Question from Lisa

Dear Debra,

I may need to have some orthodontic work done by the dentist, and wear braces for a time.

This is metal, plastic, and rubber in my mouth for an extended period of time.

There is a chance I may also need a retainer, too.

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this in terms of health.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I am not sure I am qualified to give an opinion on this as I have not thoroughly researched this. But I’ll say this…

Whenever you have plastic or metal in your mouth for an extended period of time, it could leach into your body. How much or what effect it would have, I don’t know. Readers, anyone have experience with this?

I do want to mention that in the 1930s, Dr. Weston A. Price, a dentist, traveled around the world to study the diets of traditional cultures. Dr. Price had noticed that the children in his practice had dental problems that their parents did not–more tooth decay and teeth that did not fit properly into the dental arch, which were crowded and crooked. He subsequently studied “primitive” peoples and found that when they ate their traditional diet, they had all thirty-two teeth, perfectly fitting into the dental arch, and perfectly formed. When they began to eat a modern diet, they had dental decay and bore children, in the very next generation, with crooked and crowded teeth. This is well documented in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration.

Braces wouldn’t be necessary if we ate foods in their natural state, not just additive-free, but as nature intended.

Add Comment

Question from Lisa

Hi Debra,

I am wondering what you think about screen printing on clothing items.

Avoid it? Or is it ok?

Specifically, I have seen that it fades over time with washing and drying. I’m wondering if this leaves any residues, etc in the washer or dryer, or additional pollution to the laundry waste water.

Is there anything you’ve read about screen printing and issues related to contact with the skin?

I read your blog often, and I find it very useful. I’ve also purchased all your books. Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I don’t have any personal experience with doing screen printing, however, I did look up the MSDS sheets of some printing inks. Apparently, there is quite a wide variety, ranging from inks conaining no hazardous ingredients to inks that are made from PVC.

I remember purchasing a set of cotton flannel sheets some years ago that had a pattern I liked. When I opened the package at home, it had a strong odor of plastic. Instead of the pattern being dyed into the fabric, it was screened on top with a plastic ink. Not only did it smell, but the areas with the pattern felt like plastic–not at all soft like the flannel sheet.

I washed these sheets half a dozen times and the smell did not go away. I finally just threw them in the garbage can.

I know too that a screened-on design does not last through many washings. It will peel off.

Some inks do have metals in them, particularly the “metallic” inks.

I personally tend to not purchase clothing or other items that have been screen printed. If you want to, check with the printer and obtain the MSDS for the ink first.

Add Comment

Question from Lynne

I have a few questions about sweeteners that will “crack” to make hard candy: unrefined cane sugar, barley malt syrup, brown rice syrup, agave nectar, honey.

Of all the ones listed, which has the lowest glycemic index number, and which one would be the healthiest choice?

I also wondered if molasses would work and if it is a healthy choice – I noticed it’s not included in the list of natural sweeteners to enjoy.

Thanks,

Lynne

Debra’s Answer

Agave is definitely the lowest and honey is the highest. The others are in the middle.

There is a glycemic index that assigns numbers to foods, but I don’t use that as there is a high variation of actual glycemic response from person to person. So here is the relative general glycemic index of the sweeteners currently used in my recipes:

High

Medium

Low

Negligible

Add Comment

Question from P. Wicks

Hi again! Just wondering if you know about using maple sugar. I wonder if you can use it in place of brown sugar and if there are any ratios to deal with, like 1 cup maple sugar to 1 cup of brown sugar.

Thanks–

Debra’s Answer

You can use maple sugar one for one for white or brown sugar. It adds very little maple flavor.

I haven’t used it in recipes on this website because it is just as refined as eating white cane sugar. Refined white sugar is made by boiling the juice of sugar cane until it is clarified and granulated. Maple sugar is made by boiling the sap of the maple tree until it is clarified and granulated.

Maple sugar is also difficult to find and is very expensive.

Add Comment

Question from R. Rhodes

Hi Debra –

I’m researching new counter tops for my kitchen and bathroom. You mention in “Home Safe Home” about high-quality stone for counter tops.

What about man made stone like Caesarstone? They say on their website that there is low VOC, but when you look at the MSDS it says “Chronic Exposure: The adverse health effects from crystalline silica exposure – silicosis, cancer,

scleroderma, tuberculosis, and nephrotoxicity – are chronic effects.” I’m assuming this would be the dust from the Caesarstone.

I’ve also read on your site that you have no problems with Silestone which is also man made.

Would you suggest natural stone over man made?

Debra’s Answer

In general, I like natural materials over manmade, but I see nothing wrong with Ceasarstone. Their website lists many environmental benefits and they are certified and recommended by multiple green organizations.

I’m not concerned about the silica warning. This is for silica DUST, as in when the material is being cut. There is no more danger to using this countertop than being exposed to sand on the beach, which is also silica.

Add Comment

Question from R. Rhodes

Hi Debra –

We are hoping to buy a house that has recently been painted. We are going to paint again using OUR own paint no VOC paint, (Sherwin Williams Harmony). My question to you is, will painting over regular “smelly” paint with my no VOC paint cover up the paint smell and keep the toxins from leeching out into the air?

Thanks for all that you do!!!

Debra’s Answer

Paint is not designed to be a vapor barrier.

I would heat the house first until there are no more fumes from the old paint, and then apply your new paint.

Add Comment

Question from S

Hi Debra, We converted from natural gas to heat pump electric in the spring due to MCS. I have found the air is so dry it is causing extreme dry eye problem etc. Has anybody else found this to be a problem and if so any great humidifier out there that is ok for one with MCS? Thanks s

Debra’s Answer

This has been asked and answered before, but I’m going to give the link here because this question was asked several times this week. See Q&A: Humidifiers. If you have something to add, please post a comment there.

Add Comment

Question from Valerie W.

My husband and I are interested in purchasing an organic latex mattress. We went to a store and tried the ‘Heaven and Earth’ 100% organic style from Land & Sky and really liked it. Have any of you had any experience with this company/mattress?

Thank you,

Valerie

Debra’s Answer

Add Comment

Question from YH

You wrote in your book that lip stick is very toxic. How about chapstick? I don’t have the packaging anymore, but it is so small that no ingredient is listed on the chapstick itself. What are some ingredients in chapsticks that are bad for people? I would guess that some are not too good for consumption. Mine taste like a very sweet tangerine or orange. I like the taste a lot, but of course, I guess no fragrance is better. Thanks

Debra’s Answer

Interestingly, ChapStick is labeled as a drug.

Active ingredients:

Padimate O 1.5%………………Sunscreen

White petrolatum 44%………….Skin Protectant

Inactive ingredients:

arachidyl propionate, camphor, carnauba wax, cetyl alcohol, D&C red no. 6 barium lake, FD&C yellow no. 5 aluminum lake, fragrance, isopropyl lanolate, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, light mineral oil, methylparaben, octyldodecanol, oleyl alcohol, paraffin, phenyl trimethicone, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, white wax.

Add Comment

Question from YH

After reading Dr. Marcela’s article on stainless steel found on your website, I think it is time for me to buy Vision cookware. I read that to produce stained glass, lead is used. Will lead leak into food prepared in stained glass cookware (Corning Vision)?

Is it practical to buy glass pans? I read that food would stick and that glass cookware is one of the stickiest (food also stick on stainless steel; cast-iron is very non-stick). Also, I am afraid that it might shatter. I think having water in pots is safer than stir-frying in glass pans (which may be dry). I am still afraid that glass cookware may break and shatter any time. Thanks

Debra’s Answer

First of all, colored glass doesn’t contain lead. See Q&A: Colored Glass and click on the “Colored Glass Chemistry” link to see what is used to make different colors of glass.

Lead is used in the solder that holds the glass together to make colored glass windows. But it is not in the glass itself.

I myself have used Corning Visions cookware for over twenty years without a mishap, though others have reported otherwise (see Q&A: can visions cookware and pyrex shatter while cooking?). I do not stirfry in it, but use pots for things like warming soup, boiling eggs, etc.

Add Comment