Could your ice cream give you breast cancer?
When it comes to ice cream, there are very few chains in the country that can compete with Baskin Robbins. Companies like Cold Stone Brewery offer ice cream that may be tastier, but Baskin Robbins outdoes them in their sheer number of choices. For those who never want to eat the same kind of ice cream twice, Baskin Robbins is definitely the company to go with.
However, Baskin Robbins may be adding something into your ice cream that has no place being there: parabens.
Parabens in Your Ice Cream
Parabens are found in your Baskin Robbins sundaes, as they are what help to thicken up your ice cream and make it that creamy, hearty goodness that you love. Most people have no idea what parabens are or what they can do, but you’ll find that they can be quite dangerous if consumed in high quantities.
One of the things that makes parabens so dangerous is that they act as estrogens. Estrogen is a hormone that is produced in the female body, and it’s the hormone that promotes sexual reproduction. Without estrogen, women would be unable to get pregnant, produce breast milk, and more. It is a vital hormone that your body naturally produces in reasonable quantities.
However, when you consume parabens, you are essentially increasing the levels of estrogen in your body. Your body maintains a very delicate balance between its various hormones, and increasing estrogen levels is bad for it. You’ll find that an increase in estrogen won’t just run the risk of throwing off your reproductive system’s balance, but you may increase your risk of a number of health issues.
In men, parabens have been shown to counteract the effects of testosterone–the hormone that keeps men’s reproductive organs working properly. Without proper testosterone levels, the men consuming parabens had a lower sperm count as well as a lower overall level of testosterone. You’ll find that the parabens in ice cream can lead to serious reproductive issues in men, as well as gynecomastia (the formation of man breasts), lower muscle mass, and an increase in body fat.
READ MORE: What’s in Mascara?
On the other hand, an increase in estrogen in women can lead to the formation and growth of tumor cells. Studies have found parabens present in cancerous tissue cells, and particularly in the tumors growing in breasts. Breast cancer is directly linked to high estrogen levels, and the fact that parabens mimic estrogen means that consuming them in high quantities can lead to serious problems with breast cancer.
Parabens have the tendency to age your skin, in appearance if not in texture at least. Parabens will diminish your skin tone, speed up the formation of wrinkles, and even increase the visibility and growth of age spots. Exposure to UV light can lead to massive cell decay if the cells are loaded with parabens, and you may find that your skin suffers a wide range of negative reactions when it is full of parabens.
So what does this mean for you? Should you stop eating ice cream?
Well, while Baskin Robbins’ sundaes are one source of parabens, they’re not the only source. You will find that a lot of cosmetics and beauty products contain these chemicals, and you’ll need to start reading labels carefully in order to find a product that isn’t loaded with parabens. Look for products that are paraben-free, including skin care products, creams, lotions, and, yes, ice cream as well.
