I'd Wash that if I were you!

Let's do a quick poll. How many have bought clothing and have worn them prior to washing them? Many are guilty because psychologically, the word "new" registers as untouched, fresh, the best! However, this psychological belief is far from the truth! Studies have confirmed that new clothing are among the nastiest, most disgusting things you can come in contact with in a day. Yes, clothing!

A study done in both high -end and low -end clothing chains tested various articles of clothing ranging from pants, blouses, underwear(the obvious item), jackets, and others and the results were startling to say the least. Among the "new" items tested was found:

• Respiratory secretions

• Skin flora

• Fecal flora

• Yeast

The compounds found on the clothing items cause :

• Diarrhea

• MRSA

• Salmonella

• Norovirus

• Yeast Infections

• Streptococcus

• Lice

• Scabies

Apart from the body compounds, there are chemical contaminants that also cause ill reactions. " Among them are azo-aniline dyes, which may cause skin reactions ranging from mild to severe.

If you're sensitive, such dyes may leave your skin red, itchy and dry, especially where the fabric rubs on your skin, such as at your waist, neck, armpits and thighs. The irritants can be mostly washed out, but it might take multiple washings to do so.

Formaldehyde resins are also used in clothing to cut down on wrinkling and mildew. Not only is formaldehyde a known carcinogen, but the resins have been linked to eczema and may cause your skin to become flaky or erupt in a rash. " (Mercola 2016)

Stain proof clothing sounds like a great idea right? However, not so great. " a common source of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are toxic to humans and the environment. You'll most often hear about PFCs in relation to non-stick cookware, but they're also common in fabrics.

Some imported clothes are now impregnated with long-lasting disinfectants which are very hard to remove, and whose smell gives them away. These and the other chemical residues affect people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.

Also, people have developed allergic reactions, such as hives, to formaldehyde through skin contact with solutions on durable-press clothing containing formaldehyde." (Mercola, 2016)

Unless the clothing you buy is organic, it also is more than likely made from genetically engineered (GE) cotton that is heavily treated with pesticides and other chemicals during production. Yes, Genetically Modified Clothing... If you can't eat it, then you can't wear it. In a previous issue we discussed the skin being the body's largest organ and how it absorbs all that it comes in contact with. You can read it here.

Cotton is considered to be the world's dirtiest crop! This is due to the fact of the heavy use of insecticides which is most hazardous to those who wear it...humans!

When shopping for safer clothing, look for the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 label, which indicates that the clothing has been tested by an independent lab and has been found to be free from over 100 harmful substances including dyes, heavy metals, pesticides and phthalates.

Mercola, Dr. "The Importance of Washing New Clothes Before Wearing Them." Mercola.com. N.p., 30 Jan. 2016. Web. 21 Aug. 2016.