Question from RBES

Hi Everyone,

I’m looking into buying a MP3 player. I was wondering if you know of a particular brand that is the most environmentally friendly. I believe that macs claim to be. Do you know if this is true? Thanks for any help that you can give me.

Debra’s Answer

I haven’t done any research on this.

Readers?

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Question from Phil

Hi Debra,

You mentioned you mostly purchase regular cotton or linen clothing, but are careful to select these fabrics with no permanent press finish.

How do you know which cotton fabrics have no permanent press finish? Is there a particular brand you look for?

Thank you,

Debra’s Answer

Fabrics with permanent-press finishes are labeled “permanent press,” “easy care,” “wrinkle free” or some similar wording. It is on the label as a selling point, as some people want this.

I’ve never purchased a garment that was not so labeled, and then suspected it had a formaldehyde-based finish on it.

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Question from Kim

Debra,

I have been able to find some palm sugar locally, and am planning on pulverizing it in a coffee grinder for use as a white sugar (powdered or granular) substitute. In your experience, does organic palm sugar behave like organic cane sugar in baking and/or confectionary applications?

Thank you so much for any guidance you may be able to provide!

Debra’s Answer

Yes, and it’s really delicious.

And it will raise blood sugar just like refined white sugar, though it is less refined.

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Question from CJStewart

I am looking to buy some cookie cutters for use by small children playing with clay/dough. My two options are aluminum/stainless or polystyrene. The plastic would be less sharp, I think. But, of course, they’re plastic. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Debra’s Answer

For this use, I don’t think it makes a lot of difference for health or the environment. They are both about the same in their impacts.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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Question from cr

Anybody have any idea if this type of tea pot is safe to use? The bottom is stainless steel. Cathy

Debra’s Answer

Test all ceramicware with a LeadCheck test kit, which you can purchase in the paint department at Home Depot for about $5.

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