THE IMPORTANCE OF GENERATIONAL HEALTH

We all know about generatioanal wealth, but what about generational HEALTH!!  Generational health is the understanding that our well being becomes part of the legacy we pass down, shaped not only by genetics, i.e. heart disease, high blood pressure, etc., but by habits, environments and choices shared within famililes.  We need to focus on breaking cycles of illness and creating lasting wellness through the healthy habits we share.  We need to empower our children and our children's children by being proactive in changing unhealthy past patterns, passing down positive not negative habits- looking at cultural practices that shape health choices.

Generational health needs to be about educating ourselves to break detrimental cycles and habits.  When it comes to food, I know some of us have found ways to make our favorite, comfort foods tasty, but more healthy.  So while we understand food choices for good nutrition, do we know how important it is to use that same eagernes for personal care product choices?

Oftentimes, we fail to educate ourselves on the things we put on our largest organ, our skin.  People choose from what's popular, the growing trend on social media, our favorites over the years. We may still be using what our grandmohers and aunts used on our hair when we were little that seems to still be good when we condition our hair or hot iron it, even now.  But have you ever thought that some of these products and others can actually have damaging results to our health, and our child.  As stated, our skin is our largest organ that protects all of our other organs, including our brain, and because of our bloodstream, the lymphatic system, reproductive system and others are connected to our skin, what we put on our skin can be beneficial as well as damaging.  

Let's look at beneficial ingredients.  Using moisturizers with natural vitamins and healthy ingredients, such as grape seed oil, almond oil, castor oil, African shea butter, mango butter, essential oils, can enhance our skin.  Moisturizing keeps our skin looking youthful by hydrating, blocking irritants, keeping skin soft, strengthening the protective barrier from dirt, pollution and allergens.  It keeps the skin from dryness, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and reducing signs of aging.  Mask, cleansers, serums, sunblocks, toners, etc, are all necessary products that we put on our face, as long as all ingredients are free from harmful elements and toxins.  That's just the face.  What about our hair, our feet and the rest of our body parts?  We use so many products on a daily basis, which is fine, as long as the ingredients are not harmful. They accumulate in our system, over time, even if there is a small amount, like artificial fragrances.  (Dangerous!!)

But harmful ingredients, unfortunately, are in most personal care products. For instance, any products that contain petroleum, petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin or cera microcristallina wax should be avoided.  Cera microcristallina wax can carry impurities possibly linked to liver/lymph problems, including cancer.  Another name for petroleum is crude oil which contains fossil fuel.  Can you imagine putting fossil fuel on your hair and your scalp, right near your brain?  Or your skin, again, being the largest organ whose purpose is to protect all the other organs and your blood stream.  Google and other resources say that petroleum and mineral oil are safe, if refined, but the US FDA allow a less refined version unlike EU that restricts certain petrolatum. There are concerns about petroleum, petrolatum and mineral oil, and the others mentioned.  Something to consider with these ingredients, any vitamins will be chemically added, not natural from nature. And it is highly likely to be contaminated with carcinogens and can clog pores leading to inflammation and could hinder skin's natural renewal.process.  Some dermatologist say these ingredients may be good because they are a barrier from moisture leaving the skin and protect the skin from external irritants, but they trap bacteria and heat, slows the healing processes.

Synthetical chemicals or chemically-enhanced ingredients that are in personal care products can be very harmful to your health, i.e, fragrance oil and parfum.  Here are some quotes that I receive from different sources as I was researching. 

 "Many chemicals in personal care products have been linked to cancer, obesity, fertility problems, asthma and learning and development disorders, among other health concerns."

"Small amounts of chemically-enhanced personal care products have been shown to be absorbed into the bloodstream.  

The book Detoxify by Aly Cohen states, "Our skin, our largest organ, is highly absorbent.  This is not great news if you expose your skin to dozens of chemicals daily. Many products also have added chemicals known as penetration or permeation enhancers which increases skin absorption of the item's ingredients.

In a chapter of her book, The Industry's Ugly Truth, she said "the type of products that are marketed to women of color contain more toxins, according to research. One study found that 65% of all personal care products marketed in areas of women of color contain chemicals of concerns like parabens, formaldehyde, releasers and unidentified fragrances.  Higher rates of cancer, particularly breast cancer, are found in women of color.  Also, these chemicals can be transferred to your baby's breast milk."

I could go on and on.  There is so much more to say and so much more information to share.  Please look up the ingredients in your favorite brand of personal care products and research the ingredients. Look up the ingredients and products on the EWG site.  Educate yourself, so you can educate your family and friends.  Pass this information on. 

 You can reduce harmful products and their ingredients by loving your natural self.  Cutting out skin lighteners, hair straighteners, hair relaxers, plumping your lips, gluing fake eyelashes, coloring your hair, using Botox for wrinkles, using toxic hair extensions, tanning, etc. instead of loving ourselves as God has created us.  By not embracing our natural selves could be killing us.  Do you agree? 

Let's past down generational health to our children by adopting good habits of using more products of natural ingredients than not.  Also, changing our comfort food ingredients to more healthful ones. We can do it!!