You may be wondering WHY everyone is all up in arms about MONSANTO,The EPA, GMO, PESTICIDES and just about everything we eat, drink, smell, and use today.

For a VERY good reason!  These products, which are sold by reputable companies and trusted names are causing cancer, ADD, ADHD, birth defects, low sperm count, breathing problems including ASTHMA, early puberty and hundreds of other problems.

Again, WHY should this concern you?  It probably won’t… you won’t change your shampoo, or cleaning products or your lip balm or hand lotions or your foods or choose not to eat at fast food restaurants  UNTIL you or a loved on begin having health issues.

The signs and symptoms begin gradually.

First you may begin having more coughs and colds than usual and blame it on the weather, you may notice skin problems, rashes or dry patches, sores that take longer to heal or become infected easily.  You may have stomach and/or bowel problems.  All of these are signs and symptoms that your natural immune system is becoming compromised by TOXIC exposures.

Yes, I know, you will say, “EVERYTHING causes cancer”, well, not everything, and that is WHY we are trying to explain to you, that YOU have a choice.  Drinking lead, eating lead, and rubbing lead on your body just can’t be healthy, but yet you do it EVERY DAY and don’t even know it.

THAT’S WHY YOU KEEP SEEING POSTS, articles and TV and radio programs !!!  We aren’t trying to tell you what to do, we are trying to educate you!!  You can choose organic vegetables over GMO veggies- REAL organic cleaners, cosmetics without parafins, and laundry soap without  sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS) /sodium Laureth sulfates (SLES), 1,4-dioxane, NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate) fragrance. Even your vitamins and supplements were found to contain lead, toxins and filler contaminants-most don’t even dissolve before your body eliminates them-that is actually a blessing in disguise and yet a waste of money.  WHAT? You don’t want to buy Natural, Non-GMO or USDA Certified Organic, because they cost more or you have to order them or go to a special store to buy them? Why is that do you think?  You know what cost more than these products?   A loved one who is sick, watching your child die of a brain tumor, or your cousin die of pancreatic cancer or your wife of Leukemia,  and the time off of work,  Dr visits, Chemo Therapy, and prescriptions.  They cost TIME, MONEY, and cause  INCONVENIENCE.  So, if you choose products WITHOUT chemicals, one at a time, you won’t break the bank, and you will become healthier as a direct result of your choices!

Ask an American what Echinacea is or does…most won’t have a clue.  As anyone from another country…they will tell you all the wonderful benefits.  Only Americans try to fix the problem after it happens, those in the UK, India, China, Japan, Australia, etc take precautions to PREVENT the problem in the first place!

Remember Julia Roberts in the movie ERIN BROCKOVICH?   The movie showing people that had been ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, PHARMACEUTICALS

“We must stay aware of Corporate Influence”…. 20 years later Erin Brockovich is still an active consumer advocate.  PG&E is still on her radar and indicted recently on 12 counts.  You can visit her website.  www.brockovich.com for all info on everything ging on around the world, and how it effects us, including the Morcellation Victims and the latest Toledo Ohio water crisis!!

Bottom line-If it does not have the CERTIFIED LABEL then it is not certified safe!

The Organic Consumers Association and Green Patriot Working Group have put together a handy printable guide for Personal Care and Cleaning Products

( http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/ShoppersSafetyGuide.pdf)that includes everything from dish soap to hand soap to deodorant, and everything in between.

100% TRUELY SAFE LABELS  CURRENTLY AROUND THE WORLD—

EU–  European Union-Very strict on Organic product labeling

USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC–  UNITED STATES ORGANIC

JAS–  JAPANESE ORGANIC

ACO–   AUSTRAILIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC – extremely very strict on organic

AB–  FRANCE AGRICULTURE BIOLOGIQUE

CO-BC–   CANADA ORGANIC -BIOLOGIQUE CANADA

Of the chemicals found in personal care products: 

♣ 884 are toxic

♣ 146 cause tumors

♣ 218 cause reproductive complications

♣ 778 cause acute toxicity

♣ 314 cause biological mutations

♣ 376 cause skin and eye irritations

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) studies have shown that INDOOR air pollutants are 3 to 70 times higher than outdoors!

Warning labels on containers refer only to toxic hazards from ingestion; however, only 10% of health problems from chemicals are caused by ingestion. 90% are caused by the inhalation of vapors and absorption of particles.

⎫ Since 1950, at least 70,000 new chemical compounds have been invented and dispersed into our environment. Only a fraction of these have been tested for human toxicity. We are, by default, conducting a massive clinical toxicology trial, and our children and their children are the experimental animals.

150 chemicals found in the home are connected to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological disorders.

LIQUID DISH SOAP is the leading cause of poisonings in the home for children under the age of six (over 2.1 million accidental poisonings per year). Most brands of liquid dish soap contain formaldehyde and ammonia.

Out of 2,435 pesticide poisonings in a one-year period, over 40% were due to exposure to disinfectants and similar cleaning products in the home.

Most laundry detergent contains a form of NTA. NTA is a substance we may reasonably anticipate to be a carcinogen

Household Chlorine bleaches which claim to disinfect are classified as pesticides under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Inadvertently mixing bleach with other cleaners that contain ammonia produces a toxic chloramines gas. These toxic gases can cause coughing, loss of voice, a feeling of burning or suffocation, and even death.

As a result of cleaners and other toxic household products, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the air inside the typical home is 2-5 times more polluted than the air immediately outside—and in extreme cases, 100 times more contaminated.

3 groups of people are primarily affected by indoor chemical concentrations because they spend more time indoors and their immune systems are weaker. The 3 groups are:

• Infants and toddlers

• Chronically ill

• Elderly

Women who work in the home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside of the home.

As more toxic chemicals have been introduced to our everyday environment in greater amounts over the last 20 to 30 years, the level of toxins stored in adipose tissues (fat cells) of our bodies have risen. Bioaccumulation studies have shown that some toxins store in our bodies for life. Greater and greater amounts are being stored at younger ages. One study showed that in the fat of 100% of the people tested was 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, a chemical found in most household deodorizers and room fresheners.

Some products release contaminants into the air right away, others do so gradually over a period of time. Some stay in the air up to a year. These contaminants, found in many household and personal care products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory tract irritations and some cause cancer.

Asthma was once a very rare disease. Now the condition is extremely common – the asthma rate has tripled in the last 20 years with nearly 30 million Americans currently afflicted, and 5 million of them are children under 19 years of age.

Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the air passages resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Asthma symptoms can be caused  by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lungs, resulting in inflamed, clogged and constricted airways. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing tightness in the chest. In severe cases, asthma can be deadly.

Childhood asthma has increased by more than 40% since 1980-1 out of 5 children have Asthma.

Asthma death in children and young people increased by a dramatic 118% between 1980 and 1993.

Asthma is the #1 chronic cause of school absenteeism among children (5-17) each year accounting for more than 14 million total missed days of school. (Adults miss more than 10 million days of work due to Asthma)

The average child visits the doctor 23 times in the 1st 4 years of life, with the most common complaint being respiratory ailment.

The death rate for Asthma has increased to nearly 80% for children under 19 years of age since 1980.

 Developing cells in children’s bodies are more susceptible to damage than adult cells that have completed development, especially for the central nervous system. During the development of a child, from conception through adolescence, there are particular windows of vulnerability to environmental hazards. Most disturbing – until a child is approximately 13 months of age, they are virtually no ability to fight the biological and neurological effects of toxic chemicals

Today, children have chemical exposures from birth that their parents didn’t have until they were adults. Because children are exposed to toxics at an earlier age than adults, they have more time to develop environmentally triggered diseases, with long latency periods, such as cancer.

Everyday in America:

36,000 kids miss school due to asthma.

44,000 people have an asthma attack.

9 people die from asthma

SHAKLEE ENFUSELLE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS ARE ALL NATURAL AND DO NOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING …

If  YOUR skin care product lists ANY of the following as an ingredient, then it should be discontinued.

OIL-

To understand the role of oil in skin care requires just a bit of history. From ancient times up until the quite recent past, the only way to help skin retain moisture was by using occlusive ingredients that literally coated the skin and prevented moisture from escaping. Unfortunately, these same moisture-sealants (most often oils, including mineral oil and vegetable oils — the same ones you use in cooking) also sealed up pores, causing the back-up of natural oils and dead skin cells that scientists call comedones — most people refer to these small bumps as whiteheads or black- heads. In addition, oils that seal moisture in also trap toxins the skin needs to eliminate and keep oxygen out, preventing skin’s natural respiration. Instead of smothering the skin with occlusive oils, Enfuselle products use only state-of-the-art nourishing ingredients that support the skin’s healthy ability to retain its own natural moisture.

ISOPROPYL PALMITATE- 

Another ingredient virtually guaranteed to induce comedogenicity.

SOAP-

Soap, by definition, has a very alkaline pH — usually between 10 and 12 (on a scale of 1 to 14). As a result, soaps are extremely drying to the skin. Because soap is not pH-balanced and disrupts the skin’s natural lipid barrier, it increases trans-epidermal moisture loss. Particularly for dry skin, soap can be a disaster. In addition, although soap can be made from vegetable fats (castille soap), many soaps are animal-derived. Instead of soap, Enfuselle cleansers utilize carefully chosen, pH-balanced ingredients which cleanse gently, without stripping skin of its precious natural emollients.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL,  SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE-

Because some people find these ingredients objectionable, Shaklee has chosen to leave them out of Enfuselle products

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant, detergent and emulsifier used in thousands of industrial cleaners and cosmetic products. It is present in nearly all shampoos, scalp treatments, hair color and bleaching agents, toothpastes, body washes and cleansers, make-up foundations, liquid hand soaps, and laundry detergents.

Over 16,000 studies document the hazards of SLS can be found in the PubMed site

Although SLS originates from coconuts, the chemical is anything but natural.

SLS is mixed with sulfur trioxide or chlorosulfuric acid and then neutralized with aqueous sodium hydroxide (lye). SLS is the sodium salt of lauryl sulfate and is classified by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Cosmetics Database as a “denaturant, surfactant cleansing agent, emulsifier and foamer,” rated “moderate hazard.”

Similar to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is sodium laureth sulfate (short for sodium lauryl ether sulfate, or SLES), a yellow detergent with higher foaming ability. SLES is considered to be slightly less irritating than SLS. SLS goes by other names, including:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, sodium salt

Sodium salt sulfuric acid

Monododecyl ester sodium salt sulfuric acid

A13-00356

Akyposal SDS

Aquarex ME

Aquarex methyl

Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) is another variation commonly put into cosmetics and cleansers to make them foam. ALS is similar to SLS, showing similar risks.

1,4-DIOXANE- (Not to be confused with Dioxin-two completely different compounds not even closely related) 

a known carcinogen.  aka dioxane, is a byproduct rather than ingredient and is therefore not listed on any label. However, it’s been found to be toxic to your brain,central nervous system, kidneys, liver and respiratory system, and 2/3rds of laundry detergents contain it.

When you use a laundry detergent contaminated with dioxane, it goes everywhere. It never breaks down.  “As a groundwater contaminant, 1,4-dioxane is of considerable concern because of its toxicity, refractory nature to degradation, and rapid migration within an aquifer.”  To be proactive about your own health, you have to learn how to read labels. To avoid 1,4 dioxane, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) recommends avoiding products with indications of ethoxylation.

Look for the following suffixes in the ingredient list:

•”Myreth,” “oleth,” “laureth,” “ceteareth,” any other “eth”

•”PEG”

•”Polyethylene,” “polyethylene glycol,” or “polyoxyethylene”

•”Oxynol”

Remember, sodium laureth sulfate (as well as sodium laurel sulfate) are often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. But there is more bad news. SLS and SLES are not the only surfactants warranting concern.

Testings show that many popular brands of shampoos, body washes, lotions, laundry detergent and even baby products contained levels of contamination were so high, that many companies have come under legal attack for POISONING consumers.

NPE (Nonylphenol Ethoxylate)—the “Gender Bender”

Like SLS and SLES, NPE is an inexpensive nonionic surfactant frequently used in laundry detergents. NPE is an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimicker that can potentially cause hormonal problems, or even cancer. When you absorb NPE, your body can’t tell the difference between NPE and estrogen.

NPE has been found to be an endocrine disruptor and xenoestrogen, due to its ability to act with estrogen-like activity which can cause infertility, miscarriages, and other pregnancy complications.

The production and use of nonylphenol and nonyphenol ethoxylates is prohibited in the European Union due to its effects on health and the environment.  In Europe, due to environmental concerns, they also have been replaced by more expensive alcohol ethoxylates, which are less problematic for the environment due to their ability to degrade more quickly than nonylphenols. The European Union has also included NP on the list of priority hazardous substances for surface water in the Water Framework Directive. They are now implementing a drastic reduction policy of NP’s in surface waterways. The Environmental quality standard for NP was proposed to be 0.3 ug/l.

In the USA, the EPA set criteria which recommends that nonylphenol concentration should not exceed 6.6 ug/l in fresh water and 1.7 ug/l in saltwater.[27] In order to do so, the EPA is supporting and encouraging a voluntary phase-out of nonylphenol in industrial laundry detergents. Similarly, the EPA is documenting proposals for a “significant new use” rule, which would require companies to contact the EPA if they decided to add nonylphenol to any new cleaning and detergent products. They also plan to do more risk assessments to ascertain the effects of nonylphenol on human health and the environment. It was suggested that nonylphenol could be added to the list of chemicals on the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, but this has yet to occur as of 2014.

In other Asian and South American countries nonylphenol is still widely available in commercial detergents, and there is little regulation.

Organisms exposed to NPE show kidney and liver damage, decreased testicular growth and sperm count, disrupted growth and metabolism, and increased mortality.

When rainbow trout are exposed to NPEs, they become part male and part female! According to the Sierra Club, who recently petitioned the EPA to regulate NPE, roughly 270 million pounds of NPE are used in the United States each year—and the majority of this ends up being rinsed down your drain. A U.S. Geological Survey study found metabolites of NPEs in more than 61 percent of tested streams in the U.S. (reported by Sierra Club).

According to a Sierra Club paper, researchers now believe that:

“NPE pollution is likely to be at least partly responsible for a variety of odd gender bending phenomenon now being seen in aquatic species. And while human effects remain unknown, scientists believe it may be affecting people, too.”

NPEs have been banned already in Canada and Europe. Even Wal-Mart has listed NPEs as one of three chemicals they’re asking suppliers to phase out.

Even the most sophisticated water treatment plants are unable to remove NPEs and their toxic metabolites. In fact, according to the Sierra Club report, sewage processing can make NPE metabolites more toxic, more estrogenic, and more persistent than NPE itself.

Look for evidence of NPE on your laundry detergent label—or declaration that it’s not in there. Some detergents contain NPE alternatives such as alcohol ethoxylate, which the Sierra Club suggests is less toxic and can break down naturally. Another enormous threat to your water supply is phosphates.

PHOSPHATES-

Phosphates can cause algae overgrowth in lakes and ponds, disrupting the ecosystem.

DYES-

They don’t add to the functionality of a product…and many dyes are common skin irritants. Included are food, hair, and azo dye-used in clothing

DEA-

The safety of DEA (diethanolamine), a commonly used lathering or foaming agent, has been questioned by the NTP (National Toxicology Program — a program of the National Institute of Health). Although scientific evidence regarding this ingredient is still lacking, Shaklee has chosen to avoid the use of DEA and DEA salts in Enfuselle products.

IMIDAZOLINDINYL UREA, DIAZOLINDINYL UREA, QUATERNIUM 15-

What do these tongue-twisters have in common? They are all commonly-used preservatives which decompose in low pH environments and release formaldehyde. In the jar, this property means these “formaldehyde donor” chemicals effectively kill bacteria and prevent contamination. However, when this reaction occurs on the skin, it can cause reactions in people with formaldehyde sensitivities. It is worth noting that this sensitivity appears to be on the rise — one theory is that constant and increased exposure to environmental formaldehyde (“out-gassed” from upholstery, carpets, wallboard, floor tiles, plastics, etc.) may provoke an autoimmune response to the chemical.

Enfuselle’s unique patent-pending preservative system has been globally tested on people known to be sensitive to preservative agents in order to eliminate reactive ingredients.

GLYCERIN, FATTY ACID COMPOUNDS-DERIVED FROM ANIMAL BYPRODUCTS-

In keeping with Shaklee’s “cruelty- free” philosophy, no products are tested on animals, and no ingredients derived from slaughterhouse byproducts are used. It’s important to note that many beneficial skin care ingredients — such as glycerin and fatty acid compounds — may be derived from vegetable sources… and that’s the humane choice that Shaklee makes!

AVOBENZONE-SUNSCREEN INGREDIENT-

A “new kid on the block” sunscreen ingredient, avobenzone currently does not meet Shaklee’s strict standards for product stability — in fact, avobenzone has shown a disturbing tendency to decompose when exposed to UV light…particu- larly unfortunate for a sunscreen! Enfuselle’s sunscreen products are patented (U.S. Patent No. 6,015,548) because they combine a low level of sunscreen agentswith the patented Vital Repair+® complex (U.S. Patent No. 6,036,846) to achieve the desired SPF to provide reliable, full protection against UV damage.

FRAGRANCES-

The few Enfuselle products which benefited from including a light fragrance have been extensively tested on an international panel of sensitive people under the supervision of a dermatologist. The Enfuselle products which contain hypoallergenic fragrances are:

• Purifying Cleansing Gel
• Hydrating Cleansing Lotion • Gentle Action Cleansing Bar • Purifying Toner
• Hydrating Toner
• Balancing Moisturizer
• Hydrating Moisturizer

FORMALDEHYDE – UNDER MANY NAMES IS STILL FORMALDEHYDE-

Twice as much formaldehyde was needed to embalm a person 20 years ago compared to today.

Formalin

Methanal

Methyl Aldehyde

Methylene Oxide

Oxymethylene

Bfv*

Fannoform*

Formol*

Fyde*

Karsan*

Methaldehyde

Formalith*

Methylene Glycol

Ivalon*

Oxomethane

Formalin 40

Formalin

Formic Aldehyde

Hoch

Paraform

Lysoform*

Morbocid

Trioxane

Polyoxmethylene

* denotes trade name

FORMALDEHYDE CAN BE FOUND IN:

drugs

mouthwash

hairspray

cosmetics

cleaning products

perfumes

waxes

hair setting lotions

shampoo

air fresheners

fungicides

fingernail polish

floor polishes

dry cleaning solvents

toothpaste

laundry spray starch

antiperspirants

PHENOL-

is an EXTREMELY caustic chemical that burns the skin.  Absorption of PHENOL through the lungs or skin can cause:

central nervous system damage

pneumonia

respiratory tract infection

heart-rate irregularities

skin irritation

kidney and liver damage

numbness

vomiting  and can be fatal

*PHENOL is a very common chemical and is regularly found in the following common products: 

air fresheners

aftershave

bronchial mists

chloroseptic throat spray

deodorants

feminine powders & sprays

hair spray

decongestants

mouthwash

aspirin

solvents

acne medications

antiseptics

calamine lotions

cleaning products

detergents

furniture polish

hair setting lotions

lice shampoo

polishes

cold capsules

all-purpose cleaners

aerosol disinfectants

anti-itching lotions

carnex

cosmetics

disinfectant cleaners

hand lotions

lip balms

sunscreen and lotions

insecticides

cough syrups

HOW TO BECOME GREENER & HEALTHIER, ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME:

Become a label reader. This is by far the most important thing that you can do as a consumer.  Look especially for “Does not contain…” because manufacturers are not yet required by law to list what is in the product. However, green companies will proudly display what is NOT in the product if they want to sell their product to environmentally conscious people like you.

Look for “phosphate free,” “no bleach,” “SLE free” and “NPE free.” Look for “biodegradable” detergents since those often do not contain the harmful ingredients listed above. Look for plant- and animal-based ingredients, instead of petroleum-based.

Buy concentrated products. These have reduced packaging and a smaller carbon footprint (requiring less space and fuel for shipping).

Ditch the dry cleaning. Traditional dry cleaning is a very un-green and toxic process using harsh, carcinogenic chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (aka “perc”), which has been linked with a variety of cancers and other problems. Many “dry clean only” products can be safely hand washed. For those that can’t, try to find a greener dry cleaner in your area.

Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes. Concentrated products will help clean your clothes and dishes by using less, so make sure it’s full!

Put up a clothes line.  Become part of the “Right To Dry” movement. Hang your clothes out to dry.  Some local municipalities and many homeowners associations prohibit the use of outdoor clotheslines citing aesthetic and property value concerns. Thankfully, state governments are getting involved in the “Right to Dry” movement. North Carolina recently passed a law that may override the ability for homeowners associations and municipalities to ban clotheslines – and in Vermont and New Hampshire, movements are under way to do the same

Compost instead of Disposal. What you put in your garbage disposal ends up in our water supply.  Why not toss is in a Compost Pile or Composter to make your own soil.  You can also use it to make your own Compost TEA a natural fertilizer, great for lawns, gardens and indoor plants.

Please visit www.LivingGreener.myShaklee.com or email me at LivingGreener2@gmail.com for more information regarding these and other Shaklee products for you, your family and your home!

~Ann