Hey guys, this week, I wanted to continue the trend and write about a public health-based topic. I enjoy the reading and research, and I hope my insights can be somewhat helpful or interesting to you all.
Today, I’m going to write about two different organizations that help consumers make informed decisions about the products and foods they purchase.
Yuka:
The first organization is Yuka. I use the Yuka app and find it very helpful. You can scan food and cosmetic products, and it gives a detailed overview of the health impacts. Unfortunately, a lot of name-brand cosmetic and hygiene products contain carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, and other allergens and irritants. When you scan a product, it gives it a score and also offers healthier alternatives to products with low scores. Thanks to this app, I’ve been able to find affordable and healthy brands that work well for me. Trust me, I know some of the low-toxin conditioners don’t work for shit. I’ve gone through lots of trial and error and, thankfully, have found the brands I want to stick with because they work and are ultimately toxin-free. I chose to use Yuka over the EWG app mostly because it’s slightly more reliable. Many barcodes weren’t available in the EWG database, whereas Yuka offers results for nearly every product and food you scan.
Another neat addition to Yuka is the blog that they have on their website. It posts recipes and other health-related content about food and cosmetics. Check it out if this sounds interesting to you.
EWG:
Similarly, the Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., providing consumer guidelines to allow the public to make informed decisions about the everyday products they purchase.
EWG is a little more expansive in that it offers research and insights on a wider variety of key issues, including food and water, farming and agriculture, personal care products, household and consumer products, energy, family health, toxic chemicals, and regional issues. Their website also offers in-depth consumer guides with news stories and other insights, as well as new and emerging research in the listed areas above. I love reading through the news and insights tab on their website, and it’s where I plan to get a lot of articles for my “What’s New in Public Health” series.
EWG stands for and works towards the protection of our environmental health by changing the industry standards. It’s evident that this country could benefit from updated manufacturing criteria. For example, chemical companies aren’t required to test their chemicals for safety before they go on the market, and personal care product safety laws haven’t been updated since the 1930s. How the fuck does that even happen?
Lucky for us, EWG works hard to protect public health by offering essential education and research on the harmful chemicals that negatively affect our bodies. They speak on outdated government legislation, prompting us all to open our eyes to the fact that America needs to take better care of its people. Or at least offer the necessary tools and resources to allow us to take better care of ourselves. There are additives, toxins, and chemicals in our cleaners, hygiene products, food, and cosmetics that were never meant to come in contact with our bodies.
This organization is one I hold in high regard because of the real impact they’ve had on this country. Their team consists of lawyers, scientists, and policy, data, and communication experts who all work in unison to reform laws about chemical safety and agriculture. They encourage industries to avoid chemicals of concern and adopt higher standards when it comes to making healthy consumer products. They believe we all have the right to know what’s in our food, drinking water, and personal care items. The quality of these things matters and influences our health more than we know. We must have a reliable organization standing up for public health by pushing for tougher regulations to keep our food, water, and household and personal care products safe.
Closing:
I encourage all of you to make good use of these platforms and resources. Use the knowledge and research to your benefit and make informed decisions regarding the products you purchase to optimize your health and well-being.
Thanks for reading.
https://www.ewg.org
https://yuka.io/en/