What are parabens?
People have been avoiding eating them for some years now...but what are parabens and why have we stopped consuming them? Are they really dangerous?
About prebiotics
Parabens are chemical preservatives from the hydroxybenzoic acid family (PHBA: comprising a group of six preservatives containing methanol, ethanol and propanol).
90% of regularly consumed parabens are synthetic in origin. But they can also be organic, found in foods such as blueberries. However, in this case, they are metabolised properly when eaten.
What are they used for?
The fundamental function of parabens is to preserve the product they are associated with or to which they have been artificially added.
They are therefore used to preserve the product for use in humans and, like other traditional chemical preservatives, their mission is to prevent the proliferation of bacteria and fungi.
Where do I find them?
Parabens are found in a great many products, many pertaining to traditional cosmetics. In this area they can be found in items such as shampoos, conditioners, emollients and lotions, toothpaste, makeup, perfume, deodorant, etc. But they are also in foods including baked goods, precooked food, soft drinks and sauces.
Parabens are in fact a family of various substances. The most common ones are labelled as butylparaben, methylparaben or propylparaben (in the European Union: E214, E215, E216, E217, E218 and E219). In cosmetics they are usually also given these names: sodium benzoate, sodium (and ammonium) and sodium laureth sulphate.
So are they toxic?
Parabens are substances that are generally approved by the European and Spanish health authorities. The ones that are accepted are classified as low toxicity products and are safe.
The reason for this assertion is that our body can absorb and metabolise them when consumed and eliminate them quickly.
But when used topically they are not absorbed properly and not eliminated correctly and so can produce toxic effects in the long term. Most products containing parabens are used topically which is why they are probably related to skin diseases such as contact dermatitis.
The controversy around them first arose in 2004 when British scientist Philippa Darbre published research that found samples of this group of substances in 18 malignant breast tumours.
After that, other research also noted that parabens can have long-term toxic effects and from then on many countries and organisations, including the European Union, banned some of them or restricted their use.
Remember that...
Parabens are additives and as such substances that, depending on the amount employed or in combination with other chemical compounds, can produce unwanted side effects about which not a lot is yet known.
Additives are artificial substances whose toxic potential comes not just from their use but from their build-up in the body. These compounds can have negative effects if the body isn't able to assimilate them and eliminate them with the speed with which they are absorbed.
We therefore recommend against using paraben products and if you do use them, ensure rare and not indiscriminate use.
