What? I mean, what? This came from a doctor after he asked me about the products I used on my kid. After asking how the ‘mildest’ soap that he suggested compared to the organic products I was already using, that was his response… “What does ‘organic’ mean anyway?” Then, he followed up with, “Most of those products have fragrances in them that cause irritation.” With a flick of his wrist he was gone.
It left me wondering, am I f***ing crazy? Did this doctor just ask me what’s ‘organic’ mean? Really? And he just told me the products I use, that I specifically use because they are fragrant- free because I know that’s an irritant to the skin, that those products have fragrances in them? It leaves me wondering when he last did any research on these new products that us “ crunchy, granola, too-concerned parents” hold to the standard in which we allow our kids to use in his last “40 years of experience”?
Oh… the nurse mentioned to me on the way out that he is actually retired. Thanks for that waste of a co-pay. You’re welcome insurance!
I don’t claim to know it all or have any medical license, but I will do my own research and SCIENCE-BASED research, NOT blog research.
Here you go!
Well, it’s derived from something natural according to the dictionary. So, it’s not processed or cooked up in a lab. Though most organic stuff refers to food. Organic means preservative-free, additive-free, pesticide-free and chemical-free. Organic products are found to have fewer pesticides and heavy metals. They provide healthier fats, without antibiotics and synthetic hormones.
Ok, that sounds good. Though most products have chemicals in them, so let’s be real, you’ll barely ever find something completely chemical free. I once heard an experienced woman on skin health on a health podcast talking about not using anything with ‘glycerin’ in it. I was determined to follow that guideline, as I completely understood why it was so bad for the skin; it’s basically a filler. However, even my most favorite, ‘good for your skin’ lotions and products have freaking glycerin. I give up on trying to be ‘glycerin-free’.
What does that mean anyway, am I right? I digress.
( in the making of this post, I found in my research that there is vegetable glycerin, which is a natural and chemical-free glycerin. It draws moisture to skin and naturally found in oils like coconut oil. So, I now understand why it’s still in organic products and that the chemically modified version is most likely the one this expert wants us to avoid. Got it!)
When purchasing organic soap, you want to see some familiar ingredients like;
• Aloe
• Oats
• Peppermint
• Coconut Oil
• Cinnamon
• Olive Oil
• Goat’s Milk
• Essential Oils
• Sunflower Seeds
• Sunflower Petals
Also, organic agriculture helps to improve the overall environmental health. Synthetic pesticides and fertilizers can deplete valuable soil, while organic agriculture practices focus on building up the soil by composting, cover cropping and crop rotation. It helps to keep water supply clean from chemicals and other toxins. Even more importantly , absorbing carbon dioxide from the air through organic agriculture reduces our carbon footprint and helps to combat climate change.
Overall, Organic looks pretty damn good to me. I know it’s not feasible to do ALL organic, but I think it’s important to do as much as we can. It can only help to improve our lives.
With love,
LAB
the clean collaborative 