YOUR CLOTHES ARE MORE THAN JUST FABRIC
I want you to think about what you're wearing right now.
Maybe you're wearing leggings, a sports bra, underwear, a jumper or a pair of jeans.
Now I want you to ask yourself a question.
Do you actually know what's in them?
And I don't just mean whether they're made from cotton, polyester or nylon.
I mean the chemicals that may have been used to manufacture, dye, soften and finish them.
Because when we think about our health, we tend to think about what we eat.
We think about our water, our skincare, our supplements and our exercise routines.
But how are you thinking about your clothing?
These are products that sit against our skin, sometimes for 10, 12 or even 16 hours a day.
And for some of us, that's clothing we sweat in, exercise in and sleep in.
So why aren't we asking more questions about what's used to make it?
Now, I don't want you to leave this training frightened of your wardrobe.
I want you to understand three things.
First, why certain chemicals are used in clothing.
Second, what happens if those chemicals enter our bodies and how our bodies process and eliminate them.
And third, why essential minerals matter for our normal biological functions.
Because the more we understand, we can make better decisions. And that's what I'm here to help you with.
WHY ARE CHEMICALS ADDED TO CLOTHING?
So let's start with the obvious question.
Why are chemicals added to clothing in the first place?
And the answer is actually quite simple.
Performance, appearance, consistency and manufacturing efficiency.
We want our clothing to do a lot.
We want our black leggings to stay black.
We want our gym tops to feel soft.
We want our clothes to stretch, keep their shape and survive repeated washing.
We want jackets that repel rain and dont leave us soaked.
And we want clothing that doesn't crease the second we put it on.
manufacturers use a variety of different chemical processes to help achieve those things.
Let's take dyeing as an example.
When you buy a black sports bra, that colour has to come from somewhere.
Different fibres require different types of dyes and processing conditions.
And the dyes need to bind effectively to the fabric so that the colour lasts. And this is why alot of the time formaldehyde can be used with colours.
Formalydehe is used to preserve dead bodies right so if you add this to a colour, that colour isnt going anywhere.
Then there are fabric finishes.
Some finishes are designed to reduce creasing.
Some are designed to make materials softer.
Others are used to repel water or stains.
And some gym clothes are treated to reduce odours or microbial growth on the fabric.
So there are practical reasons behind these processes.
But here's the question I think we should be asking.
Are all these treatments necessary, and how do we know they're safe?
Because there's a difference between a chemical being useful in manufacturing and understanding its potential impact on our health and environment.
It's also important to know that not every chemical used during manufacturing stays in the finished garment.
Some are removed during processing.
Others remain intentionally because they're responsible for a particular feature.
And some can remain as residues.
That's why the finished product matters.
And that's why I believe brands should be asking their manufacturers detailed questions about the materials and treatments they're using.
WHICH CHEMICALS SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT?
Let's look at some examples.
First, PFAS.
You might have heard these called forever chemicals.
PFAS are a large family of manufactured chemicals.
Some have been used in textile treatments because they can help fabrics repel water, oil and stains.
So think about a jacket where rain beads up and rolls off the surface.
Certain PFAS based finishes have historically been used to create those properties.
But here's the concern.
Many PFAS are extremely persistent in the environment. Some can also remain in the human body for a long time.
And exposure to certain PFAS has been found to have with adverse health effects, including effects on cholesterol, immune responses and aspects of reproductive health amd cancers.
Next, formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde and certain formaldehyde releasing finishes have been used in some textiles to help fabrics resist creasing and maintain their appearance.
Now, formaldehyde can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
And formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen under certain exposure conditions, particularly involving inhalation.
And this is why The amount, route and duration of exposure matter.
But it explains why textile safety standards may place limits on formaldehyde residues.
Third, dyes.
This one is particularly relevant to activewear.
We love leggings, black sports bras and clothing that keeps its colour.
And dyes are an essential part of creating those products.
But some dyes deserve closer attention.
Certain azo dyes can release specific aromatic amines that are hazardous, which is why those dyes are restricted in some textile applications.
Fourth, phthalates.
Certain phthalates are used to make some plastics more flexible.
They can be found in certain plastic based coatings or prints used on clothing.
Some phthalates are associated with reproductive or endocrine related concerns.
But they aren't automatically present in every synthetic garment.
And different phthalates have different risk profiles.
So rather than assuming that everything synthetic is toxic, we need to understand which substances are actually present.
HOW DO THESE CHEMICALS ENTER OUR BODIES?
Now let's talk about what happens when we're exposed to these substances.
Because this is where the conversation gets really interesting.
One route is through our skin.
Certain substances can migrate from fabrics onto the skin, and some may be absorbed through to the skin.
But our skin is a protective barrier but it is also a gateway for products to get in too.
Heat, sweat, moisture and friction can influence how some substances transfer from fabrics.
But sweating causes the body to heat up and then toxins can absorb more.
And Another potential route is inhalation.
Some substances can be released into the air, depending on the product and the chemical.
And there are also indirect environmental routes.
Chemicals used in manufacturing can enter water systems.
Certain textile substances can be released during washing.
And environmental contamination can contribute to exposure through drinking water, food or dust.
So the bigger picture isn't just about what happens when you're wearing your leggings.
It's about the entire lifecycle of the garment.
And this is why reducing unnecessary exposure can be a sensible goal.
Not because we can eliminate every chemical from our lives.
We can't.
But because we can make more informed choices about the products we use regularly.
HOW DOES YOUR BODY GET RID OF THESE SUBSTANCES?
Now we've reached the part I really want you to understand.
Your body already has systems designed to process and eliminate many unwanted substances.
You don't need a special tea to switch them on.
And you don't need to be on a detox programme for them to work.
They're working every single day.
Let's start with your liver.
Your liver is involved in processing many substances that enter your body.
Some substances undergo what are commonly described as Phase I and Phase II detox.
In Phase I, enzymes may modify a substance and it activates it. And then
In Phase II, other enzymes may attach molecules that can help make certain substances easier to eliminate. Nutrilizes it and gets rid of it.
But we need certain minerals for these phases to work.
And some are very difficult for the body to remove.
Now let's talk about your kidneys.
Your kidneys continuously filter blood and help regulate fluid and mineral balance.
They also remove many waste products and certain chemicals or their metabolites through urine.
Your digestive system plays a role too.
Some substances are eliminated through bile, which carries them from the liver into the digestive tract.
They may then leave the body when we go to the toilet.
And I think that's important, because there is so much misinformation about detoxification.
You need to understand how your body works.
Which brings us to something really interesting.
Your body needs essential nutrients to carry out its normal biological functions.
And that includes minerals.
WHY MINERALS MATTER
Let's talk about minerals.
Because when we talk about health, we often focus on vitamins.
But minerals are just as important.
They're involved in enzyme activity, energy production, antioxidant defence, fluid balance and many other processes.
And enzymes are essential to the way our bodies function.
Let's start with magnesium.
Magnesium is involved in hundreds of enzyme reactions.
It supports energy metabolism and normal cellular function.
And that's important because many biological processes require energy.
Then we have zinc.
Zinc is essential for the function of numerous enzymes and proteins.
It contributes to normal immune function and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.
And then there's selenium.
Selenium is a component of important antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidases.
These help protect cells from oxidative damage.
Now, you may have heard of glutathione.
It's a molecule involved in antioxidant defence and certain chemical conjugation reactions.
And glutathione related pathways are relevant to how the body handles some substances.
And do you have enough sodium and potassium which is where your energy comes from? We need alot of energy in the body for the body to do its jobs. And detoxing is usually something that doesnt happen as well if we dont have enough energy.
And I do not recommend that go and buy supplements for these, becasusr you may already have too much of one and we need baalcne right. And taking excessive amounts of minerals can actually be harmful.
For example, too much selenium can cause toxicity.
And excessive zinc supplementation can contribute to copper deficiency.
So more isn't always better.
The goal is adequate nutrition.
Not taking the highest dose possible.
And when we're thinking about nutritional status, it's important to recognise that people have different needs.
Diet, medical conditions, medications and individual circumstances can all influence nutritional requirements.
Some women may have a genuine mineral deficiency.
Others may already be getting enough from their diets.
And that is why I don't believe we should simply assume that everyone needs the same supplements.
We need to understand the individual.
Sometimes that starts with looking at dietary intake.
Sometimes it involves symptoms and medical history.
And in appropriate circumstances, testing can provide additional information.
But the type of test matters.
Different tests measure different things.
And not every test can reliably diagnose every mineral deficiency.
For me, the goal is helping women make informed choices about their health.
Because when you understand what your body needs, you're in a better position to support it.
MINERAL TESTING
So we've covered quite a lot today.
We've talked about why chemicals are used in clothing.
We've looked at some of the substances that deserve closer attention.
We've explored how exposure can happen.
And we've talked about the incredible systems your body uses to process and eliminate many substances.
But we've also established something important.
Your body needs essential nutrients to function properly.
And that brings me to a question.
Do you actually know whether you're meeting your body's mineral requirements?
Because so many women are putting enormous effort into their health.
They're exercising.
They're eating well.
They're investing in skincare.
They're trying to make more conscious choices.
But they may never have looked closely at their mineral intake or whether there's a reason to investigate their mineral status.
And that's something I'm passionate about helping women understand.
Which is why I offer mineral testing.
Depending on the method and the individual, mineral testing provides useful information about certain mineral markers and whether further assessment is needed.
We can test to see if yove got the correct nutrients you need to be letting go of these toxins.
Because I don't want you guessing.
I don't want you spending money on supplements you might not need.
And I certainly don't want you frightened into thinking your body is full of toxins.
I want you to feel empowered.
I want you to understand your health.
And I want you to know what questions to ask.
So if you're interested in exploring your mineral status and finding out whether testing would be appropriate for you, click the link and head over to Cloco Health for my mineral testing page to book your test online here
And I want to finish by saying this.
You can care about your health and still want to look incredible.
You can be conscious about the materials you wear and still love fashion.
You can prioritise your wellbeing without living in fear of everything around you.
That's the belief behind CLOCO.
And it's the same belief that drives my work in women's health.
Knowledge gives you choices. And you deserve both.