The Hidden Health Dangers of New Clothes
By Sara Butler
This may seem like a bit of a weird question, but how important is it to your health to wash brand new clothes before you buy them? It turns out that wearing new clothes without washing them or simply trying on clothes in a store may be exposing your body to things you had no idea of, things that could potentially lead to a health crisis you never saw coming. Sure, you can see your chiropractor in order to help give your immune system a boost, but you should also understand the ways in which new clothes may be putting stress on your immune system and overall health.
New Clothes: Are They Toxic?
It doesn’t matter if you buy clothes at a bargain basement retailer or a top of the line retailer in the swanky part of town – all new clothes have some unsavory things attached to them. The clothes you buy and try on in stores can contain:
- Skin bacteria
- Yeast
- Fecal matter
- Respiratory secretions
These things can easily result in you coming home from the store with a lot more than your new purchases. In fact, you can contract salmonella, diarrhea, MRSA, norovirus, streptococcus and yeast infections from new clothing. These things have been tried on and handled by numerous people, you know.
You also have to think about what the clothes themselves may be manufactured with. Some unhealthy substances used in the manufacture of clothing include:
- Phthalates
- Pesticides
- Dyes
- Heavy metals
And if your clothes are made of cotton you should know it happens to be one of the dirtiest crops out there. Pesticides are heavily used in the growing of cotton and those pesticides can not only end up on your skin but can be inhaled by you too.
What You Should Do
At this point, you may be wondering how on earth you will ever try on a new shirt again, but there are some strategies you can employ to help you navigate buying new clothes.
First, always wash new clothes twice before wearing them. This won’t eliminate all the unsavory things but it sure will make it healthier for you to wear. Second, consider buying organic cotton clothing, because no pesticides are used on organic cotton crops, so they won’t end up in your home or on your body either. Also, remember to see your chiropractor for regular adjustments! Chiropractic adjustments can help to keep your immune system functioning at its best so you can handle whatever microscopic danger comes your way!