Nail polish
What do you say when a 10 year old wants to polish your finger nails?
Of course you say yes.
I am being immersed in a whole new world, ready or not.
While being painted I was unpleasantly subjected to a strong toxic chemical odor which made me wonder why nail polish companies use such harsh chemicals.
The New York times did an article on nail polish that brings out important information on the dangers of nail polish.
There is a toxic trio of chemicals, “The trio consisted of a known carcinogen, formaldehyde, used as a hardening agent, and two materials linked to developmental defects: toluene, to evenly suspend color, and the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate, or DBP, to add flexibility and sheen.”
For dedicated polish enthusiasts, The Environmental Working Group maintains a searchable cosmetics database at www.ewg.org/skindeep.
For more than 20 years I have been reading labels and avoiding products that are harmful to me. I am much like the canary that miners would take into the mines to monitor the air. I react to fumes and added ingredients in the water, food and air. I realize that not all people are as sensitive as I am but I am grateful for the headaches that some times last 24 hours from exposure to the myriad of substances that are all around. My headaches have acted as an early warning that danger lies ahead if I stay on the same path.
My previous job at the hardware store exposed me to many unknown chemicals. The off gassing of the packaging material, the products themselves, the hundreds of florescent lights, and worst of all, death row.
Death row was my term for the garden isle where monsanto branded products were only part of the overall toxic cocktail that I had to breathe each day.
The air quality was poor because of poor ventilation and no exchange with fresh air.
My 10 year old is aware of the danger of some of the toxic cocktails that we are exposed to each day. She asked if she could have a stick of gum. I reminded her of the added ingredients and the MSG being labeled as natural flavor.
Her response was, if I only have one stick how many brain cells would that destroy?
The sad but true tale is that toxic chemicals are killing our brain cells.
I want to keep my brain cells intact and preserve them by avoiding and educating myself.
If you are not a label reader, you are playing Russian roulette with your health and well being.
I recently spoke with someone who follows a health code promoted by their church. I asked about the revelation that includes the prohibition of coffee and where it originated.
After getting the explanation, I asked about the myriad of chemicals in sodas and the danger they pose to health.
His sad response was that he was counseled by his leaders not to be a label reader.
Do not read labels?
I walked away from the conversation perplexed at the wisdom of such council.
I purchased a book titled “A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives.” It contains over 12,000 different ingredients contained in food. It helps me to define the long chemical names labeled on food packages and make informed choices.
Pick up a loaf of bread and read the ingredients. I can promise you that most loaves will contain ingredients that are not necessary, they will have preservatives, fillers, colors, and enhancers you will find hard to pronounce.
I make bread from scratch, here is my recipe …
Water, flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and love … thats it!
Three years ago I purchased a McDonalds hamburger and fries. It is an experiment. I take them out of the sack once a year and examine them. They look much like the day I bought them. There is no mold, no smell, and they are representative of many of todays chemically enhanced foods. Many restaurants now reheat foods that are first prepared in huge kitchen facilities that are shipped to site and are ready to eat. Recipes that contain a myriad of chemicals, MSG derived flavor enhancers and colors to make our eating experience a lasting memory.
MSG is highly addictive, causes obesity, and causes the brain synapses to fire uncontrollable until they burn out.
Dr. Russell Blaylock, is an expert in this field.
In his book “Excitotoxins the taste that kills,” Dr. Blaylock lays out the many different names the food industry uses for this toxic killer.
In todays world, you can no longer trust the corporate institutions to have your best interest at heart.
Whether it be weed killer, restaurant food, gum or nail polish, we are being bombarded by toxic substances.
Learn to read labels, make wise choices, live long and live healthy.
