Organic Cosmetics, Toiletries to be Defined

The U.S. Agriculture Department is now applying its strict organic food standards to personal care products as well. There are hundreds of soaps, shampoos, skin creams, and cosmetics that call themselves organic, but until now those labels have often been confusing or misleading.

Few Will Qualify

However, few organic beauty products are likely to qualify for the Agriculture Department's seal, which mandates that at least 95 percent of the ingredients must be organic. Many products that do not make the grade may still be labeled "made with organic" ingredients, a designation that does not mean as much.

Forced By a Lawsuit

The extension of the organic regulations was forced by a lawsuit brought by one of the oldest natural soap producers, Dr. Bronner's. Dr. Bronner's has already put the organic seal on its Sun Dog's lotions and balms. The Nourish line of body care products and Aubrey Organics have also been approved for the organic seal, and Terressentials is in the process of having its skin and hair products certified.

In 2004, $4 billion was spent on beauty products labeled natural or organic.

New York Times October 20, 2005 Registration Required

Dr. Mercola's Comment:This sounds like good news, considering consumers have until now mostly had to rely on manufacturers' largely unproven and often bogus claims. It may finally be possible to tell, at least to some degree, just how safe or dangerous some cosmetics, soaps and other toiletries really are.

Considering all the chemicals found in common productsyou use every day -- and all the harm they can do to you and your children -- these changing federal regulations certainly make it easier for you to make better and safer decisions. And there's nothing wrong at all with that.

Remember, in order to avoid environmental toxins as much as possible:

• Only use natural cleaning products in your home. Most health food ...(Continues Below)

  stores will have these available or you can search online for them.

• Switch over to natural brands of toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. Remember that most antiperspirants are loaded with toxic aluminum.
• Buy and eat, as much as possible, organic produce and free-range, organic foods.
• Rather than eating fish, which is largely contaminated with PCBs and mercury, consume a high-quality purified fish or cod liver oil like Carlson'sthat is mercury and PCB free.
• Avoid processed foods -- remember that they're processed with chemicals!
• Remove anyamalgam (silver)fillings as they're a major source of mercury. But be sure to have this done by a biological dentist as if yousee a conventional dentistthe replacement process could actually make you worse-- it will liberate large amounts of mercury immediately into your brain.
• Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances as they can pollute the air you are breathing.
• Avoid artificial food additives of all kind, including artificial sweeteners and MSG.
• Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or bath).
• Seek to build your health up through the nutrition insights detailed in my Total Health Program, and then limit your use of drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) as much as possible. Drugs are chemicals too, and they will leave residues and accumulate in your body over time.

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