Soap ingredient linked to liver toxicity and cancer

(NaturalHealth365) Do you wash your hands with antibacterial soap on a regular basis? Well, it turns out, you could be harming your liver. A March 2015 article in Life Extension magazine reports that the main antibacterial agent in these soaps, a substance called triclosan, can cause liver cancer in mice in a laboratory setting.

This is alarming news for the millions of people across the world who use antibacterial soaps often or exclusively. People believe they are doing the healthy, ‘sanitary thing’ for themselves by using these soaps. It would appear that in the quest for cleanliness, they are putting their bodies at risk in other, more disturbing ways.

Antibacterial soaps can cause serious harm

A study published in the June 2014 issues of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed triclosan disturbed the chemical balance of the liver in lab mice. Mice who were given a substance to promote liver cancer were discovered to have compromised liver function when exposed to triclosan. Continually exposed to triclosan over a six month period, which is equal to 18 human years for mice, these lab animals developed more tumors than the mice not exposed to triclosan.

The tumors these mice developed was also more frequent and produced larger samples than the mice who were not exposed. Researchers on this project believe triclosan can cause liver cells to multiply, mutate and become fibrotic. This, in turn can promote formation of tumors when allowed to continue over a long period of time.

Alternative soap choice is crucial for health and safety

Triclosan is so prevalent in the environment that it is becoming a real problem for both human and animal populations. The popularity of antibacterial soaps has caused triclosan to appear in environmental samples, showing it is moving far beyond the soap dispenser. The popular belief that all germs, bacteria, and parasites must be eliminated to ensure proper health is firmly ingrained in human society, and it is now proving to have a negative impact on everyone.

The people who use these soaps and other products containing triclosan are especially at risk. These products are very popular, and most people just grab the antibacterial soap without even thinking about alternatives. The very real possibility that triclosan can cause the same liver toxicity in people that it does in lab mice means choosing alternative soaps is essential to good health for everyone.

Exposing the lie about antibacterial soap

Colleen Rogers, Ph.D., a microbiologist at the Food and Drug Administration says antibacterial soaps are no better than regular soaps at preventing illness. Therefore, people who use products with this dangerous soap ingredient are putting themselves at risk for no reason.

The key to staying healthy is to eat a healthy diet. Washing your hands regularly is also important, but your good health can be maintained with regular soap or make your own healthy soap with coconut oil, essential oils and unscented castile soap with vegetable glycerin. Of course, if you don’t want to make your own, there are plenty of really good (natural) soap options – found at the local farmers market.

So ditch the dangerous antibacterial soap ingredient for good and avoid liver toxicity by choosing a healthy, natural lifestyle that involves pure, unadulterated soap.

References:
http://www.lef.org/Magazine/2015/3/In-The-News/Page-01
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/48/17200.abstract
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm378393.htm