Question from Barbara

I am confused about stevia. Is it best to use only the whole leaf in dried or powder form. I mean the green powder as opposed to the white powder that says it is derived from the stevia leaf. Thank you

Debra’s Answer

It’s better to use the dried whole leaf (or fresh whole leaf, of course) or powdered whoe green leaf, rather than the white powder. This is the whole, unrefined stevia as it exists in nature (with water removed).

The white powder is a “fractionated” stevia, just the sweet part removed from the whole leaf. It is much easier to use and is more versatile, but it is “refined”.

The point about this is that nature supplies various substances within a context. For example, vitamin C comes in a package called an “orange”, along with water, fiber, and other nutrients and sugars. Nature’s intention is clearly that vitamin C is intended to be consumed with these other co-factors.

Does this mean we shouldn’t eat pure vitamin C? Well, it would be better if we took it with water and fiber and other nutrients, which is why many supplements say to take them with food.

When we take individual food components out of context, we open the door to imbalance. Nature never isolates and concentrates food components. They are always offered in context. And our bodies are designed to eat them in context. This is why I am moving in the direction of satisfying our natural desire for sweets with naturally sweet foods.

And fresh or dried stevia leaf is one of these naturally sweet foods. I have a living stevia plant right by my back door. As I pass by, if I want something sweet, I just pop a leaf in my mouth! Many edible flowers are sweet too. The red flowers of Pineapple Sage are very sweet, mint leaves are delicious and come in a number of flavors (try chocolate mint!) and anise produces licorice-flavored seeds. These are “natural candies” that require no sweetener, and they can all be grown in pots.

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Question from Linda

Hi Debra,

I was shopping in Walmart here in Kissimmee, FL and came across a sweetner called Clabber Girl Sugar Replacer. It has Sorbitol, Eythritol, Isomalt, Polydextrose, Acesulfime, Potassium and Neotame. Are these natural sweetners or should they be avoided?

Thanks,

Linda

Debra’s Answer

You may have heard the recommendation, “If you don’t recognize a food ingredient as a food, don’t eat it!” That applies to sweeteners as well.

Sorbitol, Eythritol, Isomalt, and Polydextrose are sugar alcohols. Acesulfime and Neotame are artificial sweeteners, not recommended. Potassium is a salt.

I wouldn’t use this product.

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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 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 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 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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Question from Loreye

I am in the process of replacing my 30 year-old 45% efficient furnace with a 92% efficient furnace. Only problem is that because of condensation PVC piping is used so that there is no question of rust. But PVC is the most toxic plastic out there, to make and to have in my home. Has any one gone through this and found an alternative to PVC? My contractor has yet to find one.

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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Question from RBES

I have a few descoware pots from the 1970’s. The enamel coating is a little scratched on most of them. Are these safe to use? How can I find out if the coatings have lead in them? Thanks for any information you can give me.

Debra’s Answer

You can find out if they have lead in the coating by using a Lead-Check kit, which is sold now at Home Depot, among other places. It’s only $5. But I’ve never heard that enamel pots contain lead.

Chipped enamel isn’t a problem, but if it exposes the metal beneath, I would stop using it. The metal isn’t intended to have contact with food.

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