The Green Zone with Linda Mason Hunter
For past Green Zone tips check out: https://www.lindamasonhunter.com/about
BREAKING NEWS...
A GREAT GIFT FOR THAT SPECIAL CHILD
When I was a little kid my mother gave me a copy of Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. That was the beginning of my love affair with books. Fifty-some years later I wrote a children’s fable of my own, dedicated to the memory of E.B. White. It’s called Three Green Rats, an Eco Tale, for ages 7 to 11 and precocious adults, a funny early chapter book filled with “green” tips preparing the next generation to inherit this remarkable planet we call Earth.
As a child in love with reading, I was entranced with glossaries, so I included a glossary at the end of my eco tale; the word “glossary” appears in the glossary. And that’s just the beginning of the clever giggles at play throughout this humorous book, making it really fun to read out loud.
Three Green Rats, an Eco Tale is available for $20 cash or Venmo. Simply contact me through email: Linda@Hunterink.com. Or visit me in Mainframe Studio #275 on First Friday April 3rd and First Friday May 1st where I’ll be signing and dedicating books for that special someone in your life.
Mainframe Studios is located at 900 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, Iowa.
April, 2026
Is it okay to store food in plastic?
The short answer is no if you want to avoid microplastics altogether. According to the Washington Post, prior studies have found heating plastic aggravates microplastic leaching, though it can also occur, albeit more slowly, during refrigeration over several months. You’d think that freezing food in plastic would be even safer.
Well, here’s where it gets interesting. A small 2022 study from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre found that when ultrapure water was frozen in plastic bags and then thawed, the thawed water contained detectable particles chemically consistent with the plastic bag material. In comparison, bags stored at room temperature released fewer particles in the same test.
Why this happens is unclear, but scientists speculate that very cold temperatures could cause certain plastics to become brittle and shed differently.
For more interesting answers to your microplastic questions, search out “Baggies, retainers, and more” in the Washington Post, March 2, 2026.
Source: “Baggies, retainers and more: 5 microplastics questions, answered,” by Trisha Pasricha; Washington Post, March 2, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/03/02/microplastics-faq
Should you stop using your filtered water pitcher?
It’s made of plastic, too.
The question is more complicated than meets the eye because you’re actually dealing with two issues: (1) Does the filter remove microplastics from your tap water effectively, and (2) Does the plastic pitcher itself shed microplastics after the water has passed through the filter?
Let’s talk first about the typical filters you might see in a standard pitcher, which are granular activated carbon. A consumer Lab test of several such popular filter pitchers found results that were all over the map: one removed all detectable microplastics, while others reduced them by as little as 36%, or—in one case --actually increased the particle count (a reminder to change those filters on schedule!) A handful of pitchers are NSF-certified to reduce microplastics by at least 85%, so that’s an upgrade to consider when searching for options.
Now onto the pitcher itself. Suppose your water gets filtered and at least some portion of microplastics do get removed. What happens when it sits there in a plastic pitcher for days on end? Many of these pitchers have parts made from polypropylene which can degrade and shed particles over time—although there are other types of plastics in these pitchers about which we know even less when it comes to shedding. But the principle holds that at least some plastics can leach even at room temperature.
One fix: Try to transfer filtered water to a glass or stainless-steel container promptly. If minimizing contaminants is a priority, consider investing in a reverse osmosis system.
Source: “Baggies, retainers and more: 5 microplastics questions, answered,” by Trisha Pasricha; Washington Post, March 2, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/03/02/microplastics-faq/
Four foods that have a surprising amount of microplastics.
Most experts agree that ultra-processed foods are likely the biggest source of microplastics in our diets. Food that comes packaged in plastic is obvious, but there are exposures during industrial processing that we don’t see. That’s one more reason to lean toward whole foods when you can. A few surprising sources of microplastics, based on limited research, are these four foods:
- Nylon tea bags in plastic. These single-use tea bags are made out of plastic — and one bag steeped in hot water can release more than 11 billion microplastic particles. Try loose leaf tea, instead. It comes without the baggage.
- Instant rice. A 2021 study found that instant rice contains four times the plastic of regular uncooked rice. Washing rice before you cook it can cut amounts of microplastic by 40%.
- Breaded prepackaged nuggets. Breaded shrimp, breaded chicken nuggets — and even processed plant-based nuggets — may contain dozens if not hundreds of microplastics per serving. Best to buy whole food protein instead.
- Finally, pink Himalayan salt. Those coarse pink and black salts look fancy but a small 2023 study found terrestrial salts like these may have more microplastics than salts that come from aquatic sources like sea salt. Choose sea salt, my friends. Sea salt.
Source: “Baggies, retainers and more: 5 microplastics questions answered,” by Trisha Pasricha, MD. The Washington Post, March 6, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/03/02/microplastics-faq/
Be wary of orthodontics, specifically plastic retainers.
Lately, I’ve been knee-deep in research on microplastics. You may think that a dreary way to spend my time, but for me it’s fascinating. The Washington Post is doing a good job helping me out on this endeavor. One worrisome fact I’ve uncovered relates to oral hygiene—specifically plastic retainers.
According to the Washington Post, a 2023 study documented microplastic shedding from several orthodontic aligners after seven days of saliva exposure. The good news is that the majority of particles detected were on the larger side (5-20 microns) which can be excreted from the body. Only a few plastic retainers (including Invisalign, the most common retainer) appeared to release particles less than 5 microns in size. It’s the smallest particles that are the most hazardous because they don’t get flushed out the body like larger particles do. Small nanoplastics tend to adhere to the intestinal wall, or migrant to the brain.
What to do? You wear retainers for several hours daily, and potentially for years on end. That’s significant cumulative exposure. But the orthodontic benefits are real, and there’s no proven harm from aligner microplastics at this point. Until safer alternatives are available, it’s probably best to opt for plastic retainers and keep them clean with gentle brushing (no hot water), and avoid eating or drinking hot beverages while wearing them.
Source: : “Baggies, retainers and more: 5 microplastics questions answered,” by Trisha Pasricha, MD. The Washington Post, March 6, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/03/02/microplastics-faq/
Take a look at your toothbrush.
Most toothbrushes have plastic bristles which can shed fragments during brushing; some studies estimate shedding of dozens of microplastics per day. You could certainly opt for alternatives like boar-hair bristles, but they come with their own trade-offs. Personally, I dislike the feel of boar-hair toothbrushes which often shed hairs which get between my teeth. Not pleasant. Most commercial dental floss, too, is made of plastic. What to do?
Until safer alternatives are available in the marketplace, it’s advisable to continue brushing and flossing because oral hygiene matters for your overall health. To me, the far bigger win — with less of a health trade-off — is reducing exposure from ultra-processed foods and plastic water bottles. Whatever you do, don’t microwave food in plastic containers, even if the containers say it is safe to do so. It’s not.
Sources: “Baggies, retainers and more: 5 microplastics questions, answered, ”The Washington Post, March 2, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/03/02/microplastics-faq/
“Preliminary results on microplastic shedding from plastic toothbrushes,” Science Direct; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0026265X2502034X
MARCH, 2026
Let your garden sleep in
Avoid the spring fever trap. This time of year it’s tempting to grab a rake on a warm day and do a little outdoor cleanup. Hold on! This year’s pollinators are still sleeping in your leaves.
The leaves and plant stems on your garden beds hold seeds, dormant insects, and beneficial larvae that overwintering sparrows, doves, and jays rely on—and believe it or not, some bird species have started migrating back! Many others will touch down in April, including warblers, wrens, and hummingbirds.
Wait to tidy up your garden until we have a week of temps in the 50s or above, historically late April to mid-May, but climate change may move that date up a bit. Look for at least seven consecutive days with temperatures at or above 50 degrees.
No doubt about it. Spring is right around the corner. Watch the weather. Sniff the air. Mother Earth will tell you when it’s time to rake. Listen to her.
Good news for those of us worried about the growing abundance of plastic
Plastic is made of petroleum, a fossil fuel which is a major cause of climate change. When we throw it away it breaks down into tiny particles, what we call microplastics, that wind up in our bodies, our blood, and our brains, harming our health.
So where is the good news? A new innovation: Compostable plastic! Material that may look like ordinary plastic, but is made from sugar cane and is completely biodegradable. It’s made by a new company called Black Earth Compost located near Boston. The key is that it breaks down and doesn’t leave microplastics in our soils. It doesn’t harm the environment, or our bodies.
According to company PR, these better plastics break down along with household food scraps to become valuable compost for farms and gardens. The finished product is referred to as “Black Gold” that’s safe, with no microplastics in our brains, according to company literature.
Let’s hope this works. If it does, it just might be the solution to our growing plastic problem, but we still have the fossil fuel lobby to fight in order to eliminate petroleum plastic from our lives once and for all.
Don’t throw away those tangerine peels
If you love tangerines for their bright sweetness and easy-to-peel charm, you’re already enjoying half the magic. But what if the real treasure isn’t the fruit—but the peel? Far from mere kitchen waste, tangerine peels are a powerhouse of natural fragrance and practical utility. Before you toss them in the compost or trash, consider giving them a second life where they can work quietly—and beautifully—as a natural air freshener.
That faint musty smell that lingers after days of closed windows? The ghost of last night’s garlic-heavy dinner? Instead of reaching for synthetic sprays or plug-in diffusers, try this: lay a few tangerine peels on your sunlit windowsill.
Rich in volatile citrus oils, the peels release a clean, uplifting aroma as they dry. A gentle breeze carries that scent through your home, turning stale air into something fresh and invigorating. For an even stronger effect, place peels near a radiator or heating vent—the warmth coaxes out more essential oils, filling your space with a subtle, spa-like ambiance. No chemicals. No plastic. Just pure, sun-kissed fragrance.
A peek behind the scenes of the plastic industry
When I was a kid growing up in the 1950s, the only plastic I remember in my household was the bag of white margarine that came with a capsule of yellow food coloring. Users would pinch the red dot to break it inside the pouch and knead the margarine until it turned yellow. That was my job and loved it, squishing the flexible bag until the entire mass resembled butter.
That bag was cellophane, an early forerunner of today’s plastic. But where today’s plastic is petroleum based, cellophane is made of cellulose derived from natural sources like wood pulp or cotton. It’s is compostable and breaks down naturally, unlike petroleum products.
Today, petroleum-based plastic products are everywhere—in our houses, our cars, even our food. It’s endangering our planet in its manufacture and disposal, has huge impacts on human health, environmental pollution, and global warming. While you and I are taking our canvas bags to the grocery store, Exxon Mobil and Saudi Aramco are actually going in the other direction, ramping up to increase production in the years to come.
In a new book, “Plastic Inc,” journalist Beth Gardiner digs into an industry that mostly flies below the radar. She reveals a set of corporate actors that are doing everything in their power to get the world to use as much plastic as possible.
It’s a sobering read that exposes disinformation campaigns, efforts to foist responsibility onto individual consumers, and brutally effective political lobbying, all of it very similar to the playbooks used by Big Tobacco and Big Oil.
The book is “Plastic, Inc.” by Beth Gardiner. This is LMH…
Source: “The Big Plastic Game,” by David Gelles; The New York Times, Feb. 24, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/climate/plastic-plastic-everywhere.htm
FEBRUARY, 2026
Limit your exposure to plastic food containers
We’ve known for a quite a while that heat makes plastic unstable. Microwaving food in plastic containers, for example, can release around two billion nanoplastics, or tiny pieces of plastic, into your food. Storing hot food in plastic can also increase the plastic breakdown. Scientists have found microplastics that have ended up in the human heart, brain, and even the placenta and in a baby’s first poop. That’s not healthy. A buildup of nanoplastics in the body can lead to chronic inflammation, which could increase the risk of colon and lung cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular disease.
Microplastics even leach into food from plastic containers stored in the refrigerator and freezer. Storage over a period of months can release millions of particles, though heat causes much higher release. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles and general wear and tear also stress plastics, leading to shedding.
But there are ways to limit your exposure. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers for safe, long-term food storage. Don’t microwave plastics or use a plastic water bottle. Most plastic containers are not microwave safe, even those that claim to be. Aluminum, cardboard and paper-based containers are typically plastic-free and safe to store food.
Sources: (1) “Microplastics could be leaching into your food if you make this one simple mistake,” by Joey Skladany;The Washington Post, October 7, 2025. https://www.cnet.com/home/microplastics-could-be-leaching-into-your-food-if-youre-making-this-simple-mistake/
(2) “Keeping food safe when using plastic containers,” by Ghaida Batarseh Havern, Michigan State University Extension, August 29, 2022. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/keeping_food_safe_choosing_food_storage_containers
(3) “I’m a microplastics researcher. Here’s how I limit the plastic in my life,” by Tracey Woodruff; The Washington Post, July 23, 2025.
Take a second look at the synthetic chemicals in your food
Two new peer-reviewed studies are drawing attention to an ongoing problem in our food system: Once food chemicals are approved, there’s little follow-up about how they affect our health over time. The research examines the relationship between consumption of certain food preservatives and health outcomes. While the studies do not prove cause and effect, they raise important questions regulators haven’t answered. Take a look at these key findings:
--Increased health risks: Higher consumption of some preservatives was associated with elevated risks of specific types of cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
--Broad scope of additives: The research examined over 50 preservatives—including several allowed in the U.S. under the “generally recognized as safe” process, which permits reliance on outdated or industry-submitted data.
--Call for regulatory review: The studies’ authors concluded that current regulations don’t reflect modern science and called for updated safety reviews to better protect consumers.
Once food chemicals are approved, the FDA rarely reviews their safety—even as new evidence emerges. But that’s not how a public health system should work. We all deserve a food system that looks out for us.
Source: “Should the FDA regularly review chemicals after they’re approved?” The Environmental Working Group, ewg.org.
How to avoid toxic chemicals in your everyday life
Avoiding hazardous chemicals can be a challenge. Here are seven strategies for keeping yourself safe.
1. Consider filtering your water. Whether the concern is lead pipes or “forever chemicals” from industrial pollution, the easiest way to protect yourself against water contaminants is to filter your water. Most Americans get their drinking water from public water systems, but using some type of filtration at the tap is always good. Don’t rely on bottled water, which often contains contaminants such as microplastics.
2. Replace plastic containers with glass. Although microplastics can be difficult to avoid entirely, there is one easy solution that can reduce your consumption: Keep plastic away from heat. Try to avoid putting hot food or liquid in plastic containers or using plastics in the microwave. Also, keep a stash of reusable bags for the grocery store to minimize use of plastic shopping bags. They can end up in the ocean and eventually degrade into microplastics.
3. Limit seafood consumption. Studies have found that microplastics increasingly contaminate seafood, creating a direct exposure route for people. Experts recommend limiting consumption of larger, more predatory fish like tuna and swordfish, because heavy metals tend to accumulate in their tissues.
4. Minimize fragrances at home. Air fresheners, candles, plug-ins, oils and scented cleaning supplies are all used to mask odor, not get rid of it. Air fresheners can emit more than 100 synthetic chemicals, including formaldehyde, benzene and other volatile organic compounds which can cause allergic reactions, respiratory complications and headaches. Avoid heavily fragranced cleaning products and personal care products. Alternatives to heavily scented cleaners and personal care items include diluted solutions using white vinegar or Castile soap.
5. Use a mask and an air filter. Air quality has a huge impact on our health. Smoke, smog and air pollutants like car exhaust carry soot and other tiny particles that can harm the heart and lungs. I have an air purifier on each of the three floors of my house, but you don’t have to go to that extreme. Open windows if indoor air quality is bad. Wearing an N95 mask can catch fine particles and reduce exposure risks if indoor air quality is truly horrible.
6. Replace your nonstick pans. Many use “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, linked to serious health problems. Experts say wear and tear and overheating pans can encourage the release of chemicals into food. Replace them with cast iron or stainless steel.
7. Do your best. Stay informed and do your best. Ultimately, we need a change in government policies to protect us from hazardous products. In the meantime, do your best.
Source: “7 small swaps to live with fewer toxic chemicals,” by Amudalat Ajasa; The Washington Post; updated October 26, 2025. file:///Users/LMH/Desktop/Avoid%20chemicals.html
JANUARY, 2026
How to dispose of plastic
Have you ever gotten to the end of, say, a jar of peanut butter and wondered if it should go in the trash or recycling? Is it worth rinsing out? And where will it actually end up? Those are questions I’ve been wrestling with these days.
Fortunately, I found answers on the NPR radio show “Science Friday,” where Alexander Clapp, journalist and author of Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash,” offered the best argument for rational disposal.
Don’t think that recycling plastic is the answer. Recycling doesn’t work, and never will, he says. It’s not efficient. Each of the thousands of different kinds of plastic must be sorted according to composition and characteristics, making it impossible to sort the trillions of pieces of plastic into separate types of processing.
Secondly: Recycling is expensive. It’s always cheaper to produce new plastic than to attempt to resurrect old plastic.
Third: Recycling plastic is often dangerous. You can’t incinerate it without introducing a toxic mess of particulates into our soil, air, and water, eventually ending up in our food, causing tiny microplastics to accumulate in our bodies.
And last, but certainly not least, plastic is made from fossil fuels, the major cause of climate change.
So, what’s the best way to dispose of plastic? The answer is easy. Don’t Buy It In the First Place! But that’s virtually impossible in 21st century America. The next best answer? Throw it in the trash. Yes, you heard me. Landfills these days are lined, preventing most toxins and pollutants from escaping into the soil. Until a better, more sustainable solution appears, throwing used plastic in the trash is the best solution we’ve got.
Source: “Where does plastic and other trash go after we throw it away?”; Science Friday, NPR, Feb. 28, 2025. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/waste-wars-book-garbage-plastic-recycling/
Blueberries are wonderful for your health and well-being
A while ago I saw a comment on Facebook that I believe is wrong and must be righted. The comment was that all antioxidants cause cancer, especially blueberries. Not so. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, which gives them powerful protection against aging, heart disease, cancer, and brain decline by fighting oxidative stress.Wild blueberries contain even higher levels of antioxidants.
There are concerns that antioxidants from supplements may have some risks associated with them, risks that antioxidants from foods don’t have. Especially the really high dose supplements. I’ve always thought it comes back to the Whole Foods theory, better to eat the whole food then take isolated nutrients. Also, during chemo and radiation treatment for cancer, patients are advised against eating blueberries because antioxidants can interfere with the treatment which relies on oxidative stress to kill cancer cells.
Blueberries are one of the best foods for anti-angiogenesis, meaning preventing cancer from forming its own vessels. In this era of high inflammation and skyrocketing cancer diagnoses, eating blueberries often is an excellent idea. Best to buy them organic.
Source: Conversation with Linda Gilbert, President and founder of Health Focus, Inc.; https://fearn.pair.com/rstevens/symposium98/Gilbert.html.
Eat seed oils sparingly, if at all
Some studies link seed oils with body-wide inflammation, which accelerates all kinds of disease. At the end of the day, good health is all about reducing inflammation.
However, much of the concern centers on the fact that, due to their high linoleic acid content, seed oils have an over-abundance of omega-6 fatty acids, whereas a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 is best for health. There’s already an imbalance in the typical Western diet due to widely available seed oils used in fried fast foods and ultraprocessed foods, which comprise roughly 10% of the U.S. food supply.
So, should you cut out seed oil altogether? The answer depends on what you replace it with. Animal fats, like beef tallow and butter, are high in saturated fat which is bad for cardiovascular health. Best to switch to olive oil or avocado oil which contain omega-3 fatty acids, thus lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. Extra virgin olive oil has an added bonus: It’s minimally processed, thus retaining beneficial nutrients that get stripped away in the production of most other oils.
After reviewing the pros and cons, I’ve decided extra-virgin olive oil is the healthier choice. That is what I am doing, while also avoiding ultra-processed foods altogether, most of the time.
Source: Conversation with Linda Gilbert, President and founder of Health Focus, Inc.; https://fearn.pair.com/rstevens/symposium98/Gilbert.html.
If you live in Iowa, run don’t walk to your nearest water filter dealer and get your household a reverse osmosis water filter for your drinking water.
Nitrate pollution is surging again in rivers that provide drinking water to Des Moines and surrounding communities. Since the first of this year, both the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers have registered several days of high levels of nitrate, according to monitoring by the US geological Survey.
In the Raccoon River, sensors have registered at 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter of water nearly every day since Dec. 29th. In the Des Moines river, levels at 10 milligrams per liter or more have been registered on most days since January 6th. Ten milligrams per liter is the limit set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Water with nitrates above that level is considered unhealthy. Above that level water must be treated to lower the nitrates to get below ten. Des Moines Water Works has special (and very expensive) equipment to do that. It costs $16,000 per day, and it’s been operating almost every day since the first of the year.
Nitrates come from fertilizer and manure which flows into the rivers from nearby farms, especially mega-farms and livestock feedlots (also called CAFOs). Unlike many other states, Iowa has no rules which limit or prohibit manure or fertilizer from seeping into rivers. There have been some voluntary efforts, but the problem continues to grow.
The only way you can protect yourself is to install a reverse osmosis water filter for your kitchen tap. Reverse osmosis is the only type of filter that cleans out nitrates. Countertop units are available from Menards starting at $250. Undersink filters start at around $900, but are more reliable and easier to maintain. My reverse osmosis undercounter system came from Iowa Soft Water in Des Moines, but other companies have them, too. Get yours today.
DECEMBER, 2025
If you want an eco-friendly Christmas tree, living trees are best
A decorated tree is a holiday tradition for many households. It was once common to display a real tree, but artificial tree sales have surged in recent years. Some people even speculate that artificial trees are the best eco choice because you then save a living tree from the axe.
But, if you want an eco-friendly Christmas tree, living trees are best. Artificial trees have a carbon footprint three times greater than real trees. Why? They’re made of plastic--usually polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC, a toxic carcinogen you can’t recycle. They’re typically manufactured overseas, so have immense emissions from shipping.
Overall, a real living tree is the eco-friendlier choice. Buy local, support farms that don’t use pesticides and herbicide, and buy from lots that donate to community causes. Or cut your own tree on a private lot. Another option is to buy a Norfolk potted pine to keep indoors year-round. It’s a great choice for small spaces. If you’re creative, make your own tree from stuff you already own—books, scrap paper, metal coat hangers, felt. Etc. Search online for ideas. And don’t forget to have fun.
Source: “Eco-friendly Christmas tree ideas,” David Suzuki Org.;
https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/eco-friendly-christmas-tree-ideas/
New study connects use of wireless technology to Alzheimer’s disease
This is very important news. Researchers have published a peer-reviewed analysis indicating that some common genes involved in Alzheimer’s disease are also affected by electromagnetic fields. They focused on a wireless spectrum band commonly used for WiFi, Bluetooth, microwave ovens, audio-visual equipment, and many other devices. This raises important questions, particularly considering that according to the Cleveland Clinic 50% of people over age 85 experience some form of dementia.
“This new study indicates that oxidative stress also plays a role in the development of Alzheimer’s,” explained Dr. Devra Davis, founder of the Environmental Health Trust. “We know that this particular electro-magnetic frequency induces oxidative stress. That has been established. This impressive study further strengthens the case for caution and reduction of exposure.”
Dr. Davis recommends taking a few simple steps to reduce your exposure. You can find them at EHT.org. Check it out.
Source: Environmental Health Trust newsletter, October 20, 2025.
You can read the study here: https://ehtrust.org/new-study-connects-wireless-radiation-oxidative-stress-and-alzheimers-disease/?emci=a20eeca0-db9f-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=a6b17a78-75ae-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=8208730
|
Use protein powder with caution
Protein powder has recently become a cultural phenomenon. Gyms across the country are removing treadmills, bikes, and other cardio equipment to make room for more bench press, squat, and free weight areas. With the focus on muscle gains comes fascination with protein intake, skyrocketing the protein powder business into a $24.6 billion industry. People commonly use it in smoothies, but it’s also used in oats, yogurt, even pancakes. Protein cookies and protein pasta have become common in supermarkets. There’s even protein-infused water! But more protein isn’t always better. Most people don’t need it. Excess protein doesn’t necessarily give you more muscle, and an overly-narrow focus on protein could lead you to consume significant amounts of extra calories. If you decide to use protein supplements, here are some tips:
Source: The Environmental Working Group; ewg.org.
Be careful about dry-cleaning
Trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent long used in dry-cleaning, degreasing and furniture care, is a known carcinogen linked to certain types of cancer, as well as damage to reproductive organs, the nervous system, and the immune system. A growing body of evidence reveals that exposure to high levels of TCE--as well as a closely-related chemical called perchloroethylene (PCE)—may increase the risk of Parkinsons, a neurological disease with no known cure. In the past decade, cases of Parkinsons in the United States have increased by 50%. Strong evidence suggests that chronic exposure to powerful industrial chemicals (such as in contaminated drinking water) may be a cause. A groundbreaking 2023 study discovered that veterans exposed to TCE- and PCE-contaminated water at Marine Camp Lejeune in North Carolina had a 70% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s compared with veterans who resided at Camp Pendleton, a large California base that did not have contaminated water. In December 2024, the EPA banned most uses of PCE and TCE, however compliance date for disposal was pushed forward a year, from Sept. 2025 to Dec. 2026. California has banned PCE, but up to 60% of drycleaners in the U.S. still use it. What’s the concerned consumer to do? If your dry cleaner is still using PCE, take the bag off and air your clothes outside so the chemicals aren’t released inside where you are breathing them in. Source: “4 surprising things that may reduce your risk of Parkinson’s,” by Meeri Kim; The Washington Post, October 20, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/10/20/parkinsons-risk-reduction-tips/.
Do you think paper cups are the better choice? Sure, they may be convenient, but most disposable paper cups are lined with a thin plastic film and treated with additives like phthalates, antioxidants, PFAs and more to make them flexible, waterproof and durable. That’s bad, but there’s worse problems with paper cups. When you add hot liquid to that liner, research shows microplastic particles can migrate into your drink within minutes. A recent scientific study discovered that hot water left in a plastic-lined paper cup for 15 minutes released about 25,000 microplastic particles plus ~10.2 million sub-micron particles into the water. Reviews of paper-based food and drink packaging report that the plastic coatings and additives on these cups can shed microplastics and allow chemical additives to migrate into the liquid, especially with heat. What’s the concerned consumer to do?...
|
|
|
NOVEMBER, 2025
One simple thing you can do to avoid microplastics
Microplastics (and much smaller nanoplastics) are much in the news these days, and with good reason. The tiny particles can slough off synthetic clothing and contaminate the air inside your home. They can scrape off food packaging into your takeout food. But as scientists zero in on the sources of these tiny plastic particles, and how they get into our bodies, one factor stands out. Microplastics are released from exposure to heat.
Pour coffee into a plastic foam cup, and pieces of the cup will leach out into the coffee itself. Brew tea, and millions of microplastics will spill from the tea bag into your cup. Wash or dry synthetic clothing on high heat, and the fabric can start to break apart, sending microplastics spinning through the water supply.
These particles are coming from a range of sources—the plastic lid on a to-go cup of coffee, the small bits in plastic wrap covering your food. But add heat to the mix, the rate of micro- and nanoplastic release increases. The effect is even stronger in plastics that are older and degraded. In one study, hot coffee prepared in an 8-year-old home coffee machine with plastic components had twice as many microplastics as coffee prepared in a machine that was only six months old.
Heat makes it easier for plastic to leach out of packaging materials, or from plastic containers heated in the microwave, or even plastic components in the interior of your car, especially when that car is new. What to do? If you must use plastic, keep it away from heat.
Source: “Microplastics are everywhere. You can do one simple thing to avoid them,” by Shannon Osaka; The Washington Post, Oct. 13, 2025.
A bit of inspiration by poet Mary Oliver
Mary Oliver is one of my favorite contemporary poets. She instinctively connects with Nature, as do I. Her poems reveal beautiful small moments in nature, giving me insight with a big bang of wonder inside.
Today I’m reading a poem that describes how I feel about the American consumer way of life in 2025. It’s called “Dreamhouse.” I hope you like it.
“Impossible to believe we need so much
as the world wants us to buy.
I have more clothes, lamps, dishes, paperclips
than I could possibly use before I die.
Oh, I would like to live in an empty grass.
No plants, no plastic, no fiberglass.
And I suppose sometime I will.
Old and cold I will lie apart
from all this buying and selling, with only
the beautiful earth in my heart.”
Kids are getting smartphones at younger ages than many experts recommend
A majority of parents of kids ages 11 to 12 said their child has a smartphone, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. However, many experts recommend holding off on allowing kids to use social media — which having a smartphone enables — until age 16.
Smartphones aren’t the only thing kids are using at a young age. Overall screen time also is an issue, with 85% of parents saying their children watch YouTube, including parents of children younger than age two. While most parents said ensuring their children’s screen time is reasonable is a daily priority for them, 47% of parents of 8- to 12-year-olds said they could do a better job handling their kids’ screen time. Parents don’t seem happy about how things are going, with 80% saying the harms outweigh the benefits their kids get from social media.
The most-cited reason for letting kids have smartphones is so parents can get in contact with them, but there are ways to stay in contact without giving them smartphones. A flip phone may be the answer, one that allows talking and texting but not social media use. That’s important, because social media is where kids can be exposed to incredibly toxic content and adult predators. You can also consider getting kids a watch that allows them to call, text and even track their real-time locations.
Source: “Kids are getting smartphones at much younger ages than many experts recommend. How to handle it,” by Kara Alaimo; CNN online, October 13, 2025.
Always wash apples before you eat them
When it comes to your health, apples are not a forbidden fruit. They’re a source of fiber, vitamin C and antioxidents; they make a quick snack and are kid-friendly. What more could you ask for in a fruit? BUT, if you want to reduce your exposure to pesticides, it helps to understand what residues might be lingering in that shiny red apple.
One chemical widely found on non-organic apples is diphenylamine (dai·feh·nuh·luh·meen)