Exposed: How Chemicals in Products Impact Our Health | Amy Ziff | TEDxBerkshires

NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk for medical advice. This talk only represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of chemicals and health which lacks sufficient scientific support. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: storage.ted.com...
In this talk, Amy Ziff shares how her personal health journey led to her advocacy for making the world less toxic, specifically in the products we are all exposed to on a daily basis.
Amy is the Founder of Made Safe, America’s first independent, 3rd party cross-category certification program for nontoxic consumer products and a Nontoxic Certified Ingredient Expert. Amy Ziff has created America’s first independent, 3rd party cross-category certification program for nontoxic consumer products. With Made Safe, she is harnessing our collective purchasing power to change the marketplace. With MADE SAFE, Ziff has built a robust community of people who want to use products that won’t harm themselves or their families. She has also built an ingredient database with thousands of unique ingredients and consults with companies on ingredient liabilities and product pitfalls leveraging the 360-degree Ecosystem Approach her team has pioneered.
Amy is a proven entrepreneur and award-winning brand marketer with a MA in Journalism. She is a Certified Clean Coach and has studied with renowned MDs and NDs. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@denisdari9618]

Just wanted to share a bit of my journey. I was dealing with a lot at 115kg-depression, anxiety, allergies, you name it. Everything started changing when I switched to eating clean and ditched processed foods, coffee, and sugary drinks. I've lost a ton of weight, my skin is clear, and I don't feel so down or anxious anymore. It took about 6 months to see big changes, but it was so worth it. Just a little nudge to anyone who might need it-small steps can make a huge difference

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

The issue is not coffee, but sugary beverages and saturated fats.

[@medusaspupil]

What Amy is doing is amazing, 👍👍 most people who suffer headaches on a daily basis don't even realize that it could be from our daily chemical exposure that range from VOC's from carpets, furniture, household cleaners, etc. and big greedy corporations ( most of them ) don't care about the damage this products do to people, animals and the planet, they only care about getting more dollars in their bank account. It is up to us the consumers to make that change.

[@willcookmakeup]

I hate fear mongering around "chemicals" and "toxins" controlls our lifestyle choices. I agree with her and appreciate that this was not a fear mongering presentation. Most of the things she discussed like bpas and pfas, are legitimate concerns. But I hate when, cosmetic brands specifically, market products as chemical and toxin free. Like that doesn't exist. Everything is a chemical. As an esthetician this truly makes me so angry. When I have a client come in asking for all natural chemical free skincare, it takes everything within me to not roll my eyes. However, that is very far from what shes talking about here. Skincare, while largely lacking in regulation of ingredients, still has some validty and testing by the fda. Chemical makeup of the things we touch and interact with, that we DON'T injest, are not so heavily tested or regulated. The materials used in our furniture, homes, clothing etc are such an unknown gray area.

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

So do I! I truly cringe at "chemical-free" marketing label in order to trick scientifically-illiterate people into buying their products, as well as assuming everything synthetic, that is hard to pronounce being harmful. Everything is made of chemicals!

[@Themapleleaforever]

Ban them all!

[@eicrusade6161]

Start by eliminating synthetic scents made from undisclosed petrochemicals and remember wood smoke (class 1 carcinogenic) may seem natural but no coincidence fragrance companies are copying the smell because it's made from benzene and formaldehyde which can be petrochemically derived too.

[@tempos0p8]

Ahhh a benzoate allergy.

[@tempos0p8]

Please ask to have balsam of Peru allergy ruled out.

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

Petroleum-derived highly-refined mineral oil is regarded safe while petrol with sharp odour is significant carcinogen despite they both consist of hydrocarbons. Not everything synthetic is harmful.

[@eicrusade6161]

@@selflesssamaritan6417 Agree not everything synthetic is harmful and not everything natural is safe. However, the substances I mentioned have been studied and found to be harmful .

[@tempos0p8]

Learning about balsam of Peru allergy is a game changer. It requires us to avoid all kinds of products smells enrichments. 6 of the top ten 10 to 12 of the top 15. When ya dip folks in Benzene and Pfas we tend to develop a benzoate allergy like balsam of Peru. When in doubt ask it be ruled out we all have this water and environment now.

[@andrefecteau]

besides external chemicals the chemicals people consume in junk food is even worse...good thing the "clean food" movement has begun

[@pangiransalutan5991]

Great talk. I hate chemical. I'm the only one certified myorganic rice in Malaysia. I live in the heart of Borneo highland. We need more peoples to support us in protecting our nature and health. Regard from Borneo 🙏

[@kolinsmckk9919]

one of the best TED talks!

[@farhin1901]

What are those major chemicals

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

Everything she cannot pronounce easily, everything with names she can barely memorize, everything she does not even know what they are - are regarded HaRMfUL.

[@nazeehamarie6944]

More

[@ericmc6482]

Switch to organic diet and chemicals free lifestyle and the symptoms vanish....go figure !.

[@timothychavez1827]

Everything is a chemical so how can you be “chemical free”?

[@ericmc6482]

@@timothychavez1827 Ag chemicals in foods and unnecessary chemicals in personal care, household etc, ie chemicals that do not occur naturally do not belong in your body.

[@dankusama6501]

@@timothychavez1827 synthetic chemicals I assume

[@moqa_moonflower]

Currently studying this at college, even Organic pesticides have bad side effects Sorry to ruin your day!

[@selflesssamaritan6417]

@@dankusama6501 synthetic =/= harmful natural =/= safe Cyanides, hydrogen sulfide, lead, arsenic and asbestos naturally occur. Would you bother ingesting them?

[@kennyedwardscrucible]

formaldehyde plastic (bpa) geo engineering h.a.a.r.p. womens products like tampons and makeup that goes in the eyes and nose and formaldehyde is in a lot and the food industry

[@kennyedwardscrucible]

i have had 3 major strokes 4 minors stokes took 12 years of medicine now i take no medicine ..what really trips every one out is copper made the exact medi that i and a lot need i wear 45 copper bracelets and now no blood pressure problems ...my blood pressure with pills would be as high as 205/180...now no medicine ...i also have sun gazed for 25 years that bring clairvyonce weight loss pineal gland activations..most folks pineal gland are calcified and glasses r one of the reasons and reading ..for some reading is disability and not much is true in the mainstream texts and in the library r writteb by one entity ..that never mentions mudflood?