debor015

          Since the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s best selling book, Silent Spring, which essentially launched the environmental movement, the use of synthetic pesticides to control pests has been a major issue to the public as well as various heath and environmental groups.   Today, the toxicity of various pesticides is well recognized to reach beyond specific target organisms, affecting both wildlife as well as human health.   Specifically, exposure to pesticides has been associated with a variety of health problems, ranging from mild headaches and fatigue to more severe cancers, birth defects, reduced fertility, and nerve damage.   In spite of the damage caused by pesticides, however, the use of these toxic chemicals remains rampant in both the United States and abroad, and in some cases is even increasing.   Consequently, pesticides are found everywhere in the environment and can be measured in the blood and ur...

           According to a study conducted for Food Safety News, most honey sold in U.S. grocery stores isn’t true honey.   This is because of a process known as ultra-filtration which filters out the pollen.   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that any honey that has been ultra-filtered and no longer contains pollen isn’t honey.   That said, the agency has been slow to test honey and prevent false labeling.   Of all the samples tested from major stores such as Costco, Safeway, Sam's Club, Walmart, and Target, over 75% did not contain pollen.   What’s more, of the honey sampled from drug stores (Walgreens, CVS, Right-Aid) as well as small single-use packets at fast food restaurants (McDonalds, KFC, etc.), 100% did not contain pollen. Why is honey ultra-filtered? There is no reason for ultra-filtering honey except to mask its identity (removing pollen makes it virtually impossible to detect where honey came ...

            A couple months ago I blogged about the toxicity of plastic water bottles due to BpA and other chemical exposures.   It’s important to be aware, however, that plastics are not the only major source of BpA exposure.   People are also exposed through consuming canned food and beverages.   This is because BpA is used to line the insides of these cans prior to packaging.   As a reminder, BpA can interfere with metabolic processes and cause reproductive health problems, and is therefore important to avoid.   Together, by reducing your consumption of canned foods and soft drinks, and by avoiding certain plastics (see previous article), you can successfully avoid the two greatest sources of human BpA exposure!             I can personally attest to the effect these exposures have on BpA levels in the body.   About six months ago, I participated...