Dear Debra, I'm thrilled to announce today the launch of a new website about natural sweeteners: sweetsavvy.com . I've been researching this subject for several years and testing recipes, and I finally have gotten the website together. :-) But I'm also feeling more concern about the presence of toxic chemicals in our world and our exposure to them than ever before. Even though the marketplace has more nontoxic products than ever, I just this week read the results of a recent study that showed that babies are now being born already polluted with toxic substances. I hope you'll take the time to read more about this below.
HEALTH, HOME & HABITAT ~ 26 July 2005
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AT HOME WITH DEBRA ~ How I Eat Sweets Back in the first book on household toxics I ever wrote--more than twenty years ago now--I identified refined white sugar as a substance that is harmful to health. I used to eat a lot of sugar--really, a lot. But now my "sweet life" is entirely different--and even more enjoyable. Read about how I eat sweets in a healthy way...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
My New Natural Sweeteners Website ~ sweetsavvy.com From my own personal experience and research, I'm convinced that refined white sugar and artificial sweeteners are as harmful to our health as any toxic chemcial. If you're still eating sugar, or have replaced it with artificial sweeteners, come read more about how these substances can affect your health. But what is even more interesting is that I have posted all the recipes I've been sending out in my newsletter for the past year, organized by recipe and by sweetener. So you can look at a list of cookies and choose cookies made with the sweetener you want, or look up a sweetener and see a list of recipes. Because this is such an important topic for health, I will be posting lots more info on natural sweeteners in the coming months--stay tuned.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Babies are Being Born Polluted The Environmental Working Group, who several years ago tested the blood of adults for the presence of toxic chemicals in their study BodyBurden--The Pollution in People, now has the results of chemicals found in the blood of newborn babies. The Executive Summary of the report says:
Not long ago scientists thought that the placenta shielded cord blood ÷ and the developing baby ÷ from most chemicals and pollutants in the environment. But now we know that at this critical time when organs, vessels, membranes and systems are knit together from single cells to finished form in a span of weeks, the umbilical cord carries not only the building blocks of life, but also a steady stream of industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides that cross the placenta as readily as residues from cigarettes and alcohol. This is the human "body burden" ÷ the pollution in people that permeates everyone in the world, including babies in the womb. The report is based on tests of 10 samples of umbilical-cord blood taken by theÊAmerican Red Cross. They found an average of 287 contaminants in the blood, including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides, plastics, and other common toxic chemicals. Of the 287 chemicals detected, 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. It is clear that these babies were born polluted. In response to this report, theÊUS Government Accountability Office issued a report saying the Environmental Protection Agency does not have the powers it needs to fully regulate toxic chemicals. According to a Reuters news article, the GAO, an investigative arm of Congress, found that "the EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act gives only 'limited assurance' that new chemicals entering the market are safe and...the EPA only rarely assesses chemicals already on the market." This is so unnecessary! We don't have to live in a world where babies are born contaminated with toxic chemicals before they even take their first breath! This is exactly why we all need to reduce our exposure to toxic chemicals. My book Home Safe Home identifies the most toxic chemicals present in our homes and Debra's List has links to thousands of toxic-free products. Please use these resources to eliminate toxic chemicals in your life and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Toxic chemicals found in the blood of newborn babies...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
DEBRA'S LIST: new website links Here are just a few of the new links I've added recently.
amazon.com Gourmet Organic Food
Vivavi
Numi Tea
Terressentials
Reworks
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q & A: Water Filters for Chloramines Can you recommend shower filters that filter chloramine and also central filter systems that filter chloramine as well as all the other toxic metals? Thank you for your great contribution in educating all of us to make the world a less toxic place!
M. M.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q & A: How Important is Flooring to Indoor Air Quality? Thank you so much for your willingness to share information for healthier living. My husband and I purchased a home built in the 1920's. We're currently remodeling in the kitchen, and the floor is next. In the overall larger picture of "green" remodeling, where do you believe hard surface flooring options fit? I've researched linoleum, vinyl, cork, bamboo, etc., and the no-VOC or "low"- VOC options are definitely more expensive. Regarding health implications, is the flooring a large factor, or not necessarily so? We have a remodeling budget to work within; any thoughts ideas are much appreciated! F.R.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Q & A: Splenda Do you have an opinion on the brand name sweetener Splenda (sucralose)? I suppose it would be considered an artificial sweetener, rather than a natural sweetener, since it has been somehow altered from its natural form (from what I have been told)? It sounds as though it should be a safe sweetener to use, but I am leery of using it because it has not been tested for long-term use. What do you think? Have you used it?
R.B.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
|
|
The new, revised, edition of
Home Safe Home
is now available
in bookstores nationwide.
Home Safe Home tells what toxic chemicals are generally found in specific household products of all types, and safe solutions you can buy or make at home. It's different from other books on toxic chemicals because the focus really is what you can do to protect yourself and your family and create a healthy home. I bring over twenty years of research and personal real-life experience to this book. * 10 Simple, Inexpensive Things You Can Do To Reduce Household Toxics * How Toxic is Your Home? Quiz (excerpt from the book)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Debra's List
~
100s of links
to 1000s of nontoxic, natural & earthwise
products * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
