You’re healthy, or at least you believe you are. You exercise daily. You are mindful about every morsel of food that enters your mouth. You don’t smoke. You don’t drink. So, why are you breaking out in rashes, experiencing breathing problems, frequent headaches, or insomnia? You’ve been to your doctor who can’t seem to find any reason for your symptoms. There’s one place you may both have overlooked – those fabulous clothes on your body.
There are many toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis that can be harmful to our bodies, but rarely does the average person think about the fact that their clothes are riddled with toxic chemicals that can lead to a myriad of issues, even cancer.
I typically try to wear organic, natural-fibered clothing, which is not always the least expensive option. However, another way to look at this is that you can’t afford not to wear clothing made of natural fibers, and hopefully organic because your very life may depend on your clothing decisions.
Clothing made of synthetic materials has, unfortunately, taken over the fashion and textile industries These materials include nylon, polyester, acetate, acrylic, spandex and come in many forms, from microfibers to fleece. Before synthetic clothing entered the marketplace, our clothing choices were a lot healthier.
We wore natural options like cotton, flax, wool and silk. However, with our busy schedules, it has become increasingly common to look for timesavers and increased efficiencies in our daily tasks. Therefore, synthetic fabrics were created to give us wash-and-wear fabrics, wrinkle-free items, along with thermal and odor-free clothing. Today, in fashion’s $7 trillion-a-year industry, over 8,000 chemicals are used in clothing production.
Your skin is the largest organ that you have. It assists your body in removing up to one pound of toxins each day. As you know, your skin contains many pores where toxins can either enter or escape the body. When we wear synthetic clothing on our bodies, our skin absorbs toxins from these fabrics, which go straight into the bloodstream. Once these toxins have entered your blood, they make their way into the liver, which is responsible for eliminating toxins from your body. The problem that arises is that your liver can become overwhelmed with the abundance of toxins entering your system if those toxins are continually present and not eliminated.
Although there are a large number of chemicals that are used in making our clothing, there are a few major offenders that you want to be aware of on your next shopping spree.
Formaldehyde is used in clothing to give it that freshly ironed look. It’s also used to prevent mold in clothing, to make your clothing water-proof and sweat-proof, and to prevent static cling. Although some of the formaldehyde is reduced in laundering, a good portion of it continues to remain in your clothing, even with repeated washings. Formaldehyde can induce allergic reactions such as dermatitis, insomnia, a weakened immune system, and even cancer. Formaldehyde is banned in clothing production in many countries except the U.S. and China, a very big offender in using high levels of formaldehyde. For this reason, it would be much safer for you to avoid clothing made in China.
Petrochemical fibers, or petroleum based fabrics, are used in wrinkle free items, and widely used in active sportwear such as spandex. If you have any work-out clothing that claims to be “thermal” or “odor-reducing,” you are wearing a by-product of the petroleum industry. These fibers can cause rashes, headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Also, these fibers make it very difficult for your skin to eliminate toxins as they tend to cling to the skin, therefore, not allowing the skin to properly eliminate. These synthetic fibers are also known to cause muscle fatigue. Consequently, if you’re an athlete, wearing this type of clothing can be the difference in whether you win or lose your competition.
And now to one of my favorite colors to wear–black. Most black dyes are comprised of a chemical called p-phenylenediamine (PPD). This chemical is known to be a contact allergen and can enter your body through your skin, breathing, and ingestion. As black is one of the most difficult colors to obtain, it is usually contaminated with a high number of chemicals. PPD is typically added to black as a color stabilizer. Avoiding black underwear is especially crucial as it is closest to your skin, making it even easier for the toxins to enter your body.
Black isn’t the only big color offender on the list. How do you like your royal blues or blue jeans? Disperse blue dyes are classified as carcinogenic as they are linked to a high level of malignant tumors in lab animals. Like black clothing, this dark color also produces dermatitis symptoms once it comes into contact with the skin.
Are you into the outdoors, or in the military? Permethrin is an insecticide used in outdoor and military clothing to repel biting insects. If you have skin sensitivities, this pesticide can produce rashes, itching and burning at the site of contact, but more insidiously, is neurotoxic.
In a lot of name-brand clothing, silver nanoparticles are used to create anti-wrinkle, anti-odor, and anti-staining clothing. Unfortunately, these tiny silver particles can inhibit normal cell function in the body, damage testicular cells, and result in infertility in women. These particles can also cause metal toxicity in your body, leading to gastrointestinal issues, kidney, and liver damage.
Although a large portion of clothing are either synthetic or comprised of a large number of chemicals, cleaner, organic clothing options are becoming more readily available. Choosing clothes that are made from natural and organic fabrics such as wool, cotton, silk, flax, and hemp are essential to maintaining a healthy elimination system for the body.
When we make our health a priority, it’s important that we take everything into consideration when making choices regarding what goes into our body and what comes in contact with our skin. If you notice that you tend to have any of the symptoms listed above that have been unexplained, you may want to consider avoiding synthetic clothing and dyes altogether to see if there is an improvement, or keep a clothing diary, writing down what you wore for the day and any symptoms you experienced. If you notice a pattern with a particular piece of clothing, perhaps it may be time to replace it. By being more mindful of your clothing choices, you’re one step closer to creating a longer, healthier, and happier life.
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Sources:
https://www.cancerdefeated.com/newsletters/The-Clothes-that-Kill-You-Slowly-but-Surely.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120314100416.htm
https://www.naturalhealthgroup.com.au/heavy-metal-toxicity/silver-toxic-heavy-metal/
