But concerns related to repeated and prolonged use of multiple products with toxic chemical ingredients is rising. More consumers are becoming aware that what they slather on their body is readily absorbed through the skin into their organs and tissues. This frequently includes carcinogenic ingredients.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety has now identified nearly 900 personal care chemicals that are toxic. Some cause cancer, others disrupt hormone functioning, some act as neurotoxins, while others contribute to organ damage. The Institute notes that Europe has banned some 400 of these dangerous materials, which still appear on U.S. retail shelves.

According to the American Association of Poison Control, accidental ingestion of toxins in personal care products is among the top three causes of their reported incidents among both children and adults. Leaving companies to self-patrol ingredients under loose U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations makes it all the more important for consumers to be informed. Common offenders include talc, formaldehyde, and fragrances. Many cosmetics list talc as their first or second ingredient. This finely powdered moisture absorbing mineral is often used as filler. The American Cancer Society recognizes talc as a carcinogen linked especially to ovarian cancer.

Formaldehyde and Butylated Hydroxtolune (BHT) are common preservatives known to be toxic and still in use in the personal care industry. Disguised under various names, consumers encounter formaldehyde in disinfectants, hair sprays, mascara and even products directly applied to the skin.

The National Cancer Institute classifies this colorless gas as both a carcinogen and irritant. BHT is commonly added to cosmetics and foods to preserve oils. Studies suggest that it can cause cancer, catalyze tumors and alter behavior through neurotoxicity.

Did you know that as many as 3,000 separate ingredients may appear on a product label as a “fragrance?” According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, many of these ingredients are toxic or carcinogenic. In other industries their products are subject to strict regulation when they use these same substances.

Generally speaking, fragrance ingredients constitute a small percentage of a product’s makeup, yet the real concern is related to the constant exposure of the consumer to these toxins because of the sheer number of fragranced products used regularly. Government reports of the synergistic effects of many of these materials can’t be ignored. Clinical observation already shows that certain fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity and irritability.

Therefore, responsibility for making educated purchases falls to the consumer. Unless required by law, most companies aren’t likely to voluntarily fund the necessary research to find safer ingredients.

The good news is that there are pioneering companies, like Shaklee, that see the value of developing and making products that are in harmony with nature. Shaklee has stepped up their investment in good quality beauty products that deliver performance without dangerous or questionable ingredients. Shaklee has an unwavering commitment to products that are always safe, always green and that always work. The Shaklee difference applies to all of our personal care products, too.

Dean’s accomplishments? Here are but a few: Winning the Atacama Crossing, a brutal 6-day race across Chile’s most inhospitable desert; winning the Badwater Ultramarathon, 135 miles through the bowels of Death Valley in July; running a hellish minus-40-degree race through the South Pole (in running shoes); running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days and finishing with the NYC Marathon (which he completed in 3 hours flat); swimming across the San Francisco Bay; climbing Yosemite’s Half Dome; mountain-biking for 24 hours straight; and surfing the monstrous waves off Hawaii’s coast.

Dean’s supplements? Our #1 Nutrition Product, which he counts on before, during, and after his adventures. “[It] helps me perform at my best and recover quickly between hard workouts,” he says. “It’s an incredible wellness enhancer and I find it excellent pre-event, post-event, and for maintenance.”

Dean is also an avid fan of Our Rehydration Drink, which he drinks before and during his races. “I think [it] is a terrific balance of both nutrients and electrolytes. You’re getting a good source of fuel with the carbohydrate blend as well as getting the electrolytes you need in the right balance.”

After every race, Dean counts on Our Protein/Carb Drink to recover. “If I don’t replace the protein that I’ve depleted after strenuous workout, I notice that the recovery is much longer and I don’t feel like I’m doing too well the next morning. So that’s where [it] has helped me tremendously because it contains a unique protein and carbohydrate blend with essential amino acids as well as vitamins and minerals which can enhance recovery, allowing me to train harder and go further.”

As an ultramarathoner, Dean also relies on our Joint Supplement to support joint function and long term joint health. “I’ve been using [it], and I very much believe in the benefits of glucosamine. Scientifically, there are multiple studies that have confirmed the benefits of glucosamine. I think that, from a practical standpoint, I notice a difference.”

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Medicare spends 4 times as much on unhealthy people as it does on healthy ones.  Obese people spend one third more on health services than fit people and three fourths more on medications.  Making lifestyle choices that build health and prevent disease makes sense. Waiting until you get sick to take action is not only painful, it can be very costly.  Investing in your health today, saves paying a lot higher cost later.  

Insurance companies are wising up to the costs savings of wellness.  The Chicago Tribune reported on March 20, 2008:  “The movement by employers and insurance companies to put employee wellness at the forefront of consumer health choices is getting a big boost under a new push by the nation’s fourth-largest health insurance company. Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp., parent of Blue Cross and BlueShield of Illinois, added the word“wellness” to the mission statements of its four health plans.”  The company has embarked on a variety of wellness initiatives, including incorporating wellness programs in basic health benefit packages it sells. “How healthy we are depends probably more on what we do for ourselves than what the health-care system does for us,” said Dr. Richard Gayes, a medical director at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “We are starting to focus on the question of health and not simply health care.” 

“That’s not to say that if you are fit you don’t need a financial plan. “Good health has a high value in dollars,” says Bruce Pyenson, an actuary at health consultants Milliman. “But it’s not enough for you to stop saving.”

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