Baghdadee
One thing we do know is that the body is a complex chemical factory and that good health is largely a result of keeping the chemicals in the body in the correct balance. If we introduce chemicals into our system that balance can quickly be upset and our health can suffer in a variety of different ways. We also know that there are many ways in which chemicals can enter the body, including through our skin which is of course porous. Against this background it would seem quite feasible that chemicals contained in soap could indeed enter the body. So just what are these chemicals and why might they be a problem.
The chemicals in question are known as phthalates and appear in thousands of household products including children's toys, detergents, food packaging, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, soaps, and shampoos.
These chemicals have been under investigation for some time now and, although the connection is not yet fully understood, it is widely believed that phthalates play a part in producing low sperm counts and low testosterone levels in men. It is also known that men with low testosterone levels are also prone to insulin resistance and to abdominal obesity. The initial conclusion therefore might be that phthalates produce abdominal obesity in men indirectly by lowering testosterone levels.
Now at this stage there is not a great deal of evidence to support this theory, apart from a few studies such as one which showed that men with high levels of phthalates in their urine did indeed display higher than average levels of body fat, and further studies need to be carried out to see whether or not this is actually the case.
One thing we do know is that the body is a complex chemical factory and that good health is largely a result of keeping the chemicals in the body in the correct balance. If we introduce chemicals into our system that balance can quickly be upset and our health can suffer in a variety of different ways. We also know that there are many ways in which chemicals can enter the body, including through our skin which is of course porous. Against this background it would seem quite feasible that chemicals contained in soap could indeed enter the body. So just what are these chemicals and why might they be a problem.
The chemicals in question are known as phthalates and appear in thousands of household products including children's toys, detergents, food packaging, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, soaps, and shampoos.
These chemicals have been under investigation for some time now and, although the connection is not yet fully understood, it is widely believed that phthalates play a part in producing low sperm counts and low testosterone levels in men. It is also known that men with low testosterone levels are also prone to insulin resistance and to abdominal obesity. The initial conclusion therefore might be that phthalates produce abdominal obesity in men indirectly by lowering testosterone levels.
Now at this stage there is not a great deal of evidence to support this theory, apart from a few studies such as one which showed that men with high levels of phthalates in their urine did indeed display higher than average levels of body fat, and further studies need to be carried out to see whether or not this is actually the case.
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Thanks!