“Paraben and phthalate free” is the newest buzzword. But what does it all mean? Is it really true that these types of substances can diminish your fertility and health? Why is it important? Let’s talk about it!
I first took notice of the “paraben/phthalate free” trend when I noticed that the packaging of my favorite Bath and Body Works hands soap had changed. I thought, “Oh, that’s great! It must be a little more natural now! Just another excuse to keep buying it.”
It took several more years before I really looked into what “paraben/phthalte free” meant. Honestly, I was a little bit nervous to look into the research.
I didn’t want to become the woman who doesn’t use any normal soap. Or lotion. Or cleaning products.
I especially didn’t want to smell crunchy. Have you ever walked into a natural food/herb/supplements store and thought, “Man. I can SMELL the crunchy.” You know what I’m talking about, right? While I think essential oils are great, I didn’t want to smell like a crunchy mom.
But, even I decided (eventually) that I should be informed, even if that meant running the risk of having to give up my favorite scented stuff. And I’m glad I did!
If you feel like I did, keep reading. You don’t have to smell like eucalyptus and frankinsence to be healthy. I don’t, and that’s okay. 🙂
What Are Parabens, & What Does the Research Say About Them?
Let’s start with parabens. Parabens are essentially preservatives that manufacturers add to cosmetics and foods. These substances prevent the products from molding or spoiling. Manufacturers like using parabens because they are cheap, non-allergenic, shelf-stable, and odorless.
According to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), there is no research that proves that parabens are harmful for humans. Once I heard that, I was intrigued. I thought, “If that’s true, then why are so many companies making paraben free products? Either these products are a money racket, or there’s something the FDA isn’t telling us.”
Parabens have been in use since the 1920s. Studies conducted up until the 1990s show that the levels of parabens in consumer products seemed to be safe. In other words, studies didn’t show any negative consequences to using paraben-containing products. Scientists considered parabens “generally safe.” Since the 2000’s, however, newer research has indicated that paraben use may be more harmful that we originally thought. Scientists are saying that parabens seem to accumulate in our bodies over time and even over generations.
And while there are no real-life studies proving an outright correlation between parabens and harm to humans, the studies we do have are concerning. Lab studies show that exposure to high amounts of paraben causes the development of cancer cells in human breast tissue cells. High exposure also suppresses reproduction in rats. The studies also suggest that some people are more vulnerable to paraben harm than other people.
These studies do caution that the researchers are exposing the rats and human skin cells to very high levels of parabens. They also state that becuase the level of exposure is so high, the study results may not be accurate representations of what happens to humans with our current level of paraben exposure.
What We Know About Parabens
So, what the FDA says is technically correct. There are no studies that have asked groups of people to use parabens vs. no-paraben products, and then tracked their health over the span of their lifetime. So no, we don’t have evidence that parabens are dangerous to humans. That study simply hasn’t been done yet.
But we know that parabens build up in our bodies over time. We also know that high levels of parabens are dangerous to human skin tissue cells and to rat fertility. Take that information and do what you will with it.
Phthalates
Okay, we’ve already covered parabens. Let’s talk about phthalates next.
Phthalates are a group of substances used as stabilizers in perfumes and other cosmetics. They’re also widely used in plastic manufacturing. (Even kid’s toys and medical supplies).
Again, the FDA states that phthalates are safe at the levels where they are currently produced. On their website, they say that “levels of exposures to phthalates from cosmetics were low compared to levels that may cause adverse effects in animals.”
However, the research is telling a different story. Men with higher phthalate levels have less healthy sperm, according to research from fertility clinics. Women with higher phthalate levels had less healthy eggs. Researchers also suspect that phthalate exposure is linked to endometriosis, preterm birth, and early puberty.
Other research seems to show that some phthalates are linked to obesity and insulin resistance (which contributes to diabetes), and thyroid problems. Additionally, research indicates that some phthalates can cause hormonal imbalances, especially in hormones related to female sex drive and fertility. Finally, researchers report a possible link between phthalates and breast cancer, as well as childhood asthma.
There are several types of phthalates that have been banned in the U.S. because of their known harmful effects. We don’t really know the long-term effects of the products that are replacing these phthalates, though. Are these replacement phthalates any better than the harmful originals? Time will tell.
Key Takeaways & A Reasonable Approach
Okay, that was A LOT of information! Thanks for sticking with me. It’s about to get less dry as we talk about how we can apply this research to our homes and lifestyles.
How can we provide the healthiest lifestyle possible for our kids, while still living in a modern, developed nation? I think it’s important to remember several key takeaways.
It’s not the government’s job to think for us.
We shouldn’t be expecting the government to do our thinking for us. As our child’s parents, we are responsible to use our judgement to decide what is in their best interests.
The FDA may be willing to expose my child to parabens and phthalates, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t do my research and think through the issue. Maybe I’ll be okay with the substances they approve, but maybe I won’t be. And either way is okay. This is not a right-or-wrong decision.
But we should be willing, as parents, to show up, research, and make an informed decision in our child’s best interests. We shouldn’t be shirking our responsibilities as parents. After all, it’s my child, not the government’s.
Every little change you make, matters.
Research indicates that the amount of phthalate in our bodies responds rapidly to small changes. In other words, small changes really make a big difference.
If you absolutely love getting your nails done, keep doing it! But maybe see if you can switch out your lotion and body wash. Or see if you can start drinking out of a stainless steel water bottle instead of using plastic water bottles. Little changes make a big difference.
Cooking from scratch helps decrease exposure to parabens.
Many processed foods, as well as food packaging, contain parabens for preservation. If you already cook most things from scratch, that’s a significant way to decrease your family’s paraben exposure.
Ultimately, parabens and phthalates are irrelevant in light of eternity.
As Christians, we are to live trusting God’s sovereignty. He is the One Who provides for our needs and gives us air to breathe every day of our lives. He sustains life.
If you’re in a difficult season and you can’t change anything right now without stressing yourself out unnecessarily, that’s okay. Living paraben-and-phthalate-free is not worth your peace of mind.
God didn’t call us to be nano plastic free moms. Or crunchy moms. Or essential oil moms.
He called us into a love relationship with Himself, and we are redeemed because He gave His own life so that we could face God without the shame of sin.
When we stand before Him one day, and He says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” it’s not going to be because we threw away our kid’s plastic toys. Or ditched our favorite Chanel scent for lavender oil.
It’s going to be because of Jesus’ taking the most horrible penalty for us so that we didn’t have to.
And keeping that in mind is what enables us to live and mother courageously in light of eternity.
Until next time,
Lynette