The Benefits of Organic Laundry Detergent

Print Friendly or Save Article as PDF

The Benefits of Organic Laundry Detergent

By  Dr. Edward F. Group

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

To live a truly green and healthy life, simply changing what you eat and  how often you exercise  can make a huge impact; but, why stop there? Your home is your haven, and it is meant to keep you and your family safe and comfortable. Unfortunately, there are certain products common to many homes that might be damaging your health, and a main offender may be in your laundry room. Many commercial varieties of laundry detergent contain  pollutants, chemicals, and artificial preservatives, all toxic to human health.

The Dirty Truth Behind Clean Clothes

When selecting a laundry detergent, it’s common to breeze past the unpronounceable ingredient list that is printed on the back of the product. Heck, sometimes what’s on sale is the biggest factor in which detergent gets purchased. If you do look at the ingredient label on most commercial laundry detergents, you’ll probably notice that surfactants are listed. This ingredient is a wetting agent that helps water penetrate fabrics. The term “surfactants” isn’t simply one ingredient but a reference to a number of different  chemical ingredients.[1]  Surfactants can release benzene, a toxin linked to cancer and reproductive disorders. [2] [3]

[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”110028″]

The puzzling thing is that many of the chemicals that are used in brand name detergents aren’t really geared toward keeping our clothes clean. In fact, most detergents are simply aesthetic enhancers, only improving the smell and appearance of clothing. Don’t think the rinse cycle will protect you either — the ingredients in these detergents are known to agitate our health and can contribute to  allergies. [4]

What You Can Do

The answer is simple: use organic laundry detergent.

Organic laundry detergent does not contain  chlorine, phosphates, and other artificial additives that are dangerous to human health. They are also free of synthetic dyes and perfumes, both of which can cause allergic reactions in some people and skin outbreaks in others.

Chemicals found in conventional laundry detergent emit fumes that are constantly inhaled throughout the day. Breathing in chemical fumes, even at minute concentrations, may have damaging consequences on  endocrinological  and neurological health.[5]  When you use organic laundry soap, you and your family are avoiding those dangers.

Phosphate, a common chemical added to laundry detergent, has significantly damaged the  environment  over the past 40 years. The use of phosphates in detergents has been increasingly scrutinized, mostly due to their poisonous effects on fish and the environment.[7]  Choosing organic detergent can help reduce the chemicals that invade our natural landscape.[8]

In direct response to consumer demand, many manufacturers are attempting to  go green  with their products in an effort to protect the environment and satisfy their customers. Also, many laundry detergents are now being sold in smaller, concentrated forms, which some may say can reduce waste. However, the best alternative for environmental and physical health is to purchase organic detergents, such as  Branch Basics, that are made with natural, certified ingredients. They are more gentle on fabrics, healthier for our bodies, and safer for every living thing.

Do you have a favorite organic laundry detergent? Please leave a comment and share it with us!

– Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

Article References

  1. Milton J. Rosen, Joy T. Kunjappu.  Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena. Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  2. James Huff, PhD.  Benzene-induced Cancers: Abridged History and Occupational Health Impact.International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. 2007 April-June; 13(2): 213-221.
  3. Xing C, F Marchetti, G Li, RH Weldon, E Kurtovich, S Young, TE Schmid, L Zhang, S Rappaport S Waidyanatha, AJ Wyrobek and B Eskenazi.  Benzene exposure near the U.S. permissible limit is associated with sper aneuploidy.  Environmental Health Perspectives doi: 10.1289/ehp.0901531.
  4. Belsito DV, Fransway AF, Fowler JF Jr, Sherertz EF, Maibach HI, Mark JG Jr, Mathias CG, Rietschel RL, Storrs FJ, Nethercott JR.  Allergic contact dermatitis to detergents: a multicenter study to assess prevalence.  Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2002 February;46(2):200-6.
  5. Yin Li, Colin J. Luh, Katherine A. Burns, Yukitomo Arao, Zhongliang Jiang, Christina T. Teng, Raymond R. Tice, and Kenneth S. Korach.  Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs): In Vitro Mechanism of Estrogenic Activation and Differential Effects on ER Target Genes.  Environmental Health Perspective. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1205941.
  6. Phosphorus.  United States Environmental Protection Agency.
  7. Jonathan Köhler.  Detergen Phosphates: an EU Policy Assessment.  Journal of Business Chemistry. Vol. 3, Issue 2. May 2006.

Previous articles by Dr. Group:

About the author:

dr edward group iii 240x300 B 12: The Miracle VitaminDr. Edward F. Group III (DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM) founded  Global Healing Center  in 1998 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer. Heading up the research and development team, Dr. Group assumes a hands-on approach in producing new and advanced degenerative disease products and information.

Dr. Group has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the internet.

For more information, please visit  Global Healing Center.

 

[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”110027″]

 

You may also like