Why should you buy toothpaste 
“Made in the U.S.A?”

In the news recently, there have been warnings about toothpaste manufactured in China that contains a poisonous ingredient that is usually found in automobile radiator coolant. Rather than focus on the negative aspects of this news, and the poor standards used in manufacturing and exporting maintained in other countries, it may be a really good time to reflect on the standards that the American manufacturer maintains in the production of personal care products that we have, until this time, taken for granted.

A consumer gives little thought when they pick up their toothpaste in the morning as to the safety of the ingredients or packaging that goes into producing that tube. We expect that there will be protections for us as consumers against shoddy manufacturing practices, but usually little is known about the process.

The first step a manufacturer goes through is the state and local licensing of the laboratory or facility where the product is to be made. Facilities are inspected to make sure that the building and areas are clean and adequate for the process that is proposed, and that all systems are sanitary. There are OSHA safety standards with which the facility must comply, which include having safety data sheets on file for every chemical or ingredient used in every product manufactured or used for cleaning on the grounds of the facility.

State and local laws including wages, insurance and safety standards cover employees. Lab workers are required to wear disposable paper head covering at all times, and in the formulating areas, protective clothing such as lab coats are worn.  Workers in other countries often work in unsanitary and abysmal working conditions and are paid a miserable wage.

Then there are the labeling standards set forth by the FDA.  When a new product is being developed to bring onto the market for over the counter sale, the label must be in compliance with FDA regulations. The proposed product label is sent to a lawyer that specializes in FDA regulations. They check to make sure that there are no false health claims on the label, and that each and every ingredient is on a list issued by the FDA as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) this is a list of ingredients that include chemicals, botanical and inert ingredients that have been tested and have been cleared as being safe for consumers to use.  The approved label is sent back to the manufacturing facility. Each product must have an approved label on file in the manufacturing facility where it is manufactured. Aside from the labeling considerations, the FDA also inspects manufacturing facilities. Among the things they would be inspecting would be the water systems. For example, if purified water is used in products, there must be an exact log on file of the tests that were done on the water when the manufacturing process on a particular product were begun, and again, at the end of that product run. There must also be a log of batches or lots of each product and the date of the manufacture. Each product must have a lot number and expiration date stamped or crimped onto the product.  When a product such as toothpaste is finished; it is tested for quality and purity. It must then remain in quarantine for several days, and then retested for bacterial contamination before it is released from the manufacturing laboratory for distribution.

When a comparison is made between the high standards that must be met by the American manufacturer of toothpaste and a product made in a country with little or no oversight on manufacturing, ingredients or the facilities in which they are produced, it makes little sense NOT to buy toothpaste proudly  “Made in the USA.”

Author: Yvonne Takhtalian, CNHP

Handmade Soap Facts

How many people know what soap really is?  Several of the cleansing bars that you buy at the store, for example, are detergents-and not soaps at all. They are called syndet bars, or synthetic detergent bars. They are made from synthesized chemicals and are usually much harsher than soap. Detergents contain petroleum distillates rather than oil. On the other hand, true soap is made from natural oils (such as olive, coconut and palm) and is a gentle cleansing product more appropriate for use on skin than is detergent.

  Soaps, unlike detergents, are made by combining sodium hydroxide or lye, oils and water in a process known as "Saponification". Some people may question the use of lye in handcrafted soap. The fact is that all soap is made with lye. What needs to be made clear is that once the process of saponification is complete, the lye and oil molecules have combined and chemically changed into soap and glycerin. There is no lye present in the finished bars of soap.

  The oils in our soaps are put there for a specific purpose. The coconut oil creates a wonderful lather. The olive oil is used for a high quality, long lasting bar. Canola and Palm oil carry nutrients to the skin, and the safflower oil make a creamy bar.

  Glycerin is a skin soothing emollient that adds to the goodness of handmade soap. In commercial soaps the glycerin is removed for sale to the cosmetic industry to sell separately, sometimes at a higher price than the soap itself! Glycerin is important to skin care because it is a humectant. Humectants draw moisture from the air, which in turn moisturize your skin. A whole 1/5 of a bar of our soap is glycerin.

  Most soaps have artificial ingredients to scent or color. Some handcrafted soap is scented with fragrance oils. These are synthetic chemicals that are mixed together to imitate a particular scent. They have contributed in many cases to chemical sensitivity in some people. They also have no aromatherapy benefits. The scents in our soaps should come only from essential oils, which are steamed or pressed from plants. Essential oils are the fragrance emitting components of plants and are at the heart of aromatherapy. Not only do they smell good; they have many beneficial effects on the body, mind and spirit.

  The coloring in our soap should come from nature as well. The petals of Lavender and Rose can be used. Earth Pigments can also be used, which are simply finely ground rocks. This makes the colors rich and earthy, rather than artificial looking.

  Author: Yvonne Takhtalian, CNHP

Poor Dental Hygiene May Account for Poor Health

  Bright white teeth and fresh breath does not necessarily mean you have a healthy mouth!  General health is directly related to gum health.  Gum disease has been linked to several medical conditions such as stroke, diabetes, heart attack and worsening lung disease. Healthy gums can reduce a person's biological age by up to 6.4 years. Why? Because studies show that the presence of periodontal diseases, most common in people with tooth loss, actually affects longevity. The best of these studies, done at Emory University in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control, indicates that people with gingivitis and periodontal disease have a mortality rate that is 23% to 46% higher than those who don't. Keeping your gums clean and healthy may help reduce the risk of many illnesses, including heart disease.

  Gum Disease

Gum disease or periodontal disease, a chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and surrounding tissue, is the major cause of about 70 percent of adult tooth loss, affecting three out of four persons at some point in their life. Red swollen and bleeding gums characterize gum disease in the initial stages and progresses to infections, chronic inflammation and bone loss in later stages. Eventually bacteria are allowed to flow freely through your gums and into your blood stream that activates and stresses the immune system. 

Heart Attack

Research shows that people with gum disease are 25% more likely to have a heart attack. Bacteria originating from the gums to the veins and arteries cause plaque build up and arterial inflammation that can provoke jeopardous clotting. A 12-year study conducted by Harvard University researchers and 41,000 healthy men free of cardiovascular disease showed that those with periodontal disease had more clot related strokes.

Diabetes

Periodontal disease severely affects the control of blood sugars.  The spread of bacteria through out the body through the blood stream stresses and confuses the body when trying to adjust sugars to the invasion.  Antibiotic treatment has help diabetics control blood sugars while treating the infections caused by gum disease.

Lung Infections

Breathing in oral bacteria caused by gum disease can cause lung infections. Bacteria that grow in the oral cavities can be breathed into the lungs to cause respiratory disease such as pneumonia.  

  Author: Yvonne Takhtalian, CNHP