Because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, you will soon be seeing many companies, to include cosmetic companies encouraging you to purchase their products with proceeds from their sales going to those organizations that fight breast cancer.

As if it is not bad enough that cosmetics companies are using ingredients linked to certain diseases like cancer, they also have the audacity to play on the compassion and concern we all feel for those battling cancer by promising contributions from the sale of their potentially harmful products to cancer organizations! Hmmm. Think about that for a moment, they promise to give money to help fight the cancer that may develop as a result of exposure to ingredients in their products. How thoughtful?

Fortunately, people are taking notice of this and are educating the unsuspecting public about the “altruistic” marketing strategies employed by the cosmetic companies and about the health organizations that would partner with such groups. Food for thought next time you look to support specific causes with your purchase or donation.

http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/

It is hard to keep up with all the ways in which unwelcome substances make their way into our body even when we are super vigilant.

Several years ago, I gave up eating any meat that was not grass fed and organic once I learned more about the farming methods employed by many of the top producers in our country. These methods lead to the mistreatment of animals and result in meats that not only lack the nutritional content of their grass fed counterparts but may even contain inorganic products not fit for animal or human consumption, which we in turn ingest. It is clear to me that aside from less nutritious food, we are taking serious risks that could threaten public health leading to exposure to BSE or Mad Cow disease or chronic illnesses that may result in an over exposure to antibiotics and hormones in beef. This is quite enough reason for me to avoid most meat.

But while I gave up eating inorganic beef for that reason, I had no idea that I was still slathering on lotions, soaps and foundation that could be carry BSE as I later discovered so many of our cosmetics and skin care products use cow parts in their ingredients.

If you understand the importance of organic foods, please give as much careful consideration to your cosmetics and daily skin care routine as it may have an equally pronounced effect on your health. Learn how to make your own skin care products or purchase those that are plant based & certified organic.

Also if you are interested in locating a safe supplier of meats or poultry for your family, investigate this website further for locations near you.

http://www.eatwild.com/articles/cheapmeat.html

To be fair, here is what the USDA is doing according to the AMA to prevent BSE in foods and cosmetics. Unfortunately many of these “downer cows” may not display BSE symptoms before they are allowed into the food supply, so I do not feel comfortable that it can be completely contained. The best idea, suggested by the creator or www.eatwild.com is to simply change how we farm. So I will support those suppliers whose farming methods give me confidence in their products and treat their animals humanely.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/print/13748Avo