Question from Tessa M

I just found your blog and I am impressed – so much help!

Recently, I have been trying to find an ice cream that has been sweetened with a natural sweetner. I have seen a few made with “evaporated cane juice” but was curious if that is the same as “crystallized raw cane juice?” I didn’t know if how they evaporate the cane juice took changed or added anything which would case it to no longer be a whole food? Any help would be great!!

Debra’s Answer

I’m going to give you a quick answer here, though there is more explanation. One day I will sit down and write it all out.

All cane sugar starts with the raw sugar cane. It is very fiberous. If you take a piece in your mouth and chew on it, it will taste very sweet as the juice is released. If you can get fresh sugar cane (we can here in Florida), try it. It is a whole, sweet food with lots of nutrients.

The next step is to press the cane in a very heavy duty machine that presses the juice from the fiber. I’ve looked for a hand-crank sugar cane press, and the few that exist are expensive. It’s not like juicing oranges! A local restaurant here has an expensive motorized sugar cane press and they make fresh sugar cane juice to sweeten drinks. I’ve had it and it is wonderful. It’s essentially like chewing on sugar cane, only the machine does the chewing. Though sugar cane is fiberous, you can’t eat the fiber–what you can get out of the sugar cane is the juice.

Now, you can take that sugar cane juice and remove the water. That is evaporated cane juice. It’s the whole cane juice with nothing added or removed, except the water. It is a powder–not a crystal. If you want to consume it in it’s natural form, as it would be straight from the cane, mix it with water, about a teaspoon in a half a cup of water.

Jumping ahead, the process of refining sugar is one of heating this cane juice until it separates into the pure white sugar crystals and the syrupy sludge of “impurities” (all the nutrients) that we call molasses. By the way, what we call “brown sugar” is refined white sugar with molasses added, not the same as the whole evaporated cane juice.

I suppose evaporated cane juice could be “raw” if it was evaporated at low temperatures, but I don’t think you could get it to crystalize without boiling it, and then it wouldn’t be raw.

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Question from Vivian Engel

After leaving a message/request every time I shopped at Costco, they are finally carrying a liquid laundry product they are labeling as eco-friendly. It is called Wintree and is manufactured by Huish Detergents in Salt Lake City, Utah. How can I find out if this product legitimately deserves the label “eco-friendly” as much as Seventh Generation or Ecover or my current purchases. I am so tired of being conned by the big business advertisements.

Debra’s Answer

What you can do with any product you are wondering about is look at the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which any manufacturer of cleaning products must supply to you by law. It lists hazardous ingredients that you can then look up on the internet.

I’ve already taken a look at Wintree and commented on it at Q&A: Liquid Detergent at Costco. My local Costco now sells Ecos brand laundry detergent, which has been sold in natural food stores for years.

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Question from Bill

My tomatoe plants grow right next to my garage which, considering its age, is painted with lead-based paint. Is it possible that my tomatoe’s roots are sucking up lead from the ground? As paint deteriorates, does it even release lead into the ground?

If so, I’ll grow them in containers next year, however, would the tomatoe’s roots leach toxins from a 5 gallon plastic bucket?

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Lyn

Dear Debra,

With all the traveling you do I was wondering what you do for filtered water when you are not at home? Is there a travel water filter you use or would recommend? I remember you posted sometime ago that when you were in San Francisco you didn’t have the water alkalizer you had at home. Are there any effective portable solutions for that as well?

Thanks again.

Lyn

Debra’s Answer

You know, I would like to know the answer to this as well.

For three months I stayed in a rented furnished apartment with a lease that wouldn’t let me do anything without written permission, so I don’t think they would approve an attached water filter. Smaller filters, like those that attach to faucets don’t do much.

Then I stayed in a hotel for two weeks. Again, I don’t think they would go for a water filter.

So I drank bottled water and was VERY happy to come home to my filtered shower water!

Readers, any suggestions for us?

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Question from JG

In these difficult economic times, I am trying to make healthy choices for my family. I unfortunately, cannot afford to buy everything organic. I have a list of fruits and vegetables that I try and buy organically as well as trying to purchase only the foods that we eat EVERYDAY the same way. However, at the end of the day it seems that all of the food that I purchase ends up being very important to me. So, does anyone have any ideas as to how you are going about choosing your priority list of what to buy organic and what to let slide?

I also have two daughters approaching the age of cosmetics and I would like for them to get started on the right foot. I am looking at Miessence for this need.

Difficult decisions in difficult times!

JG

Atlanta, GA

Debra’s Answer

Organic food CAN be expensive. Some ways to save money on organics:

Your question was serendipitous, as this week I had just added a website to Debra’s List that answers your question.

Environmental Working Group: Pesticides in Produce lists produce items from most to least amount of pesticides (peaches have the most, onions the least), so you can know where it’s most important to buy organic.

But let me also give you a tip that is not on the list. Non-organic meat contains more pesticides than any non-organic produce, and non-organic dairy products contain more pesticides than non-organic produce too, with butter topping the list.

So here’s your priority list for buying organic.

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Question from Leslie Adams

HI Debra – thanks so much for all the shared information online! I am not sure where to “put” this query, online, so am adding it on here, as it does have to do with exposure to environmental toxins and MCS – although this particular topic is not one I have found addressed – perhaps I am just missing it somewhere!

I was diagnosed first with MCS about 20 years ago now – have improved alot, but in 1998, was exposed to what my environmental doctor/allergist says was “plane chemicals”, ie, pesticides sprayed in cabin – which I learned is routinely done(and perhaps in the hold – he wasn’t sure if chemicals from there would migraine into AC system or not); strong and toxic cleaning chemicals used for carpet on floor of cabin, seats/upholstery, etc; migration of that terrible bathroom deodorant-sanitizer product in air/chemical odor always present in the restrooms (and which does go out into cabin every time door is opened and shut); diesel fuel that always seems to seep into cabin after engines are started and before plane takes off; air deodorizers used to keep “air” in cabin smelling clean and fresh; etc etc etc. As a result of the plane ride from SF to Honolulu (didn’t happen on the way TO the mainland from Honolulu), I was diagnosed not only with recurring MCS but also, a “bipolar-like disorder resulting from airplane toxic chemical exposure”. I am, ten years later, much better, but still remain with a low-grade degree of this same disorder – and have been told not to travel by plane again, nor by ship – because the same kinds of chemicals are also used to keep ships clean and bug-free. People eat, drink, spill things, children have accidents, babies spit up, people get air-sick, etc etc – and so, wherever people travel, there will be problems unless chemically treated for. (Subsequently I have come across two flight attendants who can no longer fly on planes due to chemical exposures through their years of working on planes)

(Side note relating to this same topic: Of interest to those riding buses and not feeling well, I have also learned that our buses here on Oahu are sprayed routinely with pesticides, because the bus company learned the hard way that our large homeless population, or those living in poverty stricken areas, who do have ability to get bus passes for free or very low cost, sometimes have “cooties” (as the bus company customer relations so aptly put it)and those hop off and then, onto someone else, or onto their belongings. I had ridden the bus a while back and got headaches and felt ill while on the bus, so thought I would call and ask if something on the bus was causing this – of course, I now know it could also have been the interior of the bus offgassing, although one of the buses I rode was several years old. They ALL have AC now, which was not the case many years ago – so that could also be adding to the problem. I obviously gave up on riding the bus.)

My question for you and your readers is, has anyone else experienced this and also found a way to REMAIN WELL on subsequent flying? My doctor keeps reminding me that nothing has changed in how the airlines keeps their planes clean, and that our skin is our largest organ, and skin-absorption of air-borne toxins remains the biggest route of exposure in this situation – he had me call two airlines to see if they would allow me to fly with a “chemical-proof suit” of some sort on and a mask, and both airlines said “no” to the suit-idea – that it would (and I am quoting one airline) “freak out the other passengers, who would think you either had something terribly contagious or that something terrible is wrong with the inside of the plane’s cabin” – and if they saw that it would make ME sick, THEY TOO might become ill – and it would be bad for business! Not helpful! Thanks, Leslie from Hawaii

Debra’s Answer

I understand your dilemma, and I’m not quite sure what to tell you. Any time you are in a place where there are a lot of people in close proximity who may have “cooties” and germs, they need to be controlled for public health. Yet, those controls are often toxic.

Personally I avoid those toxic exposures by not traveling much by plane or bus or cruise ship. When I do fly, I always open the little vent above my seat full blast and point it right at my face. These seems to help a lot.

Also, I do a lot of things to make my body more tolerant of the exposures I do have. By living in a nontoxic environment and supporting the ability of my body to detox, I can be exposed to these chemicals for the length of a plane ride without much ill effect. But I understand not everyone is able to do that.

Whenever possible, I travel in my own private car, which may not be best for the environment, but better for health. Recently, though, we travel in our car powered by vegetable oil, so driving it good for our health and the environment!

Readers, your suggestions?

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Question from Marie

I need new tires badly (the vibration bothers my very EMF sensitive son). I’m concerned about the odor of new ones bothering him -he has MCS. Suggestions? Thanks.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from Mark

1)Is it possible for a house that was once sprayed indoors with pesticides to have wholesome air quality inside?

2)Or is the indoor air quality permanently impaired by just one application of pesticides?

3)Is there any way pesticide residues can be removed once a house has been sprayed?

Debra’s Answer

1) It depends on the pesticide used and the amount applied. If it is a less toxic pesticide and a small amount was applied, it will probably break down over time. If it was a large amount and very toxic, maybe not.

2) See #1 above.

3) Pesticides break down over time. Heat will break them down faster. Also, you can contact the pesticide company and ask them how to clean it up.

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Question from Pam Wheelock

I just wanted to share this article I wrote for our newsletter.

Pam 🙂

Nose Deep in Our World

Cats and dogs engage in many behasviors we do not. They clean themselves, using their tongues as washcloths. They eat off the floor. They are petted by guardians whose hands have been busy all day and immersed in who knows what. Their food may come exclusively from cans or plastic lined pouches. They chew on toys which contain plasticizers, heavy metals, and dyes. They sleep on foam beds soaked in flame retardants and protected with stain proofing chemicals. They walk without shoes on lawns and other surfaces which may harbor all kinds of trace chemicals. Basically– they are nose deep in the big wooly world, chemicals and all.

The Price They Pay: Our Pets’ Chemical Burden

Have you ever heard of the Environmental Working Group (EWG)? You can find out much more about them here, But for now just remember they are a not-for-profit research and educational organization concerned about the impact of industrial toxins on the world’s health.

Debra’s Answer

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Question from R.M.

HI Debra and Green Living Blog Readers:

For example, I can either pay a couple thousand for organic mattresses or insurance will cover the 3″ polyurethane foam mats.

I have several articles of clothing which are no longer useful. They are stained, or ripped, or otherwise inappropriate for donating as used clothing.

I do not want these articles to end up in the landfill, but they are taking up valuable space in my bedroom. I have already repurposed holey socks into rags, and may cut up a few t-shirts for that use as well, but I don’t need many more rags, and I have a pair of unwearable jeans that is plaguing me. Any creative suggestions would be much appreciated.

Debra’s Answer

Well, oddly enough, the answer is to take your nonservicable clothing to the Goodwill or Salvation Army.

When they get donations of clothes that are too worn to re-sell in their shops, these organizations send the clothing to “rag sorters” that specialize in recycling fabrics of all types and sizes. About half the clothing gets sold in developing countries, while garments like cotton t-shirts are turned into wiping and polishing clothes and sold to industries and consumers. Some textiles are shredded into fibers used to make new products, such as fine quality “rag” paper, and blankets.

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