The Organic Difference

Wild Rose Beauty Balm

2012-08-01T11:29:00.000+01:00

Looking for Wild Rose Beauty Balm? You'll find a blog post here and you can buy here at The Organic Difference shop. At £35.25, it's not cheap but worth every penny but you can also email Sue to ask for a sample to be sent to you by post - remember to include your snail mail address.

Why Organic?

2012-07-18T11:17:00.000+01:00

Click to check out an earlier blog about the link between toxins and breast cancer.

Having read that article again today myself, choosing organic seems like a no-brainer, but even if you decide to go organic, clever marketing can fool us into thinking that a product is organic or natural when it isn't or when the amount of organic ingredients is negligible and accompanied by lots of nasties you wouldn't want to give house room to if you knew what they were! The only way to be sure is to use a product with worldwide recognised Certification, such as that provided by the Soil Association.

Guess what?! Neal's Yard Remedies Organic products are certified by the Soil Association!! And we are the FIRST to be certified organic for our cosmetics, not just our skin care creams, gels, balms and lotions.

Not all ingredients can be certified (ie if they occur naturally) so no product can be certified 100% organic but at NYR, ALL ingredients are either organic OR totally natural. There are NO parabens, no SLS, no petrochemicals and no synthetic fragrances in any of our products - and they are not tested on animals either.

So...here are the main five key reasons why you might like to turn to organic products!

1.Good for the earth

We can depend on traditional methods of crop rotations to ensure fertility as well as weed and pest control. But there's more than a will to believe in the past : organic systems rely on a modern, scientific understanding of ecology and soil science.

2.Good for the environment

Organic systems aim to reduce dependence on non-renewable resources. Organic production aims at all times towards sustainability whilst having best management of the environment and wildlife as a priority.

3.Good for people

Organic based ingredients have been shown in a number of studies to contain more vitamins, nutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants than non-organic ingredients.

4.No synthetic chemicals

Organic systems prohibit the use of artificial chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers.

5.No GMO's

Certified Organic products have to be produced without GMOs.

For more information on this certification and the reasons why Organic is best, see the Soil Association website and help promote Organic Fortnight.

Buy or sell! Can you resist!?!

2010-12-13T21:47:00.006+00:00

Two Essential reasons to join the NYROrganic team and prepare for a fun, exciting and rewarding 2011! (Click on the image below for details)

Great new joining offer! For just £95 you get your business kit and a starter kit of perfect products to dab, sniff and test - or sell! AND now TWO travel packs of essential products for FREE! One from the rehydrating rose range and one from the youthful skin powerberry range. WORTH £40.

I have the rose travel pack and I love it. Perfect for taking with you if you are visiting family this Christmas, it includes the rehydrating rose facial wash, moisturiser, and facial polish. And there is also room for the rose hydrating eye cream and toner which comes in your kit. Add a gift to yourself of the Exquisite Wild Rose Skincare Collection and you'll be well on your way to your first quick start purchase which means MORE free gifts - the hugely popular Melissa nourishing nail balm and hand cream, just the right size to keep in your handbag. It was the Melissa hand care which started me on my Neals Yard adventure!!

Or just purchase the essentials as gifts for yourself or for family or friends. Organic, non-toxic and does what it says on the (pure cotton!) tin!! Click here to find my NYR shop www.theorganicdifference.co.uk Spend £50 or more and get the Exotic gift set FREE!!

NB email your order to me direct to qualify for that offer - nyr sue @ gmail. com (without the spaces)

So many reasons to shop or join NYR Organic!!

See you there! :-)

Lovely brochure, lovely product, lovely me and you. :-)

2010-11-02T12:21:00.003+00:00

Such a lovely smiley face on the new NYR Organic brochures, showing off the new 'Touch of Colour' cosmetics. She's been the face of our brochures three times now and every time I see her she makes me smile. Christmas gifts inside make me smile, too.

I've been experimenting with the incredibly expensive Wild Rose Beauty Elixir. I don't know if I look any different but for some reason it's making me glow inside!!! Fancy an NYR Organic Experience? It's positively Orgasmic. ;-) (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

How White Tea keeps you Healthy and Looking Young

2010-10-13T16:34:00.002+01:00

I've been drinking White Tea with Pomegranate for some time and, of course, using Neals Yard White Tea Facial Mist to refresh and rehydrate (perfect if you work in an office environment or when travelling - air conditioning is so dehydrating).

White tea is also found in NYR Organics new 'Touch of Colour' cosmetics, including the lovely lip gloss, and in the White Tea facial spritz, the new eye make up remover, and the White Tea toning eye gel for reducing dark circles and puffiness (especially useful after you've had a good cry and don't want anyone else to know!)

Now here's some scientific evidence about how it works and what it does.

from ScienceDaily (2009-08-14)

Next time you're making a cup of tea, new research shows it might be wise to opt for a white tea if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles. Researchers tested the health properties of 21 plant and herb extracts. They discovered all of the plants tested had some potential benefits, but were intrigued to find white tea considerably outperformed all of them.

Professor Declan Naughton, from the School of Life Sciences at Kingston University in South West London, said the research showed white tea had anti-ageing potential and high levels of anti-oxidants which could prevent cancer and heart disease.

“We’ve carried out tests to identify plant extracts that protected the structural proteins of the skin, specifically elastin and collagen,” he explained. “Elastin supports the body’s natural elasticity which helps lungs, arteries, ligaments and skin to function. It also helps body tissue to repair when you suffer wounds and stops skin from sagging.”

Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues in the body and is important for skin, strength and elasticity, he added.

Results showed white tea prevented the activities of the enzymes which breakdown elastin and collagen which can lead to wrinkles that accompany ageing. These enzymes, along with oxidants, are associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Naughton said:

“These enzymes and oxidants are key components of normal body processes. However, in inflammatory conditions, suppressing the activities of these excess components has been the subject of decades of research. We were surprised to find such high activity for the white tea extracts in all five tests that were conducted.”

The researchers were blown away by exactly how well the white tea had performed.

“We were testing very small amounts far less than you would find in a drink,”

Professor Naughton, one of the country’s leading specialists on inflammation, said.

“The early indicators are that white tea reduces the risk of inflammation which is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers as well as wrinkles.”

Eight of the other plants and herbs analysed also helped protect against the breakdown of both elastin and collagen. After white tea, bladderwrack performed well followed by extracts of cleavers, rose, green tea, angelica, anise and pomegranate.

Dr Pauline Hili, Technical Director for Neal’s Yard Remedies, said:

“We are really excited by this research as it helps us to remain innovative and at the cutting edge of natural skin care. Celebrating the plants used in the Neal’s Yard Remedies products and understanding their specific actions on the skin is what it is all about. The Kingston University research program helps us to create safe, highly effective and cutting-edge products so it’s an ideal partnership for us.”

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Click one of the links at the side to discover more about Neals Yard Remedies and their innovative skincare which you can purchase through your NYR Organic Consultant.
Great Antioxidant Products from Neal's Yard Remedies Organic

Organic beauty products and direct selling - a marriage made in heaven?

2010-10-02T22:32:00.008+01:00

Workingmums.co.uk has been looking at the numbers!!

The direct selling industry is defying the recession. According to the Direct Selling Association (DSA), the number of people working in direct selling - a livelihood dominated by women - has risen by 22% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2010. And the prognosis for the future is healthy too. Richard Berry, director of the Direct Selling Associatin (DSA), told Workingmums.co.uk. that the direct selling industry could go up this year alone by 5-10%. ''The whole industry has the potential to expand by 100pc or more,'' he says.

So why has direct selling escaped the consequences of the economic downturn?

The answer lies in the type of products sold - cosmetics, clothes and jewellery. Recent research by Mintel shows that spending on clothes and beauty treatments is holding up well despite the economic slowdown. Mintel research also shows that three in ten women use only natural and organic products where possible and that nearly 40% of consumers claim they haven’t changed organic product purchasing habits because of the recession; a mere 3% have stopped buying organic products altogether.

''There is no fall off in consumer demand,'' says Berry. ''Cosmetics...do not suffer in a recession. They are largely impervious to economic conditions. We have seen the industry perform well in most economic dips we have traded through in the DSA's 45-year history.''

What's the attraction of direct selling?

* Flexibility (you decide the hours you work)
* Work/life balance
* An easy way to start a small business.
* Fits in with family commitments
* Top up family income
* Short-term objectives like Christmas or holidays
* Dip in, dip out
* Temporary income while looking for a job

'It's not the career choice [of graduates] but it does give them an introduction to the world of commerce and shows potential employers they're prepared to work hard,' says Berry.

Skills needed

''You don't need to be a super salesman or a roaring extrovert to start direct selling,'' said Berry. ''But you do have to be prepared to talk to people face-to-face and you have to like meeting new people. You need to be well-organised, but probably no more so than any competent mum.''

The best way to sell anything is to give it your own personal recommendation. If you liked a product yourself enough to buy it, you can give it your own personal stamp of approval by selling it. ''That personal recommendation is gold dust,'' says Berry. ''You don't get that in a retail shop. Most customers really do like a personal recommendation.''

How to get started in the beauty business

Visit theorganicdifference.co.uk and join Neal's Yard Remedies Organic with Sue. "I've been in direct selling for 15 years and I love sharing my knowledge of how to make the business work. Come on in! The water's lovely."

Lipgloss and lipstick

2010-09-14T13:55:00.002+01:00

Neals Yard have come out with some lovely lipgloss which is actually good for you! It contains Beauty Oil - that special range of Omega oils which aren't so easy to get from our diet.

On the other hand, did you know that lipstick contains lead and we 'eat' a significant amout of it during our lifetime! Well, if you're a lippy lover, which many women are.

The Safe Cosmetics Campaign tested 33 brand-name lipsticks, like Cover Girl, L'Oreal, and Christian Dior, and reported that "61 percent had detectable lead levels of 0.03 to 0.65 parts per million (ppm)." One-third of the lipsticks tested had levels higher than 0.1 ppm safety limit for lead in sweets.

The problem is that the chemicals in lipstick not only get absorbed through your skin but also when you're eating and drinking. I've read that a study conducted back in 2004 found that 28% of lipsticks contained cancer-causing chemicals and that modern lipsticks are formulated from upwards of 10,000 chemicals, 89% of which have never been tested for human safety.

Not so Neals Yard lipgloss which industry insider, BritishBeautyBlogger, describes as "an absolute joy. At a minimum of 87% organic, the shades range from a natural Nude to more pink and red tones. They're good little glosses too, with just the right amount of shine and 'stick', and the shades are all nicely sheer in a very wearable way. Possibly the best thing about them is the sweet orange peel ingredient that gives them a very orangey taste and scent - so much more preferable than the usual mint or cheap vanilla."

You can click one of the links at the side to find out more - Just £9 each and four shades to choose from - choose all four for different times of day and occasions.

Organic Fortnight is GO

2010-09-06T10:16:00.000+01:00

From 3 to 17 September the Soil Association brings you Organic Fortnight, the UK’s biggest celebration of all things organic.

Switch just one small part of your life to organic during the fortnight and make a real difference simply through the way you shop. Choosing organic every day means better for you and our soil, happy animals, flourishing wildlife and a healthier planet.

There are lots of enjoyable things you can do to get involved -

* visit an organic farm

* treat yourself to an organic holiday

* look out for organic clothes on your highstreet

* change your bedlinen to organic (I buy my pillow slips, sheets and duvet covers from John Lewis)

* switch one of your beauty products to organic : http://uk.nyrOrganic.com/shop/sue

* visit the Organic Food Fesitval in Bristol on 11th and 12th September

* cook up an organic feast on a budget for your friends with help from the Soil Association's top tips.

www.soilassociation.org/organicfortnight.aspx

Beauty is soil deep

2010-09-06T00:16:00.002+01:00

The Soil Association isn't just about veg! It also has health and beauty standards.

This is what it has to say about beauty products.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body and what you put on it can be absorbed in tiny amounts. The impact from the daily cocktail of substances that we put on the skin is only just beginning to be understood. What's more, additives in toiletries can end up in the water systems and remain in the environment for some time, and are linked to a number of health issues.

The good news is a growing number of beauty companies are now making organic beauty products so there is no need to compromise on performance in your daily beauty regime. Unfortunately,unlike organic food, there are no legal standards for organic beauty products. As a result, some companies choose to label a product as 'organic' even if it only contains 1% organic ingredients or if it contains potentially hazardous substances.

This is why we developed the Soil Association health and beauty standards, so you can look for the Soil Association symbol for your guarantee that the product has been checked and meets the strictest standards for organic purity and integrity.

The Soil Association's standards for organic beauty products are based on their food standards. This means if an ingredient is available organically, it must be used. The remaining ingredients must meet strict criteria to ensure that they are not damaging to our health or the environment.

There can be a large difference between a beauty product that is certified organic and one that is merely described as 'organic' on the label.

To ensure a product is guaranteed organic, look for a certification body logo, such as the Soil Association symbol. You'll find this on Neals Yard beauty products. Check it out! http://www.theorganicdifference.co.uk/

One pot does it all? NYR Organic Wild Rose Beauty Balm

2010-09-05T21:54:00.001+01:00

Why all this raving about 'one-pot-does-all' luxurious Wild Rose Beauty Balm?

With some cynicism, I took it away with me on an overnight jaunt as my sole pot of body and skin care : cleanser, polish, moisturiser, mask - and also (as it turned out) effective spot treatment, paper cut soother, hair conditioner, soothing after-sun (got burnt while driving!) and, after an accident on the gravel, antiseptic and wound-cleansing gel.

I used just a smigeon as a 'leave-in' overnight hair treatment with great misgivings - surely this was just going to create mess. Not so! Although I did wrap the pillow in a towel just in case! That one treatment made my hair look lovely even after two subsequent shampoos!!! It gave my hair bounce, body, shape - even without using a hairdryer - and...well, it was touchably soft. ;-)

It actually does do it all. One pot is all you need for your overnight case. Take two for a fortnight's holiday. And no hassle at the airport.

I've also heard it's brilliant for removing biro from small children (and teenagers) who like to write on themselves!!

Say 'no' to synthetic chemicals - there IS another way!!!

Even better, you can now buy Wild Rose Beauty Balm via The Organic Difference - just click on the link above (or at the side). You'll find great customer service and a free brochure winging its way to you. If you spend over £40, you'll also get a free full-size Rose and Geranium shower gel (email me before you order to make sure you get the free gift). It just keeps on getting better!

You can ask for a brochure anyway - just email 'the organic difference at gmail dot com' (no spaces) and tell me which herb or flower is your favourite and why. :-)

Or get a terrific discount and sign up to become an NYR Organic consultant like me! Christmas is just around the corner and we have a terrific range of gifts to sell to your friends, family and local community. :-)

Now it's the turn of toothpaste!

2010-08-22T23:25:00.000+01:00

Originally posted in Skin Magazine BY Amy Anderson3 July, 2007

The 5 hidden dangers lurking in your toothpaste
Dental hygiene products that you and your children use every day may contain harmful chemicals and toxins that have been linked to a number of serious health risks, especially for young children.

Many name-brand toothpastes and mouthwashes contain potentially harmful ingredients, which are made up of very small molecules that may penetrate through the delicate skin membranes of your mouth. The fastest way to get something into your bloodstream is via the skin tissue under your tongue and chemicals can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the dense network of blood vessels lining the mucous membrane of the mouth and build up in the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and tissues.

A shocking example is that in most brands of toothpaste, there is enough fluoride in a 4 oz tube to kill a small child.
Another ingredient to watch out for is alcohol, which is commonly used in mouthwashes. One ounce of mouthwash can cause seizures and brain damage in toddlers, and 5 ounces can be fatal. Most brands are sold in quantities that can kill a 2-year old child if the entire bottle is drunk.

This is why toothpaste has an FDA required poison warning label warning to keep products out of the reach of children under 6 years of age. You may have to search to find the warning because the companies try to hide it under the ingredients list or on the box, which you throw away and don’t even notice.
Please find information below on the 5 hidden dangers in your toothpaste and information on a new toothpaste and mouthwash which are free from these dangerous chemical ingredients making them better for your overall health as well as being completely safe for infants and children.

Danger 1
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS): A harmful irritant

SLS is added to toothpastes because of its foaming properties. Toothpastes that foam give the impression that the toothpaste is working.

The journal of the American College of Toxicology reports that SLS can penetrate and be retained in the eye, brain, heart, and liver with potentially harmful long-term effects. SLS is believed to be carcinogenic. SLS is used in laboratories to purposely irritate the skin in order to test creams that heal the skin.

Danger 2
Triclosan: A pesticide

Triclosan is a chemical ingredient found in most toothpastes which is used for its antibacterial properties. Triclosan is a chlorophenol, which is a class of chemicals that is suspected of causing cancer in humans. Taken internally, even in small amounts, this family of chemicals can lead to cold sweats, circulatory collapse, convulsions, coma, and death.

Danger 3
Propylene Glycol (also called Propanediol): brake fluid

This colourless liquid is the main ingredient in antifreeze, brake fluid, deicers, and laundry detergent, but is also used in most toothpastes and mouthwashes.

It is implicated in contact dermatitis, kidney damage and liver abnormalities. It can inhibit skin cell growth in human tests, can cause gastro-intestinal disturbances, nausea, headache and vomiting, central nervous system depression and can damage cell membranes causing rashes, dry skin and surface damage (according to the FDA Material Safety Data Sheet).

Danger 4
Sodium Fluoride: rat poison

Many people are probably aware that most toothpaste and many mouth rinses contain fluoride because that's what dentists have recommended for years to prevent cavities.

Surprisingly, fluoride has NEVER been approved by the FDA. Additionally, a 1990 study stated that fluoride has been shown to NOT reduce cavities and scientists are now linking fluoride to dental deformity, arthritis, allergic reactions and about 10,000 unnecessary deaths each year from cancer. (From “Fluoride an equivocal carcinogen. National Cancer Institute)

In children and youth, minimal ingestion of sodium fluoride causes salivation, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and diarrhea. Large doses of the carcinogen may cause paralysis, muscular weakness and convulsions, followed by respiratory and cardiac failure.

Danger 5
FD&C Blue Dye 1 & 2: coal tar

Recent studies indicate that FD & C Blue Dyes 1 & 2 can trigger a wide number of behavioral, learning, and health problems. FD&C colour dyes may also cause potentially severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness, lack of concentration, and cancer.

Nowadays, coal tar dyes are synthetically engineered rather than extracted from actual coal tar, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of being contaminated with carcinogenic residuals from the coal itself. However, the dyes still contain carcinogenic properties. Over several decades of use, some of these synthetic dyes have come under greater scientific and government scrutiny due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic activity. Because of this, they are still referred to in the industry as “coal tar dyes,” according to the FDA.

Organic food has no health benefits - or does it?

2010-07-31T18:52:00.004+01:00

Organic food has no health benefits, says a new study.

So went the headlines a year ago!

But it just goes to show that you should always be wary of headlines - and the first few paragraphs of any report!!

The study commissioned by the Food Standards Agency only looked at levels of nutrition.

It did not consider the pesticide and herbicide residues in food produced by conventional farming methods. Nor the impact of pesticides on our water supplies and the wholesale use of antibiotics on animals.

So a report claiming 'no health benefits' is startlingly misleading.

In fact, the report DID find differences in nutritional levels - they simply chose to present them as 'minimal and therefore inconsequential'. Lies, damn lies and statistics!! Put all the pieces together and it all adds up to quite a different picture.

The Food Standards Agency said that it was neither pro nor anti-organic food and recognised that there were many other reasons why people chose to eat organic — such as concern for the environment and wildlife, higher animal welfare standards and stricter rules on use of antibiotic medicines in animals and pesticides on crops as well as taste.

Organic farming is far more than counting vitamins and minerals. I'm looking forward to the new report, five years in the making, funded by the European Commission and due out this year, which is expected to prove the opposite of last year's headlines!

Books to read (Amazon USA links)

Skincare ingredients to avoid

2010-07-31T12:10:00.014+01:00

Neals Yard Remedies and NYR Organic believe in saying NO to customers being contaminated by chemicals

Health is the most important thing to us. When formulating and making our products, we follow the precautionary principle – which means not using anything we believe could cause you, or the planet harm.

NO ANIMAL TESTING - unnecessary and cruel
NO GMO INGREDIENTS - not enough is known about the long-term implications
NO PARABENS - linked to oestrogen overproduction
NO NANO PARTICLES - not enough is known about their long-term implications
NO SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES - often associated with allergic reactions
NO SYNTHETIC COLOURS - often associated with allergic reactions
NO SILICONES - coat the skin, impeding its natural function
NO MINERAL OILS - derived from petroleum, have a tendency to block the skin
NO PHTHALATES - reported to have toxic impact on human and animal life
NO EDTA - doesn't readily biodegrade
NO PROPYLENE GLYCOL - derived from petroleum
NO CARBOMER - derived from petroleum
NO DEA - associated with known carcinogens

You can buy skincare products from NYR Organic in my online shop.

They contain only wild natural organic and fair-traded ingredients and I trust them.

See you there!! :-)

Books to read (US Amazon links)

Related articles

Reducing toxins - new legislation?

2010-07-24T20:27:00.002+01:00

Astonishingly, the toxics reform bill, H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

So toxics reform is now moving through both houses of Congress (see my earlier posting about Safety in Cosmetics).

The US default position tends to be that ingredients are OK unless proven dangerous. That's not so smart. The US allows whole industries to self-regulate. The UK's position tends to be the reverse (prompted by regulations imposed by the European Parliamen) which means that centuries-old herbal remedies are in danger because they aren't 'scientifically' proven. Neither 'one size fits all' is workable.

Fewer toxins - AND fewer natural remedies?

Life is getting complicated for the alternative practitioner. And customer choice is narrowing.

Reflect, relax, restore

2010-07-23T23:26:00.000+01:00

Unhook daily. Most of us spend so much time on the input-output cycle, we don’t give adequate time to simply absorbing it all says Mark of Mark's Daily Apple fame.

“Think positive” is nice advice, but it’s tough to do if you are at your limit. It’s easier to find an action that naturally lends itself to positive thinking and feeling, rather than trying to control your thoughts. That in and of itself can become stressful. Fuming not recommended.

Find an immersing action that works for you and do it religiously. Prayer, meditation, singing, cooking and other activities that get you out of your head and into the moment are vital to helping you manage the stress of constant stimuli and energy demands.

Reflect on what you are grateful for - and find 'what's perfect in this'...

Find out more about stress, cortisol and the adrenals here http://www.marksdailyapple.com/cortisol/ where flight or fight meets the modern world.

We believe in saying 'No'

2010-07-23T23:11:00.000+01:00

Join the Campaign

Say NO to being contaminated without consent.

Which foods have the most pesticides?

2010-07-22T20:30:00.000+01:00

If you want to make a small but significant change in your shopping habits, keep this neat little guide to the fruit and vegetables retaining the most pesticide residues in your purse. I do! Or download the iPhone App

Mini guide

Instant calm

2010-07-22T20:20:00.004+01:00

Here is a wonderful little relaxing video - brilliant for those of you with smartphones as you can watch it any time you are on the road or in a queue and de-
stress in an instant.

As the website says, you can turn your mobile phone into an oasis of relaxation and tranquility. Gentle flowing water accompanied with the ambience of the forest and Reiki inspired music will calm your mind and invigorate your soul.

Find it at Oxygenate

It's playing for me right now on my desktop. Two Euros well spent.

Let's not be complacent

2010-07-22T19:41:00.002+01:00

The official UK take on pesticides and food at the government's Eat Well website

How toxic are you?

2010-07-22T19:40:00.000+01:00

Check out the Channel 4 microsite on Toxic Chemicals

Start the healing with writing

2010-07-22T18:02:00.004+01:00

Celebrating Diana Raab's new book

Safety in Cosmetics Act 2010 (USA)

2010-07-22T17:34:00.002+01:00

Today's good news!!

But will it pass through Congress?

www.safecosmetics.org

It updates the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act of 1938 – which cedes decisions about ingredient safety to the cosmetics industry.

The link between toxins and breast cancer

2010-07-22T17:22:00.002+01:00

The UK's No More Breast Cancer campaign wants the link between breast cancer and everyday exposure to toxic chemicals taken seriously. The US has its 1930s legislation under review - it's time we did the same.

Breast cancer cases have hit a new record yet fewer than 50% of cases are attributed to acknowledged ‘risk’ factors – age, obesity, late-age pregnancy, late onset menopause.

The Campaign argues that lifelong, low-level exposure to the cocktail of hundreds of toxics and hormone-disruptors in our everyday lives – from pesticide residues in food to chemicals in consumer products and in the workplace – is linked to ever-rising rates of the disease.

As part of this, they want the British government to mark a new approach by ensuring the substitution of all carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting chemicals with safer alternatives, as soon as they are available.

In the environment

100,000 man-made chemicals are polluting our environment.

500 man-made chemicals are thought to disrupt the hormones in our body and mimic the role of oestrogen – this hormone is closely linked with the development of many breast cancers.

In our bodies

At least 300 man-made chemicals have been found in human blood and body tissue. Cancer-causing substances and hormone-disrupting chemicals are included in this ‘toxic burden’.

So...

Lighten the toxic burden on your body - go organic wherever possible, recognise carcinogenic ingredients. Small differences can make a BIG difference.

Business as usual?

2010-07-22T17:10:00.001+01:00

Now this worries me! The Story of Stuff tells us that Estee Lauder continue to use unhelpful chemicals in their products, whilst supporting a Breast Awareness Campaign. A little disingenuous, don't you think??

But does the following quote from their website suggest that they have set out to control world-wide research into the causes of breast cancer? Or is that cynical, nay paranoid?!

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centres worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. In October 2007, $32 million was awarded to 151 scientists across the United States and in Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, the UK and Europe.

Be a savvy shopper leaflet to download

2010-07-22T17:00:00.001+01:00

Click the title of this post for a link direct to the .pdf

Print off and fold the two yellow sections so they act as 'doors' to the inner section.