Education & Resources

Why Choose Organic Products?

The reasons are abundant! When you consider what ingredients are used in the products we come into contact with on a daily basis it is truly scary. However many wonderful alternatives to these products exist in the marketplace today. Learning what toxins to avoid is a great place to start. Here are our some of our thoughts on toxins.....

There are hundreds of toxic ingredients widely used in personal care products today that are not reviewed or approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has no standard guidelines or regulations for personal care products, resulting in unlimited amounts of chemical ingredients used to manufacture these products. There is also no required testing or monitoring of health effects before they are marketed and sold to the public. It is extremely common for companies to use ingredients that are known carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins in their products.

Organic products derived from plants and minerals are better for our health. Think about all the personal care products we use on a daily basis; soaps, gels, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, cosmetics etc. If these products are not made from pure ingredients, but rather of toxic chemicals, we are actually poisoning our bodies. We are repeatedly exposed to toxic chemicals from many different sources on a daily basis. These toxins build up and are stored in fatty places in our bodies, leading to poor health and disease.

Natural, organic ingredients are more effective and desirable than nasty fillers, chemicals and petroleum waxes. They are simply more pure, cleaner, and healthier.

Definition And Benefits Of Organic

Organic refers to the methods used in growing or processing plants and foods. Strict guidelines ensure that no synthetic chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are used. Certified Organic means that plants and foods have been certified by a government-approved third party certification organization (this varies depending on the country) to be grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically-modified organisms.

There are enormous benefits of Organic for both our environment and our health. Organic greatly reduces and most times completely eliminates the use of toxic chemicals in our food, water, and our precious environment. Organic prohibits the use of GMOs, which preserves the balance of nature. Genetically modifying our foods and plants poses horrible potential environmental and health risks. Organic agriculture also respects the quality of the soil and places importance on preserving animal welfare.

The Difference Between Natural And Organic

Natural and Organic definitely do not have the same meaning. Natural has a much broader meaning and is not regulated or certified. According to labeling requirements, natural means that an ingredient has not been significantly altered from its original state, nothing has been removed from it or added to it.

Labeling a product "natural" really means nothing. Natural products may contain GMOs, and be grown with synthetic toxins and may also contain other synthetic or artificial ingredients. A product needs to only contain just a couple of natural ingredients to be labeled "natural."

Organic products are made with ingredients grown without any synthetic chemicals, or GMOs.

A Little Bit About GMOs

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are the product of genetic engineering, created by altering the genetic information of a living organism. GMO refers to plants, animals, and microorganisms whose genetic material has been technologically altered. Genetic engineering is not closely regulated by the FDA resulting in no labeling requirement to inform consumers of the presence of GMOs in food, cosmetics and supplements.

There is great controversy over genetic engineering because of the potential hazards to health, environmental safety, and upsetting the balance of nature worldwide. Tampering with the genetic material of living beings poses known and unknown risks. Learn More About GMOs.

Natural Preservatives

Preservatives are necessary because without them products grow bacteria that can be harmful to the skin. Natural preservative methods, such as essential oils and natural plant alcohols, are completely safe and very effective. Packaging can also play a part in the preservation of a product by the use of sealed pumps and metal tubes.

Local Area & Resource Links:

Main Street Area Association

Think Local First

The Movement Center & Gyrotonic Ann Arbor

Divine Yoga & Massage

Campaign For Safe Cosmetics

Green Peace