The Benefits of All-Natural, Organic, and Vegan Products
If you’ve ever walked down the beauty aisle at your local store, you’ve probably seen the words “all-natural, “organic,” or “vegan.” In recent years, the “all-natural” craze has taken off. But what exactly is it all about and what are the benefits of changing from your run of the mill product to a natural, organic, or vegan one? The health and wellness benefits are numerous, but first let’s start by defining what each of these terms actually mean, as many make the mistake of thinking they are interchangeable with one another.
All-Natural – refers to products comprised of naturally occurring ingredients and free from synthetics and chemicals.
Organic – refers to agricultural products that are grown and processed without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Vegan – refers to products that are created without any or limited harm or exploitation of animals in the process. This includes anything from ingredients in food to textiles.
Now many people question whether “all-natural,” “organic,” and “vegan” (we’re going to refer to them as AOV’s moving forward) products really work. You may not have the time to take an in-depth look at new products and admittedly AOV products tend to be more expensive, but the health benefits of eliminating chemicals and synthetics from your daily life and replacing them with AOV products are numerous. Here are just a few to consider:
Fewer Harmful Side-Effects
You’ve probably heard of parabens before, right? Many manufactures use parabens to extend the shelf life of health and beauty products. However, parabens are synthetics that can disrupt naturally occurring hormones in the human body and studies have shown that they have a direct effect on the body’s endocrine system, which is believed to increase the chances of cancer and are harmful to reproductive health. Products that use naturally occurring preservatives, such as oregano and rosemary extract, sugar, vinegar, grapefruit seed extract, and castor oil are a much better solution.
Headaches and rashes have also been associated with chemical and synthetic based products. While these ingredients may do the job, the side effects are numerous and can be long-term. For example: deodorant is one of the most common culprits. Aluminum is used to help stave off sweat and that less-than-desirable odor, but repeated exposure can cause issues with bone density and have been shown to increase the chances of dementia, among other risks. A natural deodorant that uses essential oils and organic material is a much better choice when it comes to your health and wellness.
Soft and Healthier Skin and Hair
Skin and hair care products are notorious for being tested on animals, including synthetic perfumes, and containing chemicals that can actually do more harm than good for our skin and hair. The very opposite of what we’re trying to accomplish. By choosing an AOV skin care product, you are reducing the chances of repeated exposure to harmful chemicals that can have a long-term effect on your overall health and wellbeing, as well as cause breakouts.
Environmentally Friendly
By their very nature, AOV products are better for the environment. Their ingredients are naturally occurring and can easily be broken down and absorbed by the environment without harming its plants or animals. The manufacturing process also tends to be more environmentally friendly.
Synthetic products on the other hand tend to include harmful sprays that send chemicals into the air, products that wash down the drain and eventually into the watershed harming animal and plant life, and often result in a great amount of pollution during the manufacturing process.
10 Ingredients to Avoid
A lot of research still needs to happen to determine the full gamete of the effects chemically enhanced products have on the body, the environment and the ramifications of long-term use. Ingredients in many products have been shown to cause birth defects, cancer, and neurological diseases just to name a few.
But have you ever looked at the ingredient list on a product and been overwhelmed? You’re not alone. If the ingredients look something like “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” you should probably question what you’re putting on your face or in your body.
There is very little federal regulation when it comes to health and beauty products, meaning that it is mostly up to the consumer to self-regulate the products we use. Here’s a scary fact – there are over 1,300 ingredients banned from health and beauty products in Europe. However, there are fewer than 15 banned in the US! To help you out a bit, here are 10 ten ingredients you should avoid at all costs, many of which have little to no effect on the quality of the products they poison:
- Parabens
- Synthetic perfumes and fragrances
- Sulfates
- Toluene
- Phthalates
- Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
- Formaldehyde
- Oxybenzone
- Diethanolamine
- Triclosan
Hopefully one day the health and beauty industry will be better regulated, but until then it is up to us (the consumer) to make the commitment to use “all-natural,” “organic,” and “vegan” based products. This is why Literally Organic has made the commitment to ensure our products are free of harmful additives and environmentally unfriendly manufacturing practices. You will not see any “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” ingredients on our labels.