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Keeping it Clean and Simple

When it comes to health, being conscious of what we put on our body can be just as important as what we put in our body. The average adult is exposed daily to as many as 126 unique chemical ingredients found in personal care and skin care products, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that evaluates cosmetics and household products for safety. Researchers have linked some ingredients in these products to a host of neurological, hormonal and metabolic health issues.

         The process of selecting safe skincare products can be daunting and confusing. Some contain hidden toxins in formulas marketed as all natural, non-toxic, or hypoallergenic. The ingredient lists can be overwhelming, made even more confusing because benign chemical ingredients may have unfamiliar names.

         To add to the confusion, the U.S. has not developed parameters for the use of many of these chemicals found within personal care items. However, government recently banned a very common ingredient, Triclosan, which is found in products such as toothpaste, mouthwash, body wash, hand soap and hand sanitizer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently ruled the chemical to be ineffective and linked to increased bacterial resistance and hormonal imbalances.

         An example of a new product that is meeting this need is a clean luxury skincare line by Naturopathica, including lotions, shampoos and lip balms.  

The Raby Institute for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern is located at 500 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 2100, in Chicago. Find Naturopathica and other quality products in the Raby Institute on-site apothecary, ALMA, and online at ShopRaby.com. For more information, call 312-276-1212 or visit RabyInstitute.com. See ad on page 21 and in the Community Resource Guide.