Bodycare Q&A

Here are questions regarding Body Care..  Enjoy!

• WHY SHOULD I AVOID ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS?
• I'M ALLERGIC TO SO MUCH, WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND A LOTION OR CREAM THAT WORKS FOR ME?
• HOW IMPORTANT IS ORAL CARE?
• HOW CAN I HAVE BETTER ORAL HEALTH?
• WHAT DOES XYLITOL DO?
• WHY SHOULD I USE INSECT REPELLENT?
• WHEN SHOULD I USE INSECT REPELLENT?
• HOW OFTEN SHOULD REPELLENT BE REAPPLIED?
• SHOULD I WEAR REPELLENT WHILE I AM INDOORS?
• WHICH REPELLENTS WORK BEST?
• WHY DON'T YOU OFFER DEET PRODUCTS?
• ARE NON-DEET PRODUCTS EFFECTIVE?

QUESTIONS REGARDING SOAPS

WHY SHOULD I AVOID ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS?
Statistics show that more than 100,000 people die in the US every year from antibiotic resistant organisms acquired during hospitalization. James Hughes, director of the National Center for Infectious Diseasees says: "We're facing a serious global problem with antimicrobial resistance." Since 1992, manufacturers have released almost 700 new chemical products labeled "antibacteria." People are almost in a panic to eradicate all the germs from their lives. But are they doing it the right way? There is another. Synthetic chemical antibacterials are not the way to do it. The U.S. News & World Report said in a May 1999 article: "Antibacterials may be compounding our resistance to antibiotics". One active ingredient in antibacterial products is triclosan. The EPA does not consider it safe; their Hazards Ranking Report gives it a 100% maximum rating of high risk to humans, animals and the environment - warning that it is significantly more hazardous than most chemicals. Triclosan is in a class of chlorinated chemicals. Scientists report that Agent Orange and triclosan have a similar molecular structure and share several common elements. The EPA considers it as a 'persistent pollutant'; thus it remains in the water and soil. Chlorinated chemicals are accumulating in fatty tissue. Isopropyl Alcohol is a solvent and it is also used as an active ingredient in antibacterial products. It strips oil and moisture from your skin and weakens the skin's natural immune barrier. This makes your skin very dry and irritated. Even worse, the more you wash your hands with sanitizers the older your hands might look. This could lead to warts and brown spots. Synthetic alcohols can intensify the damage done by other harmful ingredients, such as those explained on the website www.lindachae.com. So what is the alternative? Wash your hands for 60 seconds with anyone of the all natural soap products on the market. Grapefruit Seed Extract works well, so a product with this ingredient or used alone can be useful as an alternative. It can strenthen your immune system instead of weakening it, protects your environment instead of polluting it, and gives your children the cleanest, safest possible world to live in.

VERSATILE QUESTIONS ON BODY CARE

I'M ALLERGIC TO SO MUCH, WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND A LOTION OR CREAM THAT WORKS FOR ME?
I'd suggest looking at our skin oils page. You may just need to have something very simple. The skin oils are not mineral oils, so they should be perfect to help you find that perfect balance. We also have some choices under our sun care page!

QUESTIONS REGARDING ORAL CARE

HOW IMPORTANT IS ORAL CARE?
Saliva decreases the amount of tooth decaying acid produced by bacteria.....

Calcium not only contributes to strong bones, it also makes up the enamel of teeth.....

Recent information suggests that the health of your mouth is linked to the health of your body. You may be more likely to develop health problems in your mouth, if you have other health problems such as diabetes. This is why your dentist should know about your general health. Researchers are now determining if mouth bacteria or mouth diseases could lead to problems in other parts of the body such as your heart, or the ability to carry your baby to full-term and for diabetes to control their blood sugar levels.

When a woman's hormones change, for example, during puberty, menstration, pregnancy and menopause, she is more susceptible to gum (gingival) problems. This inflammation of the gums can cause pain, bleeding and swelling. If your gums bleed heavily, you should visit your dentist more often than the twice-a-year recommendation.

Information came from Fall2003 Remedy Magazine..

HOW CAN I HAVE BETTER ORAL HEALTH?
1. Brush your teeth every morning and evening.

2. Floss at least once a day to remove the food and bacteria between teeth that can't be removed by brushing alone.

3. Buy a new toothbrush every two or three months.

4. Get a dental checkup at least every six months..

WHAT DOES XYLITOL DO?
Xylitol is a naturally-occurring 5-carbon sugar alcohol, which is found in many fruits and vegetables, and is even produced by the human body. Studies have found that Xylitol helps to keep teeth healthy. It helps to promote dental health in four ways: (1) Xylitol cannot be fermented by mouth bacteria, which means it prevents the demineralization of tooth enamel. (2) Xylitol neutralizes acid produced by fermentable carbohydrates keeping the pH level in your mouth at a safe level. (3) Xylitol inhibits plaque accumulation and cariogenic bacteria. (4) Xylitol promotes the remineralization of teeth. The dental benefits of Xylitol have been demonstrated in a wide variety of studies worldwide. And dental associations in Canada, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden have all endorsed products with high levels of Xylitol.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF INSECT REPELLANT

WHY SHOULD I USE INSECT REPELLENT?
Insect repellents help people reduce their exposure to mosquito bites that may carry potentially serious viruses such as West Nile virus, and allow them to continue to play and work outdoors.

WHEN SHOULD I USE INSECT REPELLENT?
Apply repellent when you are going to be outdoors and will be at risk for getting bitten by mosquitoes. Many of the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus are especially likely to bite around dusk and dawn. If you are outdoors around these times of the day, it is important to apply repellent. In many parts of the country, there are mosquitoes that also bite during the day, and these mosquitoes have also been found to carry the West Nile virus. The safest decision is to apply repellent whenever you are outdoors.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD REPELLENT BE REAPPLIED?
Follow the directions on the product you are using in order to determine how frequently you need to reapply repellent. Sweating, perspiration or getting wet may mean that you need to re-apply repellent more frequently. If you are not being bitten, it is not necessary to re-apply repellent. Repellents containing a higher concentration of active ingredient provide longer-lasting protection.

SHOULD I WEAR REPELLENT WHILE I AM INDOORS?
Probably not. If mosquitoes are biting you while you are indoors, there are probably better ways to prevent these bites instead of wearing repellent all the time. Check window and door screens for holes that may be allowing mosquitoes inside. If your house or apartment does not have screens, a quick solution may be to staple or tack screening (available from a hardware store) across the windows. In some areas community programs can help older citizens or others who need assistance.

WHICH REPELLENTS WORK BEST?
The most effective repellents contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), which is an ingredient used to repel pests like mosquitoes and ticks. DEET has been tested against a variety of biting insects and has been shown to be very effective. The more DEET a repellent contains the longer time it can protect you from mosquito bites. A higher percentage of DEET in a repellent does not mean that your protection is better—just that it will last longer. DEET concentrations higher than 50% do not increase the length of protection.

WHY DON'T YOU OFFER DEET PRODUCTS?
We prefer to not carry DEET products for a number of reasons. We realise however, that to offer bug repellents here, we must give you information on DEET above, because the Center for Disease Control has offered this valueable information to us to help educate our customers.

ARE NON-DEET PRODUCTS EFFECTIVE?
Some non-DEET repellent products which are intended to be applied directly to skin also provide some protection from mosquito bites. However, studies have suggested that other products do not offer the same level of protection, or that protection does not last as long as products containing DEET. People should choose a repellent that they will be likely to use consistently and that will provide sufficient protection for the amount of time that they will be spending outdoors. Natural Solutions-Holistic Beauty & Health are specializing in specific products for specific needs. The companies producing these products have a good reputation for quality, result driven products, made without DEET & other petro by-products.