View Full Version : Avoiding Parabens
Anyone who knows what Parabens are will no doubt have a very good idea of what we're going through currently.
Here's a short description of what Parabens are:
Parabens are a group of compounds widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics products, including underarm deodorants. Parabens are absorbed through intact skin and from the gastrointestinal tract and blood.
The reason I'm posting is that I'm determined to minimise our risk due to Parabens (including the bewildering list of synonyms and trade names). I want to ensure the cosmetics, deodorant, fabric softener, detergents, processed food and pharmaceuticals we buy in future are Paraben free.
Does anyone have lists of products which are Paraben-free?
Does anything starting with "Butyl" count as a Paraben?
I came across this useful shopping site: http://www.mypure.co.uk/paraben-free.php?url=mypure-b107/paraben-free-skin-care-products...-click-more-info-p817
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-481134/The-deodorant-safety-guide-How-picking-right-brand-save-life.html
Lots of Parabens synonyms here:
http://www.nicnas.gov.au/media/latest_news/Archive/Parabens042009_PDF.pdf
It's interesting to see 75 views without a comment. Until a few days ago I knew nothing about Parabens - I'd missed the info on them that's been around since at least 2007. Probably most folks here are similar.
We don't have 100% conclusive evidence but there's a very strong likelihood that some of these artificial chemicals get into our bodies and cause cancer - especially in women, the EU has at least set some limits. Any females in your family should become very aware of Parabens. Males are not immune either though probably lower risk. It's impossible to avoid these chemicals completely but some sensible avoidance isn't too hard, the starting point being deodorant and shower gel - anything you use under your arms.
These preservatives are used in so many products, the manufacturers say they want their products to arrive fresh - actually they just want a long shelf life.
Hi Clive,
I read this but couldn't think of anything constructive to add.
My only advice to people is that if you want to live a happy life, don't read the Daily Mail. :rolleyes:
Every week there are countless research studies published, many of which seem like a teaser to try and gain more funding for further research.
The media sometimes pick up on these and you get sensational headlines like "How picking the right brand could save your life" and then going on to give the real details (if there are any).
I can't see the obsession that many people have with living forever either. Like it or not, we will all die of something in the end.
Not to mention the forthcoming financial disaster with people expected to be spending 30-40 years in retirement and needing long term 24 hr medical care.
Just my opinion.
Martin
Yes when you delve into it there are so many things that can kill you it really is best not to know.
I probably should have explained a little more. For sure the Daily Mail is full of scare stories but this was not my primary source of information. My primary source is the consultant treating my wife. He's one of the consultants credited with the Parabens research; he works at South Manchester University Hospital. Christies and The Spire. He's also chairman of the Genesis Appeal, and leads the project to create Europe's first purpose-built Breast Cancer Prevention Centre.
One of the first things to hit us when going into the specialist breast cancer care centre was the number of 20 to 30 year olds being treated. Also the number of men being treated was surprising. Not many of the people there were elderly.
The current stats should that 1 in 9 women develop breast cancer. All the health professionals we've spoken with say it's more like 1 in 8 now. Around 80% of these cancers are hormone driven. The hormones could be natural and the effect could be due to lifestyle. Or the hormones could well be artificial (Parabens) - the amount of Parabens found in tumours is very alarming. Parabens look like estrogen to the body, hence the hormone link. Something is increasing the incidence of breast cancer, our consultant who is one of the leaders in his field, is very concerned about Parabens.
Count up the number girls and women you know, divide that number by 8. The result will suggest to you how many will get breast cancer. The indicators against Parabens are strong but not yet conclusive. We all have to make up our own minds but once you've been touched by this epidemic it changes your outlook.
Yes. I was aware of them.
Even Lush (the smelly shop in town) products have parabens in their products and hold an ethical stance.
Most people don't consider what they put in their mouth with regards to ready meals or non-organic food(with things being passed up the food chain). Make of this what you will.
When looking at most things there is probably going to be something quite bad attached and shifting through the facts is always going to be difficult. If something is that big an issue you would have thought regulation would step in or have not because the evidence is not conclusive. At the end of the day more people will cancer is going to impact the NHS so it would be in their interest to make a change.
I believe you'd have to divide it by 9. Not meaning to be pedantic. 1 in 9, 2 in 18. 18/9 = 2 etc.
Good call to bring it to peoples attention though.
Article from 2004. Source the Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2004/jan/11/medicineandhealth.cancercare
I'm advised the EU have put some limits on Parabens already but you're right the evidence is not yet conclusive. The FDA haven't moved yet but we know what influence big business has in the US -2nd only to the gun lobby!
As for which number you use....it used to be 1 in 10 until recently, now officially it's 1 in 9, some healthcare professionals are saying they believe it's more like 1 in 8 now. There does seem to be a trend. Hopefully it will reverse but 1 in 7 or 1 in 6 could happen in a few years if we don't isolate the sources.
Good link from 2004, thanks.
I didn't read the 1 in 8 bit so I apologise. Only the 1 in 9 part.
Even Sainbury's own brand of hand wash we have home says Paraben free.
I remember in Maths at school our teacher saying 1 in 3 is the statistic but that was for all cancers. That was a fun lesson...:doh:
As they say 9 out of 10 statistics are made up on the spot. :ner:
No problem Karl, I guess I'm guilty of writing too much so we'd better not start on wider-spectrum cancers...
Edit: finding products with paraben-free specifically stated is the best way as these suckers got by so many other names.
Haselsh1
18-05-2012, 14:29
I worked for 27 years as an industrial chemist in the chemical industry and one thing that always worried me was the following:
If you take sodium or potassium nitrite and add it to hydrochloric acid the mixture will result in the evolution of a greenish gas called nitrosamine. Nitrosamine will cause cancer, period.
So, what do we preserve food with and what is present in everyone's stomach...? I'll leave you to figure out the rest.
I worked for 27 years as an industrial chemist in the chemical industry and one thing that always worried me was the following:
If you take sodium or potassium nitrite and add it to hydrochloric acid the mixture will result in the evolution of a greenish gas called nitrosamine. Nitrosamine will cause cancer, period.
So, what do we preserve food with and what is present in everyone's stomach...? I'll leave you to figure out the rest.
Mmm I knew the Chinese were up to something that's why I always go back for more... :mental:
MSG :eek:
For anyone who wants to avoid potentially cancer-causing Parabens I've found the Sanex Zero% range - shower gel, bath foam and deodorant. It's good to see a major brand doing Paraben-free.
Our local Waitrose and Sainsburys have these and some other deodorants labelled as Paraben-free as well as other nasty sounding chemicals.
Shampoo seems harder but the link below is one option:
http://www.soorganic.com/organic-hair-care/organic-shampoo.html
Tesco was a dead loss when looking for Paraben-free - why doesn't that surprise me!
While I agree that it’s disturbing the crap that gets put into not only personal hygiene products but also the household cleaning stuff, I can’t help wondering why people buy the stuff in the first place.
Deodorant.
Those awfully nice Italian people demonstrated to us English a few centuries ago the wonderful properties of water, something we English, and according to the Italian women I have courted, the French also, had only seen fit for ducking potential witches in, and at a push, drinking.
Why anyone would want to smear some horrible stinky chemicals under their arms in the first place is a bit odd. To attempt to stop the natural process of sweating seems odder still.
What’s wrong with soap and water? If you want to smell like a tart there are plenty of essential oils.
It seems to me that when it comes to washing (clothes and bodies) household cleaning and cooking, if it doesn’t come in a package you can either squeeze, or spay, is laden with chemicals and doesn’t require any effort, we buy shed-loads of the shite.
It seems really simple to me, don’t buy the crap.
I agree John. Never use deoderant an not used shampoo in years, waste of money. I do like a splash of cologne though. I suppose that's killing me slowly too...
I agree John. Never use deoderant an not used shampoo in years, waste of money. I do like a splash of cologne though. I suppose that's killing me slowly too...
Here, here to the smelly gits above me. I am also of the same mindset.
I think most of it is air killers than air fresheners
The Paraben-free stuff tends not to be scented. For many people who are active or can be active, washing a couple of times per day is not really practical. Even when you shower you may want to ensure your soap or or shower gel is Paraben-free. Most of it isn't, if it's scented then likely it is contaminated.
I've known a number of people who tried not using shampoo, most lasted no longer than a year but obviosuly there are some who stay the course. The point about this Paraben stuff is that we're getting very strong signals that it is cancer causing. Living through a cancer nightmare with your partner has a big effect on your outlook. I don't wish such a situation on others hence my going on about it to raise awareness.
I've known a number of people who tried not using shampoo, most lasted no longer than a year but obviosuly there are some who stay the course. The point about this Paraben stuff is that we're getting very strong signals that it is cancer causing. Living through a cancer nightmare with your partner has a big effect on your outlook. I don't wish such a situation on others hence my going of about it to raise awareness.
I understand your point is serious, Clive and I totally agree we should at least be aware of these things. Incidentally re the shampoo thing it gives me contact dermatitis so I had no option - it took quite bit more than a year for my scalp to fully adjust...and you feel a bit like a manky sheep for the first 6 months:lol:. Worth it, though.
- it took quite bit more than a year for my scalp to fully adjust...and you feel a bit like a manky sheep for the first 6 months:lol:. Worth it, though.
I suppose that's how our Retriever feels!:)
walpurgis
19-05-2012, 19:37
I didn't read the 1 in 8 bit so I apologise. Only the 1 in 9 part.
Even Sainbury's own brand of hand wash we have home says Paraben free.
I remember in Maths at school our teacher saying 1 in 3 is the statistic but that was for all cancers. That was a fun lesson...:doh:
As they say 9 out of 10 statistics are made up on the spot. :ner:
Who was it who said "You have lies, damn lies and statistics" ?
The statisics say that for 99.9999% of us life can be terminal.
But its not yet been established as 100%. Geoff.
Haselsh1
20-05-2012, 16:48
Who was it who said "You have lies, damn lies and statistics" ?
The statisics say that for 99.9999% of us life can be terminal.
But its not yet been established as 100%. Geoff.
For 100% of us life will be terminal. Of that I have absolutely no doubt.
sq225917
20-05-2012, 19:44
Jesus, I've just the very weekend had most of my teeth removed to ensure I don't die of mercury poisoning and now I've got to stop washing as well.
Where will it all end.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01507/SNN1427BAL-532_1507876a.jpg
walpurgis
20-05-2012, 22:17
I think I may join you with the not washing thing. I reckon that after a few weeks people will stop coming too close because of the smell. Therefore you are much less likely to catch nasty life threatening infections from them.
For those of you wanting to use Parabens as an excuse not to wash I have a couple of points for you! :ner:
1) before deodorants and varied washing products were available people used scented herbs to cover up their smell but I'm sure there were some who couldn't be bothered....
2) our 19 year old daughter didn't like the idea of the scented paraben-loaded products being removed. I'm pleased to say that she's now use the Sanex Zero% shower gel and bath foam as well as the organic deodorant and is very pleased with them. The Waitrose paraben-free hand wash is also perfectly good. These products are easily available.
[QUOTE=Clive;327930]1) before deodorants and varied washing products were available people used scented herbs to cover up their smell.[QUOTE]
Like Ganja, for instance?
Like Ganja, for instance?
Personally I find it smells as bad a sweat! I'm not commenting on its effects...
prestonchipfryer
26-05-2012, 11:16
Found this at ASDA. Do you think it's okay to use as it says on the packaging that is is paraben-free, etc.
http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/prestonchipfryer/smelly.jpg
Looks fine! If Nivea claim it's Paraben-free then I expect it is. Good find.
hifinutt
02-06-2012, 18:22
interesting thread , we use hundreds of bottles of emolient with folks and i guess some have parabens like this used everyday
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/18785
hydromol
e45 also has it which is the worlds fav emolient
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