Hello viewers!
We know you love your clothes.
Whether it’s that new black sweater you bought the other day, or that cool T-Shirt you found on sale.
While discovering a new clothing item is fun,
the fabric you are wearing may sometimes be toxic for your body.
It may cause skin problems, bad odors and other health related issues.
For this video, we’re talking all that AND more...
Let's start it off with a very popular fabric…
#1 Nylon
Starting from socks to underwear, nylon is one of the most used fabrics.
The best thing about it is that it's cheap to make.
Compared to cotton or cashmere, that is...
But that’s not the only reason for its popularity.
Nylon is also more durable.
So you might be wondering, "How can such an awesome fabric be bad for my body?"
Well there are always two sides of a coin.
Nylon doesn't absorb sweat from your body.
More importantly, Nylon fabric has an intermediate binding
ratio with P aeruginosa, a type of bacteria.
This can cause both bad body odor, as well as skin infections.
Moving on…
#2 Polyester
They are smooth and usually feel very soft when you touch them.
This is why it is not hard to see why Polyester is especially popular for sportswear.
Although, we wouldn't say that Polyester is skin friendly.
Polyester isn't a very breathable fabric.
This means once again, much like nylon, when you perspire, it won't absorb the sweat.
There is also another problem, the lack of air circulation.
In a study, it was found that people who wore clothes made up of polyester
were more likely to get infections, or have bad body odor than those who wore cotton.
This is because bacteria grows easier on polyester than it does on cotton.
Moving on...
#3 Spandex
It is fun to watch superheroes wear spandex suits and fly into action.
Unfortunately, it’s pretty sobering to learn just how dangerous spandex is on human skin.
Especially, if it has been worn for a long period of time.
Spandex is another one of those fabrics that doesn't help sweating.
When you sweat in spandex, it sticks around collecting bacteria.
This is how you end up with skin allergies and a horrible smell that just won't go away.
There’s a specific reason it does this.
When spandex is manufactured, polyurethane is added to dimethyl sulfoxide.
These chemicals are usually the reason your skin gets itchy after wearing spandex for too long.
If you think these issues are serious, the next takes things a step further...
#4 Rayon
Rayon is often the fabric of choice when it comes to making scarves, socks and even dresses.
Interestingly, rayon is also used in the tyre industry to create tyre cod.
Yes, we know that sounds like rayon is a very versatile and useful fabric.
Unfortunately, it has its downsides as well.
You see Rayon is made from wood pulp.
If you have ever been to a rayon manufacturing facility-- which
probably isn’t on your bucket list-- you would know that Rayon doesn't smell nice.
Rayon often emits toxic substances that can cause headaches and nausea.
In the process of making rayon chemicals such as titanium dioxide,
hydrochloric acid and carbon sulphate are used.
In many cases, the toxic chemicals tend to linger on the fabric,
which can cause problems for the person wearing it.
This is why, it’s on the list and we don’t recommend sporting it.
Speaking of which, this brings us to another toxic fabric.
#5 Acrylic
Do you own an acrylic sweater?
Or maybe a carpet?
If so, you are responsible for releasing more than
700,000 microscopic plastic fibres in the environment.
A team of researchers spent more than 12 months on a study.
They found that clothes made up of Acrylic fabrics,
release the most amount of microscopic plastic fibres in the environment.
Sounds bad?
There’s more.
It has been suggested that these microscopic plastic
fibres have a negative impact on the food chain.
Some say it may reduce the ability of certain organisms to absorb natural energy from food.
Some have even looked into the role it plays in the behavioral changes of crabs.
There you have it, those are some of the most worn fabrics.
Who would have thought they’d be so toxic?
Don't worry though, we have alternatives.
But before we get to them, are you concerned about the condition of your skin?
Check out our recent video on 9 Remedies For Your Dry Skin.
Now let’s discuss those alternative fabrics.
#1 Cotton
Here is the first relieving fact about cotton, it is fully breathable.
Yes, cotton provides better air circulation than the fabrics we have mentioned before.
More importantly, it is not harsh on the skin.
This is why cotton is often the first choice when it comes to clothing.
More importantly, the air circulation helps you to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.
Interestingly, cotton is also the most widely produced natural fiber on the planet.
This means it won't be that hard to find cotton.
More importantly, cotton is usually hypoallergenic,
so you won't have to deal with allergic reactions in your skin.
Cotton is impressive, but it’s not the only one.
#2 Silk
There is a reason why the famous silk route is one of the most well-known historical routes.
After all, no one would want to miss the opportunity to get their hands on this fabric.
Oh no, we aren't just talking about its texture.
Similar to cotton, there aren't too many people who are allergic to silk.
In a recent study, it was found that children with
eczema actually showed some improvement when they wore it.
The same thing was also found when they slept on pillows made out of silk.
Silk pillowcases are often recommended as they are believed to help reduce acne.
It was found that while they can't really cure acne, they can definitely reduce it.
There you go, now you have another reason to like silk.
Moving onto number three... #3 Cashmere
Not sure what this is?
There’s a simple way to describe cashmere.
Picture wool, but softer.
So soft, you can hardly feel the weight of it.
Even if you were to wear a jacket made from it.
Is such a light fabric useful?
Oh yes, and incredibly warm.
Made from the wool of a Changthangi goat found in the Himalayas,
cashmere has been a popular fabric for a very long time.
Unfortunately, it’s rather rare, which is why it’s treated as a valuable material.
Cashmere also doesn't require the usage of chemicals to be created.
This smooth fabric can be weaved naturally.
This is also one of the reasons why it is hard to make knock-off versions of it.
Let's talk about the next alternative fabric…
#4 Wool
Why is wool so special?
Well for starters it’s fire-resistant and doesn't require chemical inputs.
More importantly, wool doesn't lose shape or become saggy over time.
Wool is also quite soft and isn't known to give allergic reactions on your skin.
This fabric can regulate both temperature as well as moisture.
So, those infections won't be bothering you.
Another interesting thing is that wool provides protection against ultraviolet rays of the sun.
So, you won't have to worry about sun damage when you go out wearing your favorite sweater.
Now, that is value! Anyway, moving on…
#5 Bamboo
Yes, we are talking about bamboo made clothes.
Although this is not traditional material for clothing,
bamboo has become popular over the years.
One of the biggest plus points of weaving a cloth from bamboo is its thermoregulating property.
It is highly breathable,
provides better air circulation and can easily absorb the moisture from your body.
So, unlike polyester or nylon, you won't have to worry about allergies,
rashes or infection with bamboo.
Similar to wool, bamboo also provides protection from ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Do you want more?
Well, it's biodegradable too.
So, everytime you are buying clothes made out of bamboo, you are helping the environment.
Do you like these alternatives?
Well, we aren't done yet, so strap yourself in.
#6 Hemp
Do you want a fabric that can make you feel comfortable?
Then hemp is the one for you.
It is a soft fabric that isn’t easily worn out.
It is a durable fabric that doesn't face stretching issues over time.
What's more?
Hemp gets softer as you wear it.
Hemp is also one of the most cost effective fabrics in the world.
This is one of the reasons why hemp has gained popularity in the market.
Many manufacturers have started to show interest in this fabric.
On top of that, the recent legalization of hemp has has a new revolution in the
agriculture of the Northwestern United States.
So it won't be surprising if we get to see more clothes made out of hemp in the future.
After looking at so many decent alternatives.
It almost makes you wonder why we stick to the toxic ones.
Did you find this video helpful?
Would you consider any of the alternatives we listed for you?
Let us know in the comments below.
We’d love to hear from you.