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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Ask Dr. Desai?

Tips for buying great green personal care products by Dr Desai, www.DrDesaiSoap.com

Are all products labeled “green” or “eco-friendly” or “natural” equal? This is a rhetorical question, of course! In trying to source your favorite natural personal care products, I would recommend that you examine your favorite personal care product using the following criteria:

Sourcing: Is the source of the raw materials and ingredients clear to you? Is it plant based, or synthetic? Even if the source is plant based, are the ingredients undergoing significant processing or substantial chemical modifications? Is the source domestic or foreign? If foreign, are the cultivators of the plant based ingredients being adequately compensated, and is your manufacturer adhering or pledging to Fair Trade Practices.

Environmental impact: Just because the ingredients are plant based, or natural doesn’t mean that there is no environmental impact. For example, do you know if the trees or plants that provide the source ingredients for your personal care product, are being grown or cultivated with renewal agricultural practices? And don’t forget the packaging materials that your favorite comes in as well? Is the packaging made from renewal resources and can it be reused or recycled?

Safety: Is the product that you are using safe to use? Safe enough to be used on young children or adults who may not be in good health? Just because something is natural or naturally sourced, doesn’t mean that it is safe. There are far too many natural products, which contain toxic ingredients including preservatives like parabens, or formaldehyde releasers like DMDM Hydantoin or antibacterial agents like triclosan. Was any of the testing for safety being done on animals? Look for products that are not tested on animals or carry the Leaping Bunny approved logo.

Efficacy: Ultimately you expect the product that you bought to be efficacious for whatever purpose you had in mind and deliver results that you were expecting. Unfortunately, there are several products out there that don’t perform or live up to their marketing hype.

Company values: While this item may be ignored by a few, the values of the manufacturer or what the brand represents is very important. Does the manufacturer of your natural personal care product truly care about the customers, the environment, their products, their ingredients, their packaging or is it all lip-service? Does the company disclose all its ingredients? Is there a performance or satisfaction guarantee that is offered by the manufacturer?  Does the company donate some proceeds of its revenue to your favorite social or environmental causes? While such a charitable contribution is not necessary, it often times is a good indicator of whether the manufacturer of your natural personal care product, care for something greater than the almighty dollar!

Now that you have some of these tips handy, you will be able to make an informed decision when it comes to finding great natural personal care products. In addition, you will be able to be able to influence what products your favorite retailer should carry!

Let Dr Desai answer your questions about natural personal care products.  Please send your questions to [email protected] or call 908-236-6742. For more information, visit DrDesaiSoap.com.

Local Insights Current Edition
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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