Question from Judy P

Dear Debra,

Thank you so much for your web site. I’ve gotten a lot of useful information here, but also some confusing information. I spent 2 years trying to figure out what pots and pans to buy. I ended up buying a set of heavy duty stainless steel with 5-layer bottoms (w/aluminum and copper) from Costco–their Kirkland brand.

I understand that I shouldn’t scratch them, and not to use steel wool to clean them. Soap & water and Bon Ami are good for most cleaning needs, but the interiors can get a little dull and/or get “rainbows” on them. I’ve always used Wright’s (or Twinkle) Copper Cream for the bottoms of Revere Ware pans. It works amazingly well. I’ve checked out the MSDS and it appears relatively safe. There is some ammonium chloride in it, but that doesn’t seem to be toxic at the levels in the product.

I noticed some comments by consumers who also used it (or the Silver Cream) on stainless steel pans, inside and out. It certainly “works” in that it shines the stainless steel, but is it safe to use on the interiors? I would certainly wash it off thoroughly with soap and water, but I’m unsure if these creams have the same effect as products that scratch, like scouring pads.

Alternatively, do you know of some non-toxic way to clean “rainbows” and other discoloration from stainless steel. Vinegar is not an option as the smell makes me nauseous.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

Haven’t read the MSDS for Wright’s, but Twinkle is considered not to be toxic and is used by a lot of people.

I wouldn’t consider using this “scratching” in the same way as metal utensils.

Readers, your suggestions?

Add Comment

Question from Laurie

What do you think of Success Brown Rice?

Debra’s Answer

Good that it’s brown, a whole grain, but not organic. And boiling in a plastic bag releases toxic elements of the plastic into the food. Not a good idea.

If you want to eat brown rice, go to a natural food store, buy some organic brown rice, make a lot of it, and then when it is cool, put it in your own plastic bags or containers and put it in the freezer. When you are ready to serve, remove the frozen rice from the bag, and put it in a vegetable steamer. In the same ten minutes it takes to cook Success Brown Rice, you’ll have organic brown rice.

Add Comment

Question from CC

I have MCS and just built a new house trying to follow guidelines for MCS building.

Have solid maple wood floors in whole house. Used AFM polyureseal BP for the finish. The wood floor guy has been doing wood floors for 30 years, and said it was the strongest smelling stuff he had ever used.

The last coat was put on July 9 (9 weeks ago). The first two weeks I couldn’t even open the door and go inside the smell was so strong. Now 9 weeks later, we still have an odor from the polyureseal bp.

My wife and two children moved in five weeks ago. Now I have several, several, thousand dollars in a new house that I cannot live in, and I am forced to be seperated from my family.

Anyone else had any problems with AFM polyureseal bp?

Any advice on what can possibly be done?

Debra’s Answer

Add Comment

Question from sv

Hi Debra, Having MCS I try to avoid anything with formaldehyde, however I know there are probably a lot of alternative names for formaldehyde used in products. Do you know or have a list of such alternative names that one should look for? Thanks sv

Debra’s Answer

Here are the ones I could find:

And these preservatives, found in personal care products, release formaldehyde:

Add Comment

Question from Kristen

Hi Debra,

I have been regularly visiting a friend who lives on top floor of a six story high building. I recently noticed presence of cellphone towers on the roof of the building (gigantic speaker look alike that picks-up cellphone reception). I am 3 months preganant. Is this place safe for me to be around?

Debra’s Answer

I am not an EMF expert, but I know some of my readers know a lot about this. Readers?

Add Comment

Question from Lisa

Hi!

We painted our cupboards with oil based paint, and I suddenly cannot go into my home without getting sick. It has been a month, and I am still sick there.

Should we wait another month for the paint to off gass, or is there a safe alternative when it comes to newer cupboards than anyone can suggest? We started to look at Kraft Maid with a baked on finish-would that be safe?

I want to go home-help!

Lisa

Debra’s Answer

The only way I know of to cure oil-based paint is to use heat. Just close up the house and leave the heat on for about two-four weeks for oil-based paint. Open the doors and windows every night and let it air out for about an hour.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use oil-based paint. It’s the most toxic paint there is.

Add Comment

Question from Ethel

Hello Debra,

I was hoping for you opinion on some Calphalon wooden spoons I found at Bed and Bath. I was about to purchase them when I read that they were made in China but distributed from OH with an all natural finish. Should I be wary of the fact that it was made in China? Otherwise what brand do you recommend for wooden spoons?

Thanks for you insight!

I was reading in your book about stainless pans. I cook a lot of cream cereal, using an old Farberware pan that does not hold a magnet. I will look into replacing it, but meanwhile I am stirring the cooking cereal for 6 minutes with a stainless steel spoon. I try not to scratch the pan in the process. Where can I find a more gentle spoon? I don’t like the idea of a bamboo spoon from China. Do you know of a source of “clean” wooden spoons and would I need to season it?

Debra’s Answer

I have a lot of wooden spoons I’ve purchased over the years. Some had finishes, others didn’t.

There’s no problem with natural finishes like beeswax, etc. But you can easily tell if the wood is unfinished.

Add Comment

Question from Janelle

Hi Debra,

I was very recently diagnosed with diabetes, and devastated, because I consider myself to be a very healthy eater, and am even known as a “health nut” to some people. However, I am, and always have been a bit confused about diabetes. Like, you hear diabetics should stay away from sugar, but then, I hear some people NEED the sugar, like a candy bar of all things. Then there is the blood sugar thing. Well, my doctor said my blood sugar was not high, yet I’m diabetic. He gave me very little guidelines as to what to do, or eat. I have been battling my weight for quite some time, in spite of my healthy eating, and was also diagnosed with high cholestoral.

Needless, to say I am very overwhelmed and very confused about all this.

And what about the “other” sweeteners,(like: honey, maple syrup, agave, sucanant, stevia…….) are they ALL really better than sugar,

Could you please explain some of this for me?

Janelle

Debra’s Answer

Well, diabetes is a very complex thing, but I will try to explain as best I can.

There are two types of diabetes–Type 1 and Type 2.

With type 1 diabetes, a person’s pancreas produces little or no insulin, so they must inject or pump insulin two or three times or more every day. How much insulin to take can be very tricky, so there are times when a Type 1 diabetic can have blood sugar that is too high or too low. When it’s too low, a candy bar will bring it up fast. Only 5 to 10 percent of people who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.

With Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas produce insulin, but it does not produce enough or it has trouble using it. The problem is too much sugar in the blood, which is why diabetics are told to not eat sugar.

Where Type 1 diabetes requires insulin, most Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by losing weight, improving nutrition and increasing exercise.

The recommended diet for people with Type 2 diabetes is to eat very few carbohydrates, as all carbs will raise blood sugar. Refined carbs will raise blood sugar faster and higher than complex carbs, so it’s better to eat whole wheat bread, for example, than white bread, but no bread is even better. The best book I know of on the subject is The Diabetes Diet by Dr. Bernstein.

Add Comment

Question from Barbara

After reading the blog entry about the toxicity of organic cotton I started wondering if it is beneficial for my garden to add back-to-nature, a soil improver made of cotton plants, or do I invite with it all the pesticides used in cotton farming plus the natural toxins cotton plants have?

Debra’s Answer

I’m assuming you are referring to Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost.

Their website says an interesting thing: “The USDA and EPA now require that all chemicals used on cotton be biodegradable within a two week period.” So if that includes pesticides, the pesticides would have broken down by the time this compost reaches your garden.

They also say: “Lab tests show that the levels of all potentially harmful elements, chemicals, etc. in Back to Nature composts are well below the recommended EPA minimums and in some cases are less than amounts that occur in nature.”

This looks to be a conscientious company that is wanting to offer a safe and natural product instead of toxic substances.

Looks fine to me.

Add Comment

Question from Jill

I’ve found I can’t really tolerate organic cotton and never really understood why. I like regular cotton! I just wash it five or six times before I wear it to get off the formaldehyde and whatever coatings are on it.

See below:

Toxicity of Organic Cotton thurs, sept 4th 8:39AM

Organic Cotton – Friend or Foe?

From the EHC-D Newsletter

September 2008

Debra’s Answer

Add Comment