It is common knowledge that living a healthy lifestyle requires people to eat healthy and monitor what goes in their body, but what about being aware of what goes ON your body? Regarding Multiple Sclerosis, it’s not just about what you do for your diet, but also about what you use when washing up in the morning, afternoon, or night. I would like to talk about three chemicals in particular that I be sure to avoid at all costs.

Sulfates and Sulfites

Sulfates and Sulfites are found in foaming products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. These chemicals are the foaming agent that causes the reaction. It is much cheaper than chemicals used in the past, therefore companies are using them to help their bottom line. These same types of chemicals are the same ones used in many household cleaning products, so would you ever dream of rubbing your body with bleach used around the house? It is crazy to wrap my head around the fact that companies actually think it is ok for their customers to use these types of chemicals on their body, in their hair, and in their mouth.

Mercury

Many of us have been taught all our lives that the liquid mercury in thermometers is highly toxic. The scary part is that mercury is in more things than you might think. Dentists use fillings that contain traces of mercury on patients. They were told mercury wouldn’t have the power to harm any humans. Years of research has made this argument less conclusive. I, personally, had my mercury fillings removed to be replaced by the more modern and advanced composite material fillings. Mercury has shown signs of damaging the blood-brain barrier. Using this as a lead point, mercury is the most common theory into what causes MS.

Aluminum

Similar to the sulfates and sulfites, aluminum is another chemical that is used in products we lather our shin with. Many deodorants commonly contain aluminum. The more this chemical is studied, the more potential harm it may incur. Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and Breast Cancer. Other brain related diseases are also included in this such as Multiple Sclerosis.

It is important to check the labels of the health and beauty products that you use soap to be sure you are buying chemical-free. The potential small extra cost will be worth it in the long wrong by having a much healthier lifestyle without these harmful products getting in your way.

I talk about these and other chemicals that should be avoided in my book, MS Living Symptom Free.