Children are everything to us, and being a mother is certainly one of the best things that can happen to any woman. We have nutritionally prepared our bodies and created a nutritious menu before pregnancy, and diet served as an important factor during breastfeeding, when the eliminating food to which we developed an intolerance or allergy to allowed us to reduce the risks of our child developing similar problems.
Today, it is scientifically proven that the diet of children up to three years old is crucial in shaping their future social behavior. A highly significant study conducted over a period of 14 years which measured the behavior of 1,000 children showed that a lack of vitamin B, high-quality proteins, iron, and zinc is closely connected to the tendency of children to be prone to lying, aggressive behavior, and to the ridiculing and physical attacking of others. But, are you also aware that modern technology has ‘played’ with us in the sense that from the middle of the 1950s until today, it has created over 3,500 chemicals that are added to various foods, drinks, cosmetic products, and clothes on a daily basis. With special regards to cosmetic products and clothes, their contact with our skin has the potential to negatively affect it in various ways.
Are you aware that statistics show that clothes contain over 8,000 synthetic chemicals that can be absorbed into our bodies once in contact with the skin? It comes as no surprise, therefore, that common symptoms such as contact dermatitis, respiratory problems, and allergic reactions are linked to synthetic fibers. These fibers are composed of toxic substances , the most famous of which are nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). NPEs contain dangerous compounds that negatively affect the endocrine system; the EU has restricted the use of NPEs, but it has not managed to stop them.
A few years ago, Greenpeace published a study conducted in an independent lab where the presence of NPE toxins was found in 141 items of clothing collected from 29 countries. What is even more frightening is the fact that these poisonous toxins were also found in children’s clothes! The only piece of good news is that the dumping of these chemicals into wastewater is forbidden, which at least reduces environmental pollution. Whilst we cannot determine with certainty the extent to which wearing clothes rich with synthetic fibers can affect our long-term health, and especially those of children, we cannot ignore the fact that certain experts believe that even a small dose of these toxins can have potential adverse effects on our health.
Due to the risks posed by these toxins, it seems logical that more and more parents should choose clothes made from natural fibers. In a similar fashion to our tendency to choose eco-certified fruits and vegetables as a part of our diets, we are also increasingly choosing eco-certified children’s clothes. Since a child’s skin is delicate, gentle, susceptible to the external environment, and highly prone to drying, it demands special care to keep it healthy. By choosing high-quality organic ingredients, natural cosmetics, and clothes made from natural fibers, you guarantee the long-term health and well being of your child.
Buying organic has become ‘IN’.
Dr.Lejla Kažinić Kreho MD MSc Nutr.
Owner & Founder Doctor Nutrition Bar
Member of British Nutrition Society