just naturals & co.

Natural Alternatives to Perfumes Understanding the dangers of artificial fragrances

2012-02-17T10:15:00.000-08:00

What is it about smells and scents that so deeply resonates with us? Scents conjure up some of our fondest memories and strongest feelings. We all have our personal favorites and use many products to scent our bodies. The perfume industry began centuries ago, capitalizing on our desire to smell fresh, alluring or mysterious. Perfumes, colognes and fragrances were once made of ingredients that came directly from plants and flowers. In an effort to reduce costs, create unique scents and develop products that have an endless shelf life, the industry began using chemical alternatives. Known as artificial fragrances, these scents can contain hundreds of chemical components intended to replicate one scent in nature.

Did you know that 95% of all artificial or synthetic fragrances are petroleum-based. In excess of 5,000 synthetic chemical ingredients go into making perfumes! Many of these chemicals are not fully tested and have significant adverse affects on our health and well-being. These include, but are not limited to:

Artificial fragrances are the number one allergy and asthma trigger
The Institute of Medicine placed artificial fragrance in the same category as 2^nd hand smoke in triggering asthma in adults and children
Artificial fragrances are neurotoxins that desensitize our sense of smell
Synthetic fragrances can block the body’s ability to eliminate toxins
Synthetic musks, used to slow the evaporation rate of a fragrance, can damage the connections between brain cells and impair toxin elimination.
Artificial fragrances affect the Central Nervous System and are linked to increases in MS, Alzheimer’s, Neurological disorders, ADD, ADHT, Autism, Cancer, Infertility, birth defects and more.
Many of the products that we use end up going down the drain or in land-fills which adversely impacts the environment, aquatic life and wildlife.

Your skin is your largest organ. Sixty percent of what touches it goes directly into your blood stream. Once you understand the dangers of artificial fragrances you’ll most likely want to switch to something that is safe as soon as possible.

There are natural alternatives. Use perfumes and body mists made from pure essential oils, which are plant extracts and all natural. Pure essential oils, while smelling wonderful, also possess many different therapeutic properties. There are scents to energize, uplift, balance or relax you, to name a few. When looking for perfumes, be sure the product contains only pure essentialoils. Avoid anything that lists fragrance oil, natural fragrance or fragrance blend. While products with only pure essential oils may be a bit more expensive, natural perfumes, in the long run, will save your health, the health of those around you, and the environment.

It’s important to note that the danger of artificial fragrances isn’t limited to just perfumes. It’s contained in everything from laundry and cleaning products to bath and body products, even newly purchased clothes.

Just Naturals & Company specializes in pure essential oil blends for the body and home. Come visit us at www.justnaturalproducts.com or call (603) 606-1345. Make a healthy change today!

By Karen Girardo

Owner, Just Naturals & Company

www.justnaturalproducts.com

Aromatherapy Popularity

2011-10-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

Aromatherapy, and all the aromatherapy products that are available, are big sellers with today’s consumers. Aromatherapy is gaining popularity. We all want our homes, offices or any environment we spend time in to have a pleasant scent. And, why not? Beautiful aromas lift our mood and set a tone. But, unfortunately, most aromatherapy products being sold in stores are some of the most toxic items found in our homes. Common aromatherapy products such as candles, air freshener sprays, and diffusers are full of chemicals that are extremely unhealthy for us to inhale. Our well being suffers for it. These may smell pretty, but most of them are pretty dangerous! But no need to worry, there are beautifully scented products available that are safe and all-natural.

Just Naturals’ aromatherapy products are scented with 100% pure essential oils (plant extracts), not harmful artificial fragrances. Some wonderful and healthy aromatherapy products available include: all- natural air fresheners and room deodorizers, all natural aromatherapy diffuser sticks, aromatherapy candles, linen sprays, aromatherapy gift boxes, and aromatherapy healing blends & healing bags. These all-natural, toxin-free aromatherapy products will safely and beautifully scent our homes, cars, offices, or any indoor environment. Set the mood and enjoy the luxury of chemical-free all natural aromatherapy products today!

The Natural Baby

2011-09-16T08:20:00.000-07:00

Our children are precious to us. We do everything we can to protect them. This includes; making sure they eat healthy, making sure that they wear their bike helmets, and play with only safe toys. But, there is one area we may forget to make as sure is safe for baby, and that is baby care products. Just like adults, babies and children benefit health-wise from the use of all natural products for personal care. Baby careproducts that are free of chemicals and other harmful ingredients are one healthy way to help fully protect our precious little ones. As with adults, exposure to harsh chemicals in most personal care items is harmful to our health. This is especially true for babies and children. Their young, immature and developing immune systems has a tough enough job as it is dealing with factors we cannot protect them from like pollution.

Just Naturals has a fantastic line of high-quality and very necessary baby products that are great, even for the most sensitive baby skin. In fact, one of our most raved about products we have, is our Organic Baby Wash. Did you know that most baby washes contain harmful chemical ingredients, including 1,4 Dioxane which is a KNOWN CARCINOGEN!?! Other popular name brand baby products contain synthetic fragrance & dyes as well as TEA’s, DEA’s, MEA’s and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate; a recipe of toxins!!!! We as the consumer and more importantly PARENT are led to believe these are safe for our children. It is a LIE and an outrage! Ours is pure, natural and paraben free. It is also free of synthetic fragrances, but still smells delicious! Just Naturals & Company has a newly formulated Organic Baby Wash that is lightly scented with essential oils of lavender and chamomile; it is gentle and safe for your baby. Also, it is not a “tear free” product, free of the harmful ingredient that deadens the nerves in the eyes so as not to “feel” the toxic chemicals.

Why not do all you can to protect your baby? All natural baby products such as; talc-free baby powder, natural lotion, organic baby wash, natural zinc diaper ointment and even all natural bug spray, to keep away the creepy crawlies, are fortunately available. The use of safe non-toxic baby care products is one important way to help reduce our children’s exposure to harmful harsh chemicals and toxins. Our precious children deserve all we can do as we do for ourselves to limit toxin exposure. The all natural baby is a healthy baby!

Rethink Clean!

2011-04-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

10 Reasons to Green Your Spring Clean

Your husband comes home from work and he smells the glass cleaner and bleach. They bring a stinging sensation to his nose but in his brain it registers that you spent the whole day cleaning. A smile appears on his face but what he doesn't realize is, those cleaning products aren't just a smell. Harmful toxins are entering his body. Read the ten essential reasons why you should consider using natural products to clean your home this spring.

Did You Know...

1. It takes only 26 seconds for your body to absorb harmful chemicals. The smell these standard chemical cleaning products release may register a clean environment in your mind, but it is actually doing damage to your inside environment; your body, both inside and out.

2. Indoor air quality is 5 times more polluted than the air outdoors. When we think of pollution we often think of smoggy cities. It’s odd to think that our own homes contain such a high level of pollution.

3. Standard glass cleaner is an asthma trigger due to the high levels of ammonia. Lemon juice and vinegar are great alternatives.

4. Standard air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by releasing nerve deadening agents. They contain artificial fragrances which are a blend of synthetic chemicals that can trigger a host of health problems such as asthma, autoimmune issues, cancer and neurological issues.

5. Laundry detergents can cause damage/disorders to the immune system and the reproductive system. The detergent binds to your fabric and absorbs into your system through your skin. You wear your clothes all day and sleep in your sheets all night, absorbing your laundry products 24 hours a day. There are many alternatives to conventional detergent.

6. Some cleaning products can cause blindness. One example is bleach. Bleach is one of the primary causes of household poisonings.

7. Mainstream household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals. Natural alternatives are a great way to improve your life. You can use nature based items that most households already contain and make your own nature-based cleaners.

8. It is called “going green” for a reason. Not only are chemicals harmful to humans, they are also harmful to animals and the planet. Every time you pour a chemical down the drain it has the potential to pollute waterways given that some of these chemicals never even make it to the waste water treatment plant.

9. Many cleaning products are petroleum-based which are toxic to our bodies. Petroleum is a natural resource and is good for many purposes, but you don’t want it in the products you use in your home. Minimizing the use of petroleum in households, helps to preserve our natural resources, which is best for our planet and you!

10. Only a few chemicals are registered with the EPA/tested for public safety. The research is often left in the hands of the companies who create the product. It’s highly unlikely that these companies have your children in mind over their own profits.

So get out your lemon juice, vinegar and baking soda this spring!

Making the world a better place starts with you, at home.

Green Your Clean Today!

There are stores that sell only natural cleaning products!

Will you be green cleaning this spring? Tell us how below!