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Hand Blenders: Cause for Concern

Hand BlenderA study released in October 2014 suggests that some hand (stick/immersion) blenders leak chlorinated paraffins, a type of chemical found in flame retardants, plasticizers, metal working fluids, and more. CPs are classified as toxic to aquatic organisms and carcinogenic to rats and mice. Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are categorized in group 2B as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Researchers at Stockholm University discovered the CPs while looking for environmental contaminants in cat food. The chlorinated paraffins showed up in disturbing amounts and were traced to in-house blending of the food, rather than to the food itself.

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Safe Cookware

Safe cookware is foundational for a healthy kitchen. But how do we know which types are truly safe? Here is a brief overview of the three basic categories of cookware.

Safe Cookware

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A Naturally Clean Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. With ten ingredients or less you can keep your kitchen clean, warm, inviting, and best of all, chemical-free!

Basic ingredients:

  • White vinegar
  • Liquid castile soap
  • Baking soda
  • Borax
  • Washing soda
  • Grapefruit seed extract
  • Essential oils like lime, lemon, lavender, and tea tree

Equipment:

  • Plastic spray bottles (or glass, if preferred)
  • Mason jars
  • Shaker jars

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Top 10 Gifts for the Health-Conscious Cook

Cooking GiftsFrom the foods we consume to the kitchen tools we use, healthy eating is always a worthwhile investment. Here are some ideas for gift-giving to encourage that healthy cook in your life—or to pass along to that special person looking for gift ideas for you!

(All prices listed are approximate, and all links are to Amazon.com for simplicity. Better prices may be found elsewhere.)

  1. Food Dehydrator ($250)

    Beef jerky, dried herbs, fruit leathers, flax crackers—the versatility of the dehydrator is immeasurable. From sprouted seeds to kale chips to yogurt, dehydrators preserve the nutrients in just about any food. (We have it on good authority that moisture-ridden iPods may also be salvaged!)

    Two popular dehydrator brands are Excalibur and Nesco. The website Dehydrator Review offers an excellent product comparison.

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Quotes

"I'm new at this, but today I cleaned my bathroom with baking soda and vinegar. It's much better not having those strong chemical smells afterwards."

– Anonymous

"My symptoms persisted and eventually turned into lethargy and depression. At the age of 26, I required a nap every evening after work."

– Jennifer

"My daughter has had many blood samples taken to test for everything imaginable and her doctor just seems puzzled. Everything comes back normal."

– Anonymous

"I've been living in a mold-infested home for 13 months... I was going CRAZY! Finally figured it out... Just a few days of recovering in a mold-free home and I feel AMAZING!!!"

– Lauren

"In my moldy home if I left the wet clothes in the washer they would get musty very quickly and I'd have to re-wash... Sometimes I'd run a load, go to work, and they'd be musty when I returned that evening."

– Anonymous

"I had been struggling with headaches, head fog, breathing difficulties (unable to get a full breath), constant scalp tingling, migraines, nausea, feeling spacey/detached, and severe itchy skin."

– Anonymous

"Both of my sons went downhill quickly and coughed for months... They both lost their ability to read, had profound vision disturbances, and had phenomenal gastric issues."

– Lee

"I started finding myself sitting on the floor in rooms of my house and not remembering how I got there, what I was doing before, or how long I had been there."

– Brenda

"We were having a lot of health problems and had been to the doctor countless times... we had large circles of slimy greenish-black mold on the bathroom ceiling, where it had caved in a few months before."

– C.

"I have been sick for almost 6 months now and doctors were not able to figure out why. I finally put it all together after going away for vacation for a week and suddenly my symptoms were going away."

– Anonymous

"I knew it was mold, but doctors kept telling me I had anxiety. I was sitting in my office and could not remember who I was talking to, or what we were talking about."

– Brenda

"I was skeptical at first that these (natural cleaning) products would work, but they work better than the stuff I buy at the store! We will soon be moving to the personal care products as well!"

– Jennifer

"The ERMI mold test as well as your helpful articles and Toxic Talk Tuesday programs have helped us avoid a terrible mistake in purchasing a new home."

– Angela

"We all suffered from headaches, hormonal body temperature fluctuations, brain fog, fatigue, difficulty breathing, thrush, rashes, and yeast infections... we vacated our home two weeks ago."

– Anonymous

"The entire time we lived in our (mold-infested) house the kitchen sponge would get musty smelling within 3-4 days. It was so strange. I had to buy a pack of sponges nearly every week."

– Anonymous

"We had some water leaks in our home... we never thought we needed to clean out and remove the floor, the ceiling, or the drywall... my two small children and I have remained constantly sick for years in this home."

– Mia

"...at age 35 or 36 I started to become allergic to everything, and I got asthma at age 36... I went to doctor after doctor after doctor and was desperate for help, but nobody could help me."

– Mia

"Our family has been out of our home for 9 months due to mold... I am so scared and weak from all of this. We have lost friends; family members don't understand."

– Anonymous

"My daughter started having digestive problems... heart palpitations... coughing episodes... muscle/joint pain... asthma/allergies... Her doctor finally advised me to check for mold in our home."

– Anonymous

This site is dedicated to a true friend and mother — Barbara Dell Kessel (1929-2009)