Advice and recommendations on “free from” foods and drinks for those looking to avoid certain ingredients and chemicals.
Nanoparticles are tiny particles which can be found all around us in the natural and man-made world. You can find organic nanoparticles in volcanic ash, ocean spray, fine sand and dust and even in viruses and the synthetic kind in makeup, cosmetics, suncream and other health products, to name just a few. Measuring between 1-100 …
Most of us want out hair to be soft and silky, but the products we use to clean our hair may actually have the reverse effect – drying it out and even damaging the health of our hair and scalp. Sulphates such as SLS and SLES are effective at creating a lather and removing grease, …
Freezer bags are very useful for storing all kinds of food and liquids, but are they safe? There is growing evidence that storing food in plastic can lead to the transfer of harmful chemicals, which negatively effect our hormonal health in particular. The transfer of chemicals is typically greater when plastic is heated, for example …
Aspartame is a low-calorie synthetic powder that is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame can be found in any food type that is sweetened and it is often used as an alternative to sugar. One major dietary source of aspartame is sweet beverages, especially in “diet” or low-calorie alternatives that are advertised as low or …
Having glossy, great-looking hair makes most of us feel fabulous and boosts our confidence, but soft, manageable hair isn’t always easy to achieve. Several factors can determine the condition and appearance of our hair, including our natural hair type, and how we treat our hair. Colouring, chemical treatments and also environmental factors (such as extreme …
Phthalates are everywhere. These xenoestrogenic chemicals are found in practically everything we use on a regular basis. According to some studies they can be detected in the urine of around 95% of the global population. Scary statistics, as I’m sure you’ll agree. Linked to all kinds of health issues including endocrine disorders, birth defects and …
Phthalates are chemicals found in plastics to increase their flexibility and durability. They are used in a range of everyday items including personal-care products and cosmetics, shampoos, clothes, garden toys, and detergents. The use of some plastics containing phthalates to make children’s toys have now been banned because of their harmful effects. These chemicals are …
Did you know that your regular cosmetics could contain certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals called ‘parabens’ which could be irritating your skin, disrupting your hormones, increasing cancer-risk and even harming the health of your unborn children? Unfortunately, these parabens are everywhere. They’re used as preservatives in almost all mainstream cosmetic products like shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, moisturisers, shower …
BPA (bisphenol-A) is a chemical often found in plastics, but lesser known is the fact that it can be found in a range of other objects, including tin cans. Widely used in plastic food packaging, BPA, also known as bisphenol-A, is also used in food and drinks cans as a sealant. Metal cans may corrode …
Parabens are a type of preservative that are often used in cosmetics and makeup to prevent mould and bacteria from growing in them. There are lots of different parabens, but some of the most commonly used are propylparaben, methylparaben and butylparaben. If one or more of the ingredients in your makeup ends in ‘-paraben’, this …
