Art | Resources
Food Combining Made All The Difference
Question from SVE
Debra, I’ve made a major breakthrough in regard to my diet which consists of all (except one) organic, simple foods.
I’ve had food allergies (30 + years) and am presently on a five-day rotation diet. Problems for me cropped up consistently on two of the five days. I’m not allergic to any of my foods so this was a mystery. I searched the internet and found “Food Combining” as illustrated in this chart: at www.alderbrooke.com/chart.php
I began combining foods as shown on this chart and it definitely works for me. I’m still eating my same foods, but I’ve changed my meals to following basic recommendations for food combining.
One example: I was eating fruit along with meat for two of my five breakfasts. Six to eight hours later, I would experience very uncomfortable digestive symptoms (for two plus hours!).
I was desperate to find out why this was happening, searched and finally found within several food combining websites that fruit is easily digested, but meat is not. When the fruit sits waiting for the meat to get digested, it “ferments!” Alcohol is one of the possible substances that can form in a person’s digestive system in a case like this. If the fruit had been eaten alone, there would not have been a problem. I’m now eating my fruit meals alone!
Have you, Debra, or has anyone else found food combining to be of help?
Debra’s Answer
I tried food combining many years ago, and while I no longer adhere to it strictly, I tend to eat meals of vegetables and protein, and eat fruit separately as a snack.
Problems With Growing Tomatoes
Question from trina
dear debra, can you help me with my tomatoes , they are always looking sick after a while and get a yellowing and browning off of the bottom leaves after a while they all get the disesse and die. what if anything can i do that is organic and safe too stop this dissease. ? thank you trina
Debra’s Answer
I’ve grown a lot of tomatoes. In California, we grew them up lattice on the side of a deck that was ten feet above the ground, and they would grow all the way up to the top of the deck. Around September we would pick tomatoes from the deck and not even go down to the garden.
Here in Florida, we’ve had varying success as we learn this new climate. This year our tomato plants are doing better than in past years.
We have problems here with nematodes, and so we find it more successful to grow tomatoes in pots or hanging baskets than planting them in the ground.
Also, tomatoes are heavy feeders. In California, we used to put fish heads under each tomato plant when we planted it. Then we would sprinkle lots of black pepper around the plants to keep our cat and other animals from digging up the fish heads.
I’m not sure what disease your tomatoes have. You might be able to get some help from a local organic nursery or garden club.
Greenwashing Continues to be a Problem
Here’s an article from last Saturday’s Wall Street Journal about false and misleading claims on green products:
This is exactly why we as consumers need to know what green products really are.
Flame retardants in mattesses – which is best?
Question from Jasmine
Debra,
So glad to have found you!
Am trying to choose a new non-toxic, comfortable and supportive mattress. I have an RX for flame retardant free, but even with an RX it is difficult to find. After several months of research, and getting nowhere, am finally down to two alternatives. The first is:
1) An organic innerspring mattress that uses hydrated silica, baking soda and cellulose as a flame barrier. In searching the web, have found a few negatives but since I am not a chemist can’t really figure it out….any thoughts as to the toxicity of having this in your mattress?
2) A latex mattress covered with a cotton/wool cover. But after reading this:
Debra’s Answer
The first thing to know is that “flame retardant” refers to a wide variety of materials. The reason you are having difficulty finding one without flame retardants is that it is required by federal law that all mattresses pass a flammability test. The law does not specify what is to be used to make the mattress pass the test.
In the past, only toxic chemicals were used, thus the need to get a prescription to get a mattress without toxic flame retardants. Today, since more is known about the toxicity of flame retardants, there are other options available that are not toxic, and these can be had without a prescription.
Now I’ll answer your specific questions.
1) Hydrated silica, baking soda, and cellulose are all nontoxic. Silica is sand, it’s the stuff used to make glass. Baking soda is a natural mineral. Cellulose is just plant material. We eat cellulose all the time, whenever we eat vegetables and fruits.
2) Many mattresses are sold with a layer of wool as a fire retardant barrier. Since all mattresses sold must pass the flammability test, I am assuming that those mattresses pass or they wouldn’t be sold. Ask them for a copy of their flammabity test if you have any doubt.
Now, about that link, note that the photos show a single strand of wool burning. A single strand with a lot of air around it. Fire requires air to burn. I learned that building fires in my wood stove. A single match burns fine, but pile up pieces of wood with no air between them and they won’t burn. So I’m not surprised that a single strand of wool yarn would burn like a candle wick. But in a mattress it is a layer of wool–complete different conditions. As to your being leery, I don’t quite understand. You got a prescription for a mattress to NOT be flame proof, so why are you concerned about how effective wool is as fire retardant? I sleep on a wool mattress. I have for years. I am not at all concerned about it being flameproof. I don’t smoke in bed.
Hardwood Floors Outgassing problem
Question from vertigo1972
Hi Debra, I am having a difficulty with prefinished white hardwood oak floors I had installed in Dec. 2009. I ripped out old hardwood floors that had pesticide on them and replaced them with this new floor. I am chemically sensitive and but i never had problems with the other white hardwood floors in other parts of my home. I am not sure if its the finish on the floor or the wood itself. I was thinking of sanding the prefinished wood and then coating it with a voc free hard seal. Has anyone else had this problem? The new floor is from a different manaufacturer and they use aluminum oxide as the prefinish. Do you think sanding the floor will help?
Thanks
John
Debra’s Answer
The first thing I would do is apply heat. Close up the room and turn on the heat. At the end of the day, open the windows and let it air out. Keep doing this until there is no more odor. It’s probably the finish that is not fully cured.
Homemade liquid soap has solidified
Question from vlavianos
Hi. I made liquid soap with grated castile soap, water, glycerin and honey in the blender. The soap has solidified and I don’t know if I can re-liquify it or if it’s garbage. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Debra’s Answer
It’s been my experience than any soap will “melt” when exposed to water. I would add more water and let it sit in the sun to get warm.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Over 1000 varieties of heirloom vegetable, flower, and herb seeds.
Natural Grass Seed
Question from LINDAANN
Hi Debra
I was wondering if you could suggest a natural or organic grass seed for my lawn. I have been doing research and can not find anything that is chemical free, the closest thing i have found is a product sold at Whole Foods called Pearl’s Premium. I have two large sections that need some grass. I also have small children that roll around in the grass. Any suggestions would be great. We do not use any chemical in or around our house. Thank you.
Debra’s Answer
Here are two links to sites that sell organic grass seed: Gardens Alive! and Wildflower Farm.
And here’s a link to a site with a lot of tips on how to maintain a healthy lawn without toxic chemicals: http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp.
I just need to take this opportunity to mention lawn can also be planted with flowers for cutting or a kitchen garden with vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
Baby Sleep Positioner
Question from msclark
Does anyone know of an organic sleep positioner for babies?
Debra’s Answer
I couldn’t find any. Readers?
Natural moisturizing bar soap
Question from vlavianos
I am looking for a natural or organic bar soap that is super moisturizing. I have tried Dr. Bronners, Kiss My Face olive oil soap, shea butter soap, “unscented” Dove, all without success. They seem fine in the shower, but when I dry off I can see the crocodile skin on my legs, and my arms and torso get itchy. Thanks.
Debra’s Answer
Readers, any suggestions?
