Question from M.B.

For several years my mother has suffered from xerostomia or Dry Mouth. This is most likely the side effect of medications she takes. She combats this lack of saliva with the recommended self-care – sucking on sugar-free hard candy or chewing sugar-free gum. Not surprisingly, the gum/candy I see her using always has one of your “Sweeteners to Avoid.”

I’m committed to finding her a healthy substitute. I’ve learned from my research that the process of making hard candy precludes the use of many sweeteners. This seemed like it should be an easy task, but it has proven to be rather challenging. She just needs something healthy – anything healthy (candy or otherwise) – to turn to when she faces dry mouth, as she does on a daily basis. Any specific product recommendations?

Debra’s Answer

Check your local natural food store. I know they have hard candies there made with rice syrup and mints sweetened with xylitol.

The problem one runs into making hard candy with various sweeteners is that some of them don’t “crack”, which means they won’t get hard when you cook them like a hard candy.

I’ve found that evaporated cane juice, maple syrup, and brown rice syrup will crack. You should be able to cook any of these with a small amount of water and until they reach a certain temperature that when you put a bit in cold water it will turn hard right away. You can then spread it out on parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet and let it cool, then break into pieces. You could add flavorings if you want. You could also get candy molds to make shapes.

But it would be easier to just purchase hard candies at the natural food store.

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Question from P.J.

Hi Debra,

I’ve been having a problem with mice ever since some new neighbours moved in. She once told me that they had mice in their old place (which was just up the street, less than 1/2 a block away). I don’t know if she moved mice with her accidentally (burrowed in the boxes), but I understand that they will follow their scent.

My question is how do I get rid of them or at least keep them from coming back, once I catch them then release them miles away from my home. I’ve used the the “sonic” plug ins which are supposed to repel them, but unless I use one in every plug-in in the house, I can’t seem to keep them away. I read somewhere that chocolate is a poison, and the article made it sound o.k. to put that in the “live” traps, but I don’t want to kill them, I just want to keep them out of my house. I also have a dog, so I have to make sure that whatever I use will not be dangerous or hazardous for her, or for any young children that might come into contact with it.

I live in Canada (Ottawa), so much of the products you mention are not available here.

Any help you (or your readers) can offer, would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Readers, what has worked for you?

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Question from Sweet Sue

A friend uses whey low as a sugar replacement and just loves it. Since it is used spoon for spoon just like sugar, it is good for baking.

I do not see this in the list of approved sweeteners and would like to hear your views.

Thanks,

Sweet Sue

Debra’s Answer

I did check out Whey Low. It looked interesting and made some claims of being low glycemic. I ordered some and it tastes great. But it also sent my blood sugar through the roof.

Then I read a blog post from Lowcarbezine! that gave a critique that I totally agreed with. Here’s an edited version (you can read the original at http://www.holdthetoast.com/httblog/archives/000169.html–just wanted to put it here in case that page gets taken down). She is writing from a low-carb viewpoint.

I couldn’t have said it better. Though Whey Low’s sugars come from natural sources, they are as refined as refined white sugar. It’s simply refined white sugar cut with crystalline fructose made from corn (which I don’t recommend either) and the sugar part of milk without the rest of the nutrients.

I don’t consider Whey Low to be a good substitute for sugar.

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Question from Debra S.

Dear Debra:

My husband and I had our hard wood floors refinished in February of this year. Harco Polyurethane 350 VOC was used. My husband pointed out some imperfections in the finish and the contractor came back and did something which increased the fumes (we found cans of Harco and paint thinner in the garbage).

It is now July and we can still smell chemicals. We moved into the bedroom where the flooring was redone at the beginning of July. Coincidentally, or maybe not, I have not been feeling well. My face is broken out. My nose and eyes are burning. My throat is burning. I’ve been dizzy, sick to my stomach, fatigued, having difficulty concentrating and generally feeling poorly.

Do you have any idea what may have happened and what can be done? I hope we haven’t suffered any permanent ill effects.

Debra S.

Debra’s Answer

I went to the Harco website and found that the product you use is an oil-based finish, which contains more toxic solvents than a water-based finish. I tried to get the MSDS sheet from Harco, but their automatied email system didn’t work, so I can’t tell you exactly what’s in it. But oil-based finishes can outgass toxic chemicals for months. So I’m not surprised you are not feeling well.

The solution is to apply heat to burn off the chemicals more quickly. I suggest not sleeping in this room immediately. And close the door so the fumes don’t get into the rest of the house. Then get a space heater and put it in the closed room. Let it bake for a few days, then air it out by opening the windows. Repeat this as many times as you need to until you feel well in the room.

As to permanent effects, the body is amazingly resisilent and is always tending to health. Stay away from toxic chemicals and it will begin to regenerate itself.

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Question from E.L.

Per Hulda Clark’s recommendation in “The Cure for All Diseases”, I’ve been using Borax as my laundry detergent for a number of years now. I always do two rinse cycles–the first with a cup of vinegar added to help get out residue, and the second with just plain water.

It recently occurred to me that boric acid comes from borax, and it is toxic enough to kill insects. I have MCS, and I’m now wondering if wearing clothes and sleeping in bedding washed in borax is hazardous to my health? First of all, is borax toxic or just the boric acid which comes from it? Second, if it is, would the amount of rinsing I do on my laundry loads negate that?

Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

I posted some info on the health effects of borax at Q&A: what are some natural emulsifiers for cleaning products, but let’s discuss it more here.

I hauled out my chemical dictionary to see if you were correct in your logical that “boric acid comes from borax” therefore borax may be toxic.

First, borax is natural sodium borate, found in salt lakes and alkali soils. Once, while driving through Death Valley in southern California, I just had to stop at the Twenty Mule Team Museum in the tiny town of Boron, where much of the borax used in this country is mined. You can see on display the boron right out of the ground. Borax is about as natural a natural mineral as you can get.

Boric acid is a manufactured product made by two methods 1) adding hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid to a solution or borax and crystallizing or 2) extraction from borax brines with various petrochemicals, then stripped using sulfuric acid.

There are a number of forms of borax listed in my chemical dictionary, they all have uses such as herbicide, weed killer, soil sterilant, fungus control…and borax itself is one of the best things to use to clean mold. So it does have that property of killing micro-organisms, albeit in a natural way.

Now, to get to your question, is wearing clothes and sleeping in bedding washed in borax hazardous to your health? I would say no, or at least, it would be less toxic than other things you might wash your clothes in, like detergent. It sounds like with all the rinsing, it would probably rinse out. It’s not the same as boric acid.

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Question from EPArthur

My husband and I are in the unpleasant position of having to overhaul our driveway. Any way you slice it, its expensive, especially for first-time homeowners. Asphalt seems to be an awful choice but that only leaves us with concrete, right? It was suggested that we try crushed granite or limestone but I don’t think that’s allowed in our subdivision. We’re in the midwest with extremes on both ends of the weather scale, but not for extended periods of time. Any recommendations for putting in an environmentally friendly driveway?

Debra’s Answer

I think what you want is something called “permeable pavement” or “pervious pavement” which allows water to go through instead of running off. Some is made from recycled materials. There is some info on this at Q&A: Synthetic Turf (scroll down) but you can learn more by searching on these terms with your favorite search engine.

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Question from Fran

SUNSCREEN: I get some sun everyday and then cover up rather than slather up (with sunscreen!) – but I think I may have found a safe, natural sunscreen for when needed: Mexitan. I was looking at Greenlight (magazine) and checked on one of their biodegradable sunscreens’ ingredients. Mexitan has Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide and Inactive Ingredients: Sunflower Oil, Green Tea Extract, Coconut Oil, Almond Oil, Lanolin, Tocopherol Acetate(Vitamin E), Eucalyptus Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate(Vitamin C)

I had questions about when the minerals (titanium or zinc oxide) are too small to be safe, and can enter your tissues and bloodstream if too small,and noticed Mexitan’s website asserts they have no nanoparticles. Here is Mexitan’s reply:

Thanks for your question. It is one we get a lot these days with people concerned about nanoparticles. The short answer is that Mexitan does not contain any nanoparticles.

The technical aspects of our stuff is as folows. The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide used in Mexitan is micronized (NOT nanoparticles), with a coated variable particle size greater than 100nm but less than 500nm. (Nanoparticles are considered to be less than 100nm in size). This allows our sunscreen lotions to be more cosmetically appealing compared to coarser particles. The protection is less visible, yet remains on the skin’s surface.

….Thanks for your interest.

Eric Allen

Debra’s Answer

This looks pretty good.

Over the weekend my husband and I went kayaking and needed some sunscreen so our skin wouldn’t burn being out in the sun on a three-hour trip. We had to buy whatever we could find at a chain drug store and were pleased to find Neutogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion. It also contains titanium dioxide, though the inactive ingredients are not natura, and it is unscented. It went on white, so no nanoparticles. While not the best, it was nice to know there was at least a better choice at the drug store!

Still, I want to caution that there are some health concerns about titanium dioxide so I suggest using it as needed, and not just applying it every day. Better to block sun with umbrellas or clothing or stay in the shade when you can.

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Question from Jennifer

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how long the worst of the offgassing is from vinyl flooring? I’m living with my parents and I can’t talk them out of installing new vinyl flooring in the kitchen and laundry room.

And can anyone recommend a non-toxic adhesive that can be used with vinyl flooring?

Thanks very much!

Jennifer

Debra’s Answer

Vinyl flooring takes a loooong time to outgas. Definately not recommended.

Offhassing can be accelerated with the use of heat. If your parents would allow it, I recommend closing all the doors and windows, the putting a space heater in the closed room. Let it bake for a few days, then air it out by opening the windows. Repeat this as many times as you need to until you no longer smell the vinyl.

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Question from Kerri

I contacted Ecover regarding the use of sodium lauryl sulfate and this is what they said: “Some of our products do contain sodium lauryl sulfate, of vegetable origin, derived from coconut oil. This functions as a surfactant which is listed on our labels.

SLS has a long history of safe use in a variety of cleaning products. Wide-spread Internet rumors regarding its use as being harmful have been investigated by respected publications such as THE WASHINGTON POST and THE BERKELY WELLNESS NEWSLETTER and have been proven to be unfounded. THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY also has an information page debunking the claims.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.”

My question is, if it is plant derived does that make it ok to use and non-toxic? I know you recommend this brand to use so I am guessing if it is plant origin derived it is ok? From all that I have heard about SLS’s in whatever form they are in. they are toxic and not safe to use, is this true?

Here are the ingredients, do you know which one is the SLS? “Oxygen chlorine free bleach, plant based non-ionic tensio-active surfactants, enzymes, salts, silicate, citrate, polypeptides, plant based bleach activator, plant based frangrance (lemon type).” Is there a website for people that are new to this whole thing that lists what ingredients are toxic are which are safe to use in all of its different name forms, not just its chemical name? I would have assumed that all the ingredients listed above are safe, since they did not use SLS in the ingredient list.

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

“If it is plant derived does that make it ok to use and non-toxic?” Yes and no. In general, plant-derived ingredients are more bio-compatible with the human body, however there are some plants that have poisons. Some herbs, for example, need to be used with caution.

Coconut is very safe and good for bodies in many ways. Coconut oil is very good for the skin, however, products made from it, such as even coconut oil soap, can be drying to the skin and mucous membranes.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is derived from coconut oil, however, it is made by adding sulfuric acid (made from sulfur taken from direct mining or processing of low-grade ores such as coal and petroleum) followed by neutralization with sodium carbonate (a natural mineral).

Like all detergent and soaps, it removes oils from the skin, can cause skin irritation. and is also irritating to the eyes.

You can read more about the health concerns at Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website–Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

Now, to your quesiton, “From all that I have heard about SLS’s in whatever form they are in. they are toxic and not safe to use, is this true?” One of the primary determining factors of toxiciy is method of exposure. There is a huge difference between brushing your teeth with SLS and washing your clothes with it. The primary problem is skin irritation. If you are going to use this product, I would make sure that you have soft water or add a water softener (such as baking soda) to your wash to make sure there are no residues left in the fabric that could irriate your skin. Otherwise, I’m not concerned. Every laundry product and cleaning product contains some similar surfactant.

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Question from Rosiem

what do you put down on a concrete floor to sound proof it before you cement down tiles?

Debra’s Answer

Hmmmmm. I don’t know. I’ve never done that. Readers?

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