Harmful Chemical In Sunscreens, Shampoos, Soaps, and Hairsprays

While I am a strong proponent of not becoming obsessed with living a 100 percent, toxin-free life, at least to a point where the obsession itself contributes to significant emotional stress, I am starting to believe that regardless of financial cost, it is necessary to avoid personal care products that contain chemicals that we know are extremely harmful to health.

One such chemical is called Diethanolamine (DEA), which is used as a thickening or wetting agent in many different brands of sunscreen, shampoo, soap, and hairspray.

A new study out of the University of North Carolina indicates that DEA can interfere with optimal nervous system development.

DEA appears to block one's ability to absorb a nutrient called choline, which is essential to every system in the body, but particularly to the nervous system.

Choline is an integral component of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. To put it simply, without adequate amounts of acetylcholine, the nervous system cannot function properly.

It may be particularly important for pregnant women to avoid personal care products that contain DEA, as the growing nervous systems of fetuses require large amounts of choline for proper development.

To view a list of other common household toxins, please feel free to view the following articles:

Most Common Household Toxins

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