Products ON the body are as important as those going IN

Some of us are very health conscious, and only want to put the best things into our bodies, avoiding things like processed foods and going organic when possible.

We sacrifice eating wonder bread and have whole wheat instead, no more mystery meats like hot dogs and hamburgers, no more candy (except an occasional healthy piece of chocolate), and getting rid of all the other yummy junk food, and opting for healthier food choices.

Since this is the beginning of January, promises to start dieting and exercising and being a nicer person seem to be some of the top issues people are looking to change this year.

A lot of us are forgetting that what we put on the body may be going in as well. Products such as cosmetics and jewelry come in contact with skin for most of our waking hours. The skin is the largest organ of the body, it will absorb harmful substances over time.

Know about what you are wearing, don't sacrifice your life or your morals to look good. Many of us avoid cosmetics that are tested on animals, but what else are they putting in those powders and creams? Take a look, then check your products to make sure you aren't putting these things on your skin.

Some of the horrific ingredients in body care products include:

• human and cow placenta hormone extracts
• mercury
  
• lead
• neurotoxins
• animal parts and by-products
  
• chemicals that create permanent lesions on the skin
• chemicals that affect sperm
• cancer-causing petroleum by-products

Cosmetics should also be changed regularly, (about every 3 months), to avoid exposing yourself to dangerous bacteria.

Jewelry has the same potential for damage to your body. The costs of bargains are paid for by someone, whether it's a laborer being underpaid, or poisons being added to make the materials cost less.

Some gemstones are also irradiated (bombarded with subatomic and radioactive particles) to enhance color, and there have been some cases of stones being sold which contained unsafe levels of radiation.

• Buy quality pieces to limit your exposure to harmful chemicals
  
• Be wary of mystery jewelry with unknown content
  
• Avoid putting jewelry in your mouth
• Avoid jewelry when there is excess moisture on your skin

Now is the time to get focused on those resolutions, so be nice in everything that you support, and be healthy in all you expose your body to!