Nourish Your Body
With Fabulous Homemade Food
Proper Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
My guest today is Heidi Sanborn, Executive Director of the California Product Stewardship Council, a powerful network of local governments, non-gocernment organizations, businesses and individuals who believe “people should be able to enjoy safer products made without the harmful and toxic components which jeopardize the safety and health of our children, families, and communities.” Today we’ll be talking about how pharmaceutical collection sites can safeguard the environment and our water supply, and help prevent drug abuse by children and teens. Heidi has been a leader in the solid waste industry in California for 22 years, working with industry, government and the public to reduce waste, improve product design and recyclability, and implement cost-effective policies which protect the health of communities. Collaborating with local government leaders, Heidi was one of two original co-directors of CPSC in 2007 to change the way product waste is funded and managed in California; she has since become a nationally recognized thought leader and driver for innovative product stewardship programs across the country. Heidi’s collaborative, tenacious problem-solving approach has delivered unprecedented success in developing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) public policy at national, state and local levels. She has engaged diverse stakeholder groups to create and promote best-in-class product stewardship programs for pharmaceuticals, mercury thermostats, carpets, paint, fluorescent lights, and batteries. Heidi speaks throughout the world to raise awareness about product stewardship. She teaches about EPR for the California Resources Recovery Association, and has been frequently published on the topic. Heidi earned a B.A. in Political Science – Public Service from the University of California at Davis and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She lives in Sacramento with her husband Brad and three rescue dogs and enjoys adventure travel. www.calpsc.org/products/pharmaceuticals
Doctor’s Warn Against Flu Shots
Flu shots are still being heavily promoted here in Clearwater, Florida. But it wasn't difficult for me to find articles from doctors recommending that we NOT get flu shots. FYI, I have never gotten a flu shot in my life. For one thing, they don't seem to be effective....
Our Toxic World and Why We Need to Do Something
My guest today is Catherine J. Frompovich, author of Our Chemical Lives and the Hijacking of Our DNA. This book is so full of information on toxic chemicals and their health effects, I can hardly describe it. While I usually talk about solutions, today we’re going to be talking about the problem, so you can understand WHY we need to protect ourselves. As a result of her lifelong interest in nature and the natural way, Catherine J. Frompovich enrolled in holistic modalities and natural nutrition. During her studies that led to advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences and a Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice, she came to realize how important it is to follow the “owner’s manual” that comes with the human body – Nature’s intended way of life, living, and healthcare. She spent numerous years in practice as a consulting nutritionist and has written many books. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, her books were used by teachers in elementary schools to teach nutrition, a subject – and lifestyle – that she feels truly is imperative in maintaining one’s health from its prenatal stage and throughout life. During the 1980s, she had a cooking show on cable TV, devoted to the natural way of preparing food. For five years, she was the editor of The Healthcare Rights Advocate, a 32 page quarterly newsletter centered on the politics of healthcare in the 1980s. In the 1990s she represented alternative healthcare interests on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Now that she’s a widow and retired, she devotes her time to writing books; consults with aspiring writers to get their works into publication, and helps in the design phase of authors’ books. Catherine also continues her several decades-long research in consumer health and its care, plus the politics of healthcare issues. Her work is published online. www.catherinejfrompovich.com
Removing Paint Odor
Question from Betty We had our stippled ceiling painted in May with a ultra flat alkyd calcimine recoater and I am still smelling gaseous fumes. Would repainting with AFM Safecoat transitional primer solve this problem. We have tried baking soda, vinegar, lemons,...
Compact Fluorescent Lights May Save Energy but Can Harm Your Health
My guest today is Paul Wheaton, who is well-known in Permaculture circles. I invited him to be a guest on the show because he wrote a great article about why we shouldn’t use compact fluorescent bulbs, even though they are being heavily promoted by environmentalists to save energy. Paul believes, as I do, that we shouldn’t do something toxic to achieve some other goal, but rather find a solution that supports the entire ecosystem, including the humans. So today we’re going to talk about how CFL’s can harm your health and what else you can do to save energy that is toxic-free. www.richsoil.com/CFL-fluorescent-light-bulbs.jsp#CFL-bulb-toxicity
Worried About Toxic Chemicals in Furniture
Question from Anonymous Dear Debra, We recently ordered a lot of new furniture from Ashley Furniture store (bought in CA, made in China) and I am nervous about all the chemicals that may be in my air. We got a dining room table and hutch, and kitchen table that have a...
Aluminum Foil Melted in Oven
Question from RP Someone lined my oven with aluminum foil that melted on the bottom the next time I turned my oven on. Debra's Answer I'm not aware of any toxic exposure from aluminum foil heated in the home, though manufacture of aluminum produces greenhouse gasses...
Honest Shampoo
Question from Michele I am looking for hair care products for me and my daughters and came across shampoo and conditioner from the Honest company. Looks like it is ok, but I remember reading somewhere about orange oil that can act as formaldehyde. Would you recommend...
EWG’s List of Dirty Dozen Endocrine Disruptors
Environmental Working Group just released a new report listing a dozen chemicals, how they affect your endocrine system, how you are exposed to them, and some simple suggestions on how to avoid them. The twelve chemicals listed are: BPA Dioxin Atrazine Phthalates...
New FDA Regulations Could Put Small Farmers Out of Business
The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a set of regulations that, if implemented as written, will negatively affect many small farmers and could put some of them out of business. These proposed regulations fall under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA),...
