Question from Karen

I have a question about Guardsman Fabric-coate, a fabric protector. My daughter is moving to her first apartment and found a sofa she loves. The salesperson is, of course, pushing for this product to be put on the sofa and used an impressive demonstration. The sofa is polyester and I would like to know which is worse…the fabri-coate or the polyester outgassing. Would the protector keep the sofa from outgassing? She is not MCS but I got a headache and scratchy throat after visiting the furniture store. Any thoughts?

Debra’s Answer

I contacted the company for the MSDS sheet on this product and it contains propylene glycol and formaldehyde, which both would outgas from the sofa after it is applied.

It wouldn’t block the outgassing of fumes from other synthetic materials used to make the sofa.

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Question from Ann

Hello,

I am a former mcs sufferer, and I wanted to share some information with others regarding an allergy treatment that is eliminating my chemical sensitivities and food allergies. It’s an energy-based treatment called AAT, Advanced Allergy Therapeutics. Chiropractors generally offer the treatment. Please see the AAT website, allergytx.com , for a thorough description and explanation of what it is. The doctor I have been seeing is upgrading from AAT to another system called Bioallergenix Bax 3000. I haven’t tried the new system out yet, but it is supposed to offer more detail.

My family and I have been receiving treatments since the first week of June, and we are just about done and almost allergy free. AAT even eliminated our pesticide sensitivity. We had an exposure to pesticides last summer that made us very sick and our allergies a lot worse. AAT has brought us back to a normal life.

I hope this helps others out there.

Debra’s Answer

I’m happy to hear that this worked for you.

While I am all for finding ways to alleviate discomfort, I just want to point out that toxic substances are toxic substances. I don’t want you to think that just because you now tolerate these exposures that they are safe. Pesticides are still causing harm.

For anyone who uses this, or any other method, please continue to avoid toxic chemicals. They can cause long-term damage to your health that is not immediately apparent.

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Question from Jill

I live in Boulder, CO and the local recreation centers keep using the most toxic gym floor refinishing product. I would love to propose an alternative for them to use and wonder if anyone has any suggestions.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from DE

Its very confuning on the issue of washing your produce the correct way, some say you should wash it whole and others say you should cut it up first. Can you please explain each one of the steps you should take after you buy produce. Which things should i use to clean them with? Also how much should i use? Thanks

Debra’s Answer

It’s actually different for different types of produce.

I only use filtered water to rinse my produce, I don’t “wash” it with any substances to remove pesticides, because I buy organic.

To rinse lettuce, for example, you need to pull the individual leaves apart because dirt gets lodged between the leaves near the root. Carrots you need to scrub the skins or remove them. Leeks you need to cut up because they have a lot of sand in them, then soak in a bowl of water. Any good cookbook will give instructions for washing produce.

I think it’s best to wash produce when you first bring it home, so it is handy and ready when you want to eat it. Especially lettuce, as you don’t want wet lettuce for salad. You can put clean vegetables in the crisper of your refrigerator, wrapped in a cotton towel.

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Question from HEG

I recently bought a Visions pot due to the health benefits and was very disappointed when I found out that it did not work on my glass electric stove top. It never occurred to me that the cookware may not work on some stove tops, but the owner’s manual says that glass/ceramic cookware is not recommended. Therefore, what would be my next best alternative in terms of healthy cookware, or is there anything I can do to be able to use my Visions pot on my current stove top?

thanks

Debra’s Answer

I’m not sure what you mean “it didn’t work.” What type of cooktop do you have? If it is not recommended by the manufacturer, you might call them to ask them why not, then write back and let us know.

I use Visions on my gas cooktop and have had no problem with it for more than twenty years

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Question from Sandy

Hi, I made your english toffee with brown rice syrup and was ecstatic! I eat no refined sugar and miss the candy. Used honey in all my recipes through the years and then agave but of course they would not harden. Will brown rice syrup work at all for something like pralines? I am ready to experiment!

Debra’s Answer

Yes, don’t you think my English Toffee is the best? Even better than the toffee made with white sugar?

You can use brown rice syrup, agave, and unrefined cane sugar (Rapadura and Sucanat) to make hard candy. All will crack as refined sugar does. Maple syrup and honey with also crack.

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Question from Jan

Hi Debra.

I found your web-site recently when looking for natural alternatives for laundry. I began using ECOS natural laundry detergents and I love it. I stopped using the liquid fabric softener that I had been using. I love using as many natural products in my household as possible.

I do have a dilemma, however. I love scents! Nothing is better for me than when I step out of the shower onto my uber-soft natural bamboo bath mat and grab a fresh, clean fluffy towel and when I put it up to my face and breathe in – that it smells superb. I have been using organic essential oils on a pure organic cotton ball in my dryer – works fabulously BUT, my family’s favorite scent combinations are lavender/jasmine; lavender/vanilla; sandalwood/vanilla. Most of these essential oils are VERY expensive, however…which brings me to my question.

For laundry scenting purposes would it be acceptable to use fragrance oils rather than the organic EO’s or not? I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason we love the EO’s I’ve been using are due to their natural origin and the psychological and physiological benefits of those natural plant essences, but I wanted to hear your opinion.

Debra’s Answer

My understanding is that fragrance oils contain artificial fragrances, which themselves have all kinds of negative health effects.

If you want those good aromatherapy feelings, you’ll need to use essential oils.

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Question from Bonnie Johnson

Hi Debra,

In an effort to cut costs while remodeling moms old kitchen I thought the cabinets could be painted and I could get new hardware. They are solid wood and not in bad shape with a stain on them. My contractor seems to think they will not stay painted or take the paint if a oil based paint is not used. I have talked to some of the people at AFM Safecoat and also Mystic Paints about primers etc and they seem to feel it would be ok with a water based paint. I even looked on DIY and they talk about oil based paint doing the best job.

Do you or any readers have experience with this type of project. I just don’t feel like it is necessary to reface or get new cabinets when these are still good.

Thanks Bonnie Johnson

Debra’s Answer

I just painted some old plywood cabinets a few months ago with Aura paint by Benjamin Moore. The paint is zero VOCs and I painted them myself with no ill effects.

The paint went on very smooth and “heals” itself so there are no brush marks.

You have to sand the cabinets first and not paint over old paint in order for it to stick.

We added new hardware and it looks great!

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Question from Lea

Iam wondering if anyone knows of a “true” Organic, non toxic dry cleaner. There are advertised dry cleaners that use a chemical called DF2000 that seems to be about as organic as gasoline, but is being touted as “SAFE”. Compared to what it replaces I guess this might be true. I looked it up and DF2000 is described as a fluid PERC perchloroethylene and is a probable cancer causing chemical although it shows little immediate health risks. It is Manufactured by EXXon those stewards of the environment who dumped 30 million gallons of crude oil onto the Alaska shoreline. It seems as though the dry cleaners are banking big profits using the word “ORGANIC” for those of us who truly want to protect ourselves and the environment from toxic chemicals.

I want to clean my winter down comforters and they are too big and bulky to launder even at the laundromats BIG machines.

Can anyone help?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know how to clean your comforters–readers?

With regards to the “organic” dry cleaners, any dry cleaners who uses the word organic in association with dry cleaning is using false and misleading advertising and should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission. The new chemicals are less toxic than the old ones, but there is nothing “organic” about them.

I don’t know that there is such a thing as organic dry cleaning or that there could be, as “dry cleaning” by its very nature is to use solvents to clean instead of water and soap or detergent.

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Question from YH

Hi,

Stainless steel cookware isn’t safe; nickel makes me feel stressed and makes my eyes feel stressed. Is there nickel in earrings? Are metal/silver earrings safe? How about gold earrings? And how about gold earrings that are silver? I am thinking about stop wearing earrings and let the holes heal.

Is pearcing ear lobes a good or bad idea in terms of health?

Thanks

Debra’s Answer

There can be nickel in earrings.

The toxicity of metals is a whole subject in itself, something that I plan to study more thoroughly after I complete my website redesign and restructuring I am in the midst of right now. They don’t give off toxic fumes, however, they can be absorbed through the skin.

Metals can also affect health in ways that are not about toxicity. A friend of mine just recently told me about a necklace her husband gave her almost twenty years ago. She has worn it continuously since that day. She has had a lot of health problems. It turned out to be her necklace. It’s silver or gold, I don’t remember. She stopped wearing the necklace and her symptoms significantly improved.

I also seem to recall something about how piercing the body can affect energy meridians.

The body is a finely tuned instrument. Many environmental factors can affect it for better or worse.

If you think the earrings are affecting your health, don’t wear them.

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