Although colored nails may look pretty, conventional nail polishes contain dibutyl phthalates, strong chemicals that help polishes stay blended and dry evenly.
Phthalates may enter your body either through inhalation or the porous surface of the nail. "As endocrine disruptors, they have the ability to upset hormonal balance," says Keri Marshall, MS, ND, a naturopath in Dover, New Hampshire, and author of User's Guide to Protein and Amino Acids (Basic Health, 2005).
In particular, pregnant women should avoid products that contain phthalates, according to Marshall, because they can adversely affect the reproductive system of a developing male embryo (Environmental Health Perspectives, 2005, vol. 113, no. 8).
Also, nail polishes may contain other harmful solvents, such as toluene and formaldehyde. Even if you don't look at the ingredient list, you may recognize these notorious two by their smell. "They give polishes that overwhelming scent that can make you feel fuzzy headed," Marshall says. Toluene is possibly toxic to the reproductive system, and formaldehyde is a known carcinogen.
Natural Alternative: Peacekeeper Cause-metics
Unlike alternative polishes of the past, this brand applies evenly and is surprisingly durable. Even better: All after-tax profits help support women's health and human rights advocacy causes.
Lover of God, nature, wildlife, birds, gardening, photography, travel, simple living, health, pets and seeking a peaceful, healing lifestyle. Life has many hurts and sorrows but within "the [divine] nature in us" we CAN overcome.
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