The Hidden Dangers of Borax

Borax has been considered a “natural” and “green” cleaning agent since the 1890’s when it was discovered in Tibet. Many people view it as a safe alternative to chemical-heavy products, and keep it as a household staple because of its versatility. It can be used as a dish detergent, stain remover, ant killer, rust remover, counter cleaner, and the list goes on and on. Like baking soda, its uses seem endless. The difference? Baking soda hasn’t been linked to hormone disruption.

The Environmental Working Group published an article in 2011 outlining their concerns with Borax. It is a skin and respiratory irritant, but worst of all, has been proven in animal studies to disrupt the body’s natural production of hormones.

“Borax and its cousin, boric acid, may disrupt hormones and harm the male reproductive system. Men working in boric acid-producing factories have a greater risk of decreased sperm count and libido. According to EPA’s safety review of these pesticides, chronic exposure to high doses of borax or boric acid causes testicular atrophy in male mice, rats and dogs.

Animal studies reviewed by the EPA indicate that while the female reproductive system is less sensitive to borax, exposure to it can also lead to reduced ovulation and fertility. Borax and boric acid can cross the placenta, affecting fetal skeletal development and birth weight in animal studies of high-dose exposures.”

To date, not many studies have been done regarding what amount of Borax is safe to use in the home. Because of this, the EWG recommends not using it at all. The 20 Mule Team Borax Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) did confirm that animals given borax by mouth showed a disruption in sperm and male fertility in general. They also stated, “Boric acid produces developmental effects, including reduced body weight, malformations and death, in the offspring of pregnant animals given boric acid by mouth.”

You may have noticed that the Environmental Working Group and the MSDS refer to both Borax and Boric Acid. They are not the same, but are close cousins. To clarify, here are the differences:

Borax: Other names are sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate. According to the 20 Mule Team website  “Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate: a naturally occurring substance produced by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes.”

Boric Acid: An acid crystalline compound derived from borax. Boric acid may be created by mixing borax with a mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid. Read more about boric acid toxicity here.

If you currently use borax in your home, you may want to replace it with something less questionable and potentially harmful, and it will be easier than you think! Check out our post here on homemade and chemical-free cleaning products to get you started! 

 

By Courtney Perry

Homemade Play-Doh

Since the 1950’s when it was first invented, Play-Doh has been a staple in homes, daycares, and schools across the country. Hasbro, the manufacturer of Play-Doh, claims it to be non-toxic, but a closer look at its ingredients may have you second guessing its safety for your children. According to Hasbro’s website: “the exact ingredients of PLAY-DOH compound are proprietary, so we cannot share them with you. We can tell you that it is primarily a mixture of water, salt and flour.” (source)

While the primary ingredients that Hasbro shares with the general public are non-toxic, their current US Patent lists several more ingredients including preservatives, fragrance, petroleum (to make the Play-Doh feel smooth), and borax (prevents mold growth). Borax is the additive that disheartens me the most. The Environmental Working Group put out a great article in 2011 discussing the dangers of using Borax. Recently, they gave it a rating of “F” on their website mostly due to its developmental and reproductive system toxicity.

It’s one thing for your children to simply touch Play-Doh and then immediately wash their hands afterwards, but we know that is not how most children operate. I can practically still taste the salty Play-Doh from when I was a child, my green pancake and red french fry creations were just too irresistible to not taste. Kids explore the world with their hands and mouths, so shouldn’t they have something more natural and safe to play with? For the older children who use Play-Doh and aren’t likely to eat it, Borax is a known skin irritant and may cause allergic reactions.

Cooks.com has a no-bake play-doh recipe that is safe for those curious kids of yours who may decide to sample their play-doh creations. The recipe is so easy, you could even turn making their play-doh into an activity to do together!

Ingredients

1 cup water
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups salt
1/4 cup oil
*food coloring

*click here for ways to make natural and organic food coloring
*India Tree sells some great all natural food coloring, too!

Directions

Combine ingredients in a bowl, mixing well. Add small amounts of flour until desired consistency is achieved. Store in a plastic zip-loc bag!

photo source

By Courtney Perry

FAQ: What Are Parabens?

Q: I’m always looking for paraben-free products but I have a confession. I don’t exactly know what parabens are. I know they are supposedly not good for you, but why is that? What are they?

A: Great question! Don’t feel bad, you’d be surprised at how many people avoid products containing parabens, SLS, phthalates, and phosphates without really knowing what they are or why they are potentially harmful.

Parabens are preservatives that actually go by several different names- you will probably never just see the word “paraben” written on an ingredient list. Two common parabens are propylparaben and parahydroxybenzoate, but there are several others. Parabens are used in most cosmetics and skin care products in order to keep them from going bad or spoiling. So in that sense, parabens are useful because they help our favorite products have a longer shelf life. But in recent years, there has been much controversy over the safety of these chemicals.

Similar to BPAs, Parabens have been known to mimic estrogen which leads some scientists to believe that they may be a contributing factor to breast cancer. One of the scientists who it very outspoken about the possible dangers of parabens is Philippa Darbre of the University of Reading in England. In 2004, Darbre and a team of researchers discovered parabens in 18 of the 20 samples of cancerous breast tissue in women. This is not evidence that parabens caused the breast cancer, but it was a warning bell- a sign that maybe parabens should be studied further before being used so freely by both companies and consumers.

“We’ve known for more than 25 years that estrogen exposure is linked to breast cancer development and progression; it is the reason tamoxifen [commonly prescribed to women with breast cancer] is used to disrupt estrogen receptors,” says Darbre. “So it is not such a leap to be concerned that repeated, cumulative, long-term exposure to chemicals that weakly mimic estrogen might be having an impact.”

Another alarming  study had several young, healthy, men put lotion containing parabens on their bodies. Just a few hours later, those same parabens were detected in their urine, meaning it took a matter of hours for the chemicals to completely absorb into their bodies.

So what are your options? How can you get quality, reliable, long lasting skin and body care products without exposing your body to an excessive amount of parabens? You’ll be happy to hear that paraben-free products are becoming more and more common. As companies research the downside to these preservatives, they are revamping their current products and making them more consumer friendly, and most importantly, safe. In fact, ULTA has an entire portion of their website dedicated to paraben-free makeup.

Say Yes!, Everyday Shea, Hugo Natural’s, Tarte, Coastal Classic Creations, Alba, Burt’s Bees, and Kiss My Face are just a few companies who don’t use parabens or other nasties, and have fabulous products you can find online and in stores.

Do you have any questions or need product recommendations? Send us a comment either on this post, or through our comment/question page!

By Courtney Perry

Coconut Oil: Your New Best Friend

My favorite products to use are those that are versatile and inexpensive. When I recently learned about the hundreds of uses of coconut oil, I felt betrayed. How could this incredible, inexpensive, all natural product have existed for so long and NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT IT!? So now it is my duty to spread the word about coconut oil, and tell you why you need to get in your car right now and go buy some.

Coconut oil is a healthy fat, it has antibacterial properties making it great for helping our bodies fight off viruses and bacteria that can cause illness. It has also been proven to successfully battle yeast, fungus and candida. Coconut oil naturally improves the body’s insulin use, which helps control blood sugar levels. And those are just the tip of the ice berg. Here is a list of the many benefits of coconut oil, followed by some suggestions for use!

• Reduces hunger & appetite (hello new diet secret!). It has also been shown to reduct abdominal fat.
• Studies in both humans and rats have shown that coconut oil improves LDL and HDL cholesterol, which may mean a reduced risk of heart disease.
• Improves skin moisture.
• Protects against hair damage.
• In one 2006 study, consumption of medium chain triglycerides (coconut oil) lead to an immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s.

How should you use it? 

This past May, The Huffington Post ran an article about the benefits of coconut oil. Their recommendations are a great way to begin your love affair with coconut oil:

Give Your Hair Shine
Run a small bit through your wet hair – pea-size for short hair, bean-size for long – to get a beautiful conditioning effect with a shimmer. Also, are you like me and your puffy hair was GREAT for the 80’s, not so much the 2000’s? Putting a very small amount of the oil in your hands and rubbing through dry hair will cut down on the frizz.

Moisturize Your Skin
From dry feet to a flaky forehead, coconut oil is a great way to nourish your skin without the heaviness of moisturizing lotions. (really helps my eczema as well as a friend of mine with the burdening skin disease)

Remove Your Makeup
Ditch the chemicals! After a night out, it just takes one swipe of some coconut oil on a cloth to remove your makeup, even eye makeup!

Baking
Use it as a substitute for shortening, butter, or other types of oil, and get a sweeter, lighter tasting dessert.

Athletes Foot
Rub it on your feet to cure athletes foot, it works great on fungal infections anywhere!

Add To Sweet Beverages
It’s easy to bring a kick of coconut to hot chocolate or fruit smoothies. Remember if you’re adding coconut oil to a cold beverage, make sure to heat it up to liquid form before stirring in.

Leather Shoe Cleaner
Rub your boots with a dab of coconut oil to keep them clean and soften the leather.

Remove Stickers From Merchandise
Sticky labels and price tags are easy to remove with coconut oil. Just mix with some baking soda, spread it on the sticky area, leave for 10 minutes.

Season Cast-Iron Frying Pans
Cast iron needs maintenance to ensure foods don’t stick, and coconut oil makes a fantastic coating to keep your pan slick.

Canker Sore Remedy
Coconut oil has been said to speed up the healing process of pesky canker sores, if going SLS-free didn’t work for you.

Furniture Polish
Some coconut oil and lemon juice is all it takes to bring a beautiful shine to your wood furniture.

Toothpaste
Combine coconut oil with baking soda to make your pearly whites gleam.

Lip Balm
While coconut oil makes lips shiny and moist on its own. Adding a tiny bit to your morning cup of coffee will soften your lips with each sip!

Popcorn
Cook popcorn on your stovetop with coconut oil and a few seasonings. It is healthier for you, and more fun anyway.

Diaper Rash Fix
Rub some coconut oil on your baby’s bottom to help keep the rash down, and the nice smell doesn’t hurt either 😉

Stretch Mark Reducer
Stop ordering expensive, chemical-filled lotions to help your stretch marks. Rub some coconut oil and watch what happens.

For Nursing Mothers
Nursing moms can take 3-4 tablespoons a day (and Vitamin D) to increase milk supply and nutrients

Sore Throat
Mix a teaspoon into a cup of warm water or tea, it will soothe your angry throat

I could literally go on and on, there are SO many uses for coconut oil. If you were to do a Google search on a problem you are having + coconut oil, there is a good chance you will get an article explaining how coconut oil can help you. It is very important to buy organic, virgin, unfiltered coconut oil. Not all coconut oils are created equal! I love the Trader Joe’s brand but you can find a good jar in many different stores. Here is one on Amazon that has nearly 1,500 5-star reviews. At $25 per bottle, I’d say it’s well worth it. Try it, you have nothing to lose and quite possibly a LOT to gain.

What else do YOU use coconut oil for? 

By Courtney Perry

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: What You Need To Know About This Common Ingredient

You’ve seen the words “sodium lauryl sulfate” written on ingredients lists hundreds of times. Maybe you’ve wondered what it is, or maybe not. Any ingredient that appears in so many different products has to be safe, right? Much research suggests otherwise.

Crest Toothpaste Label

I never had any reason to question sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) before a few years ago when my dentist recommended switching to an SLS-free toothpaste in order to put an end to the canker sores I was continuously getting. I made the switch (Burt’s Bees SLS and Fluoride Free Toothpaste) and haven’t had a canker sore since. Actually, that’s not true. Last weekend I was on vacation and forgot to pack my SLS-free toothpaste. Within 3 days of using a “regular” toothpaste, I had a giant, painful canker sore. Not a coincidence! Now that I’m back home to my SLS-free toothpaste, my mouth is back to normal, and feeling good.

So what IS sodium lauryl sulfate?

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a detergent and emulsifier used in thousands of cosmetic and even cleaning products. If I challenged you to go to a convenience store right now and bring home a shampoo or toothpaste without SLS, I guarantee you would come back empty handed. It’s what makes shampoo lather and toothpaste bubble.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is actually derived from coconuts, but the process of manufacturing it is what makes it dangerous. SLS is contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogenic by-product. In fact, several deaths have occurred when workers have been accidentally exposed to it. So while the argument has been made that SLS alone is not dangerous or carcinogenic, why take the risk?

Some of the other risks of ingesting or topically using SLS are irritation of the skin and eyes, developmental and reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity, hair loss, scalp irritation, and respiratory illness.

The great news is that more and more companies are starting to find ways to create quality, safe products without the use of sodium lauryl sulfate or any of its sister ingredients, like sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulphate.

Check out these products to see for yourself if going SLS-free improves your skin and health the way it has mine:

Shampoo/Conditioner

• Aubrey Organics Website: Aubrey Organics
• Burt Bees Website:  Burts Bees
• Avalon Organic Website: Avalon Organic
• Dessert Essence Website: Dessert Essence
• Logona Website: Logona
• Henna Aloe Vera

Toothpaste (SLS and fluoride free!)

• Burts Bees, as mentioned in the beginning of this article
• Welda Plant Gel Toothpaste
• Jason Powersmile
• Tom’s of Maine, Clean and Gentle

Cleaners

Refer to our “DIY cleaning products” post!

Have questions about SLS or other product recommendations? Leave us a comment below!

By Courtney Perry

All About GMO’s

We’ve all heard that we are supposed to avoid GMO’s, but do you know what GMO actually stands for? Do you know why they are bad?

Recently I was at a Monsanto/GMO protest in Asheville, North Carolina and I overheard two women talking about how horrible GMO’s are and the negative impact of eating them. In the middle of her sentence, one of the ladies stopped and said “what does GMO stand for anyway?” To my surprise, her friend had no idea either! I feel this is probably not an uncommon scene. While it’s great to avoid something you know is toxic, it becomes easier to avoid it if you really understand why. It’s like quitting cigarettes- it’s a lot easier to quit knowing specifically what it does to your body and lungs as opposed to just knowing “it’s bad for you.”

So here is a crash course on GMO’s:

What does GMO stand for?

 GMO stands for “genetically modified organism”

What exactly are they?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms in which the genetic material has been altered in order to achieve a desired trait. These new plant and animal hybrids would never be found in nature, they must be laboratory generated. 

So, what’s the big deal?

Genetically modified food is unstable and problems and side effects are constantly being discovered. In addition to this, the long term effects of eating GMO’s are currently unknown. When the DNA structure of a plant or animal is altered, the outcome can be disastrous. GMO’s are believed to decrease nutritional value, increase toxicity, and possibly cause problems with food allergies.

Here is a great article from the Non GMO Shopping Guide website that outlines the main problems with GMO’s: http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/why-should-i-avoid-gmos.html

How can I avoid GMO’s?

1. Buy organic (100% organic foods will never contain GMO’s intentionally)

2. Familiarize yourself with the most common GMO foods:

• Soybeans
• Corn
• Rapeseed/canola
• Sugar beets
• Cotton (used in cottonseed oil and some dairy products)
• Dairy
• Sugar
• Papaya
• Zucchini

3. Purchase 100% grass fed beef

4. Buy products that are specifically labeled as GMO-free (Molly’s Suds does not use any GMO ingredients in any of our products!)

5. Start a garden if you have the time/space! You will know exactly what has gone into the foods your grow

6. Buy local! It is a lot easier to find non-GMO foods at your local farmer’s market than at the local supermarket 

Check out more great information at the Non GMO Proejct’s website! 

What do you do to try and stay GMO free? Do you and your family make an effort to eat organic?

By Courtney Perry