"It's not what you eat that kills you, it's what you don't eat. If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, educate yourself and start with the Healthy Start Pack. The key to health is giving your body all 90 essential nutrients it needs."

Dr Joel Wallach, DVM ND

Monday, May 23, 2011

FDA Doesn’t Regulate Shampoos & Conditioners – Diethanolamine (DEA)

Part 4 of the Series: FDA Doesn’t Regulate Shampoos & Conditioners – Diethanolamine (DEA)

It’s surprising, isn’t it? Most people assume the products we use every day are closely monitored for safety, but that simply isn’t the case. As I’ve mentioned throughout this series, my research into how nutrition affects overall health opened my eyes to the broader issue of weak safety oversight in personal‑care products.

So let’s move on to the next chemical commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, and other everyday items.

Diethanolamine (DEA): A Chemical With Serious Risks

Diethanolamine (DEA) is a toxic ingredient that reacts with nitrite preservatives and contaminants in personal‑care products to form nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA)—a known, potent carcinogen.

DEA also appears to interfere with choline, a nutrient essential for healthy brain development. Pregnant women actually need extra choline to support fetal growth, and an associate dean for research at the UNC School of Public Health emphasized its importance in providing proper nutrients for a healthy baby.

Adding to the concern, the FDA recently reported that around 42% of all cosmetics are contaminated with NDEA, with shampoos showing the highest concentrations.

A Final Reminder

Your skin cannot protect you from these toxins. It is not a barrier to entry—medical patches have proven for years that substances applied to the skin can enter the bloodstream. The chemicals in your shampoo and conditioner may even be more harmful than those in your food because they bypass the digestive system entirely.

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