Chemical Exposure in my favorite beauty products?!? Oh no!
Ladies, do you love pampering yourself with fragrances, nail polishes, and shampoos? While it may make you feel good, a recent study has shown that there may be a hidden danger lurking in these beauty products.
According to the study, toxic chemicals in these products may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in women1https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11727681/Chemicals-nail-polish-shampoo-raise-risk-type-2-diabetes-women.html/.
The risk may be increased by up to two-thirds!
So, before you spritz on that perfume or paint your nails, read on to find out more about this concerning finding and what you can do to protect yourself.
What’s In Your Beauty Products
Phthalates are widely utilized in the beauty sector to help odors remain longer and to safeguard nail polish from chipping.
Unfortunately, studies have revealed that chemical exposure from these substances are potentially dangerous for our health.
They can adversely affect the reproductive and respiratory systems and damage the liver and kidneys2https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7504421/.
It can even increase the risk of cancer!
So, it is prudent to limit exposure to these chemicals wherever possible. Limiting these harmful chemicals is your insurance against health damage.
Phthalates can easily seep through the skin and into our bloodstream, leading to various health problems.
One of the major health concerns associated with phthalates is their potential to disrupt the endocrine system. This system handles regulating hormones that control our metabolism and blood sugar levels.
Exposure to phthalates has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This is because phthalates can block insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar levels, from being produced by the body.
Insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, develops when insulin synthesis is hampered.
What Should My Blood sugar Be?
Chemical Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers from the University of Michigan spent six years keeping track of 1,300 middle-aged women as part of a study.
During this time, they kept records of how much of certain chemicals they were exposed to and how likely they were to get type 2 diabetes.
The results showed that people with higher levels of chemical exposure were about 63% more likely to get type 2 diabetes than people with lower levels3https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4327889/.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that some chemical compounds that have been linked to health risks can be found in hair spray, aftershave, and other cosmetics.
If we use these chemicals often or in large amounts, they could damage our health. Consumers are advised to read product labels carefully.
Research any ingredients that might be dangerous, and be careful when using these kinds of products.
The use of toxic chemicals such as phthalates in personal care products may lead to the absorption of these substances into our skin and, ultimately, into our bloodstream.
We need to be aware of what we put on our skin and choose safer alternatives where possible.
Toxic Chemicals Can Cause Diabetes
Certain toxic chemicals have been shown to interfere with the hormones insulin and glucagon. Thus, this has led researchers to speculate that this may play a role in the development of diabetes.
These two hormones control how much sugar is in the blood. If they get out of sync, cells can become resistant to insulin. This can then increase the risk of developing diabetes.
However, the result of the study suggests that black women appear to be less impacted by phthalates than those of other ethnicities.
This discrepancy may be due to the various kinds of cosmetics and beauty products employed by different races.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a class of compounds that can be found in a wide variety of consumer goods. We can find them in plastics, food packaging, and personal care products.
The link between phthalates and type 2 diabetes has been highlighted by a study led by Dr. Sung Kyun Park, a Michigan epidemiologist.
However, limitations of the study include small sample size and the inability to prove causality.
The study, while limited, does highlight the need for more investigation into the effects of phthalates on human health.
Dr. Sung Kyun Park said, “Our research found phthalates may contribute to a higher incidence of diabetes in women, especially White women, over a six-year period. People are exposed to phthalates daily, increasing their risk of several metabolic diseases. It’s important that we address EDCs now as they are harmful to human health.”4https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11727681/Chemicals-nail-polish-shampoo-raise-risk-type-2-diabetes-women.html
They added: ‘Our research is a step in the right direction towards better understanding phthalates’ effect on metabolic diseases, but further investigation is needed.’
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