, green, non-toxic, and/or 100% organic. This applies to everything from food and personal care products to building materials, carpeting, paint, baby items, upholstery, and more.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove house dust, which is often contaminated with traces of chemicals.
When buying new products such as furniture, mattresses or carpet padding, ask what type of fire retardant it contains. Be mindful of and/or avoid items containing PBDEs, antimony, formaldehyde, boric acid, and other brominated chemicals. As you replace these toxic items around your home, select those that contain naturally less flammable materials, such as leather, wool, and cotton.
Avoid stain- and water-resistant clothing, furniture, and carpets to avoid perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).
Minimize your use of plastic baby and child toys, opting for those made of natural wood or fabric instead.
Only use natural cleaning products in your home or make your own. Avoid products that contain 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME) two toxic glycol ethers that can damage fertility and cause fetal harm.14
Switch over to organic brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants, and cosmetics. You can replace many different products with coconut oil and baking soda, for example. EWG has a great database15 to help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals. I also offer one of the highest quality organic skin care lines, shampoo and conditioner, and body butter that are completely natural and safe.
Replace feminine hygiene products like tampons and sanitary pads with safer alternatives.
Avoid artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, or other synthetic fragrances.
Look for products that are fragrance-free. One artificial fragrance can contain hundreds even thousands of potentially toxic chemicals.
Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric.
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