☆ What's Going On: Cookware & Bakeware Beware ☆

So I've mentioned a couple time in my Vegan Recipes Segments that I use an Eco-friendly frying pan and cookware vs evil Teflon. It took a while for it to occur to me that lots of people don't know why non-stick pans are bad. 

I'd first heard it as a teenager from my mother who had said they kill baby birds. I didn't want to kill baby birds so it was an immediate no-no for me. Later I found out why...

The big problem is Teflon. 

First, what is Teflon? 

Teflon is a trademarked combination of fluoropolymers (produced by the DuPont company and licensed to many cookware manufacturers) that coats pans to give them a non-stick surface. 

Why is it bad? 

PFOA is the compound used to manufacture Teflon and ranks as nastier than pesticides like DDT when it comes to indestructibility in the ecosystem. It is bad for nature, bad for wildlife, and bad for you. 

Overheated non-stick-coated pans can release toxic fumes that will literally kill a canary if it were in your kitchen. Teflon claims that such high-temperature burning doesn't happen under normal circumstances and that otherwise, the stuff is safe. Still, who hasn't burned the bottom of a pan? And it is still advised that you should keep your pets out of the kitchen while cooking with the stuff. Safe huh? Plus, 95% of humans have the chemical tied to non-stick surfaces in our bloodstream. There are nearly a dozen studies that tie it to thyroid damage and as a likely human carcinogen (cancer-causing). Not to mention, every molecule you get in your system will be with you for life! Scary! 

What's worse is that the chemical is turning up in wildlife at alarming levels, even in the systems of polar bears way up north who have never been near the stuff! 

The stuff isn't just in your non-stick pans either. It is used in cookware, burger wrappers, popcorn bags, french fry cartons, and candy packing. 

There is no time like the present to eliminate the stuff from your life. 

There has been no official heed to toss out your old non-stick pans or product recalls, but the chemical is on its way out. Health Canada is in the process of phasing it out, but we all know how slow and backwards such processes can be, so better to do something about it yourself. 

As always, I won't leave you without any solutions. ~_^

There are lots of eco-friendly non-stick pans coming out on the market. Always make sure you know what it is you're buying though as companies can be tricky with the way they word their products to make them seem earth-friendly and healthy when they are not. 

I have "Earth Chef" brand that use a Ceramic surface instead. It is a tad stickier then Teflon but still great for cooking and much much more durable (and the surface doesn't flake off into the food!). 

Stainless Steel is always an option, just remember you'll have to add more oil to avoid sticking. Cast iron skillets and Glass are good options as well. Light-weight titanium is good, though can be pricey. Be careful though, some get their non-stick surface from the same chemicals as Teflon (sneaky bastards!), so make sure to do a little research on the manufacturer's corporate website to be sure. 

For Bakeware; Ceramics (make sure the glaze is lead-free though), stainless steel, and Silicone which is highly accessible-- they may look a bit weird and come in bright colors but are a great and safe alternative. 

Peace & Love,

xo

~Bianca   

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What's Going On: Eco-Postive Period!

There are so many reasons to love being a Woman, but admittedly, there is that one dreaded time of the month when being a woman is much less appealing. The bloating, the crampiness, the scary mood-swings that turn us into scary Godzilla like creatures that terrify those around us. Yes, certainly granted, most of us have anything but a "Happy Period". But on top of this, you could be exposing your privates to all sorts of dangers each month (and I'm not just talking about TSS). And most women probably don't consider the environmental impact.

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BODILY IMPACT:

Most tampons are made from pesticide-heavy cotton or cotton-rayon (a synthetic fiber made from wood pulp) blend and bleached so they're super white and "clean" looking. So what's so bad you may ask?

Dioxin: a by-product in the bleaching and manufacturing processes. Not only is it an environmental pollutant, but it is also a known carcinogen. It is toxic to the immune and reproductive systems, and has been linked to endometriosis and lower sperm count in men.

In the mid-1990s, tampon manufacturers did make a switch to a "elemental chlorine-free bleaching" process which is said to "significantly minimize the potential for dioxin formation". Anyone else catch the word "minimize" in there? The FDA admits that the process could still "theoretically generate dioxins at extremely low levels." This matters when they also say that even low levels of dioxin may lead to development and immune problems and birth defects.

Rayon: this fiber contributes to the danger of tampons and adds to the dangers of Dioxin. Why? Because Rayon is highly absorbent--which is why they use it in tampons to begin with. Meaning, when fibers from the tampons are left behind in your vagina (which usually occurs), it creates a breeding ground for the bacteria and also holds the Dioxin inside your body. Rayon also stays in a lot longer than it would with just cotton tampons, which is also the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome) occurs.

Pesticides: Most tampons and pads are not organic (surprise!) so then comes the whole toxic bath of pesticides and chemicals used to produce the fiber. Tampax does, however, claim to test its cotton for detectable levels of pesticides. So you could be safe from this one, but chances are there are still trace amounts.

Now consider this; a woman typically uses more than 11, 500 tampons in her lifetime, and the vaginal area is one of the most absorptive parts of a woman's body. So you can bet that all those chemicals add up!

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EARTHLY IMPACT:

Waste:

Every year, about 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are used and end up in the trash in the US alone.

Tampon applicators often end up back onto shores and streams. They've even been found in the stomachs of birds and wildlife, along with other plastics.

Toxicity:

Remember that lovely Rayon I was telling you about? Well, it is made ultra-absorbant in a fairly toxic chemical process. And that Dioxin? Well it is now being found in our soil, air, and water.

Your privates may be free of the Pesticides produced from Cotton, but what about the planet? Cotton is grown with toxic herbicides, fungicides, and other fun pesticides, many of which are carcinogenic and extremely toxic, therefore cause damage to the planet and to wildlife.

Drugstore brands are also chocked full of plastics with synthetic latex wings, polyethylene dry-weave layers in pads, and that "silky" coating on tampons. Not to mention those applicators and nasty PVC wrappers that come with pads.

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SOLUTIONS:

The good news is that there are lots of options for the health of yourself and the planet, depending on your commitment level.

Tampons:

If you must use drugstore-brand products then cardboard applicators are better than plastic, while applicator-free are obviously best. But you should be buying 100% certified Organic non-chlorine-bleached cotton tampons. They're free of synthetic and chemical additives, and come with or without cardboard applicators. And for those skeptics, they work just as well as mainstream brands ;). They also lower chances of TSS.

Pads:

Again, Organic chlorine-free pads and panty-liners are available. Natracare even uses biodegradable plant-based bioplastic in place of petroleum plastic as a barrier layer to keep the pads from leaking.

You can now find a few different companies that carry Organic Tampons and Pads. My personal favorite is Natracare and you can find them at most health-food stores as well as lots of grocery stores here in Canada (and probably in other countries as well ~_^).

Greenest Options:

Organic or not, tampons and pads still end up in the landfill creating more waste. If you're super committed to the well-being of the planet then these next options are for you.

Cloth Pads: Reusable pads obviously create less waste. Wash them and reuse. Pretty simple. I'm personally going to have to make this transition for nighttime, unfortunately for the moment I can't get around washing them at the laundromat :p. Crafty girls can make them yourselves, otherwise there are lots of brands available, such as, Goddess Moon, Moonwit, Many Moons, and Luna Pads. And I'm sure you can find lots on Etsy as well. ^_^

Sea-Sponges: I know, this sounded strange to me too! They work just as well as tampons and are a green, reusable alternative. Their use is essentially the same, except you rinse them out once saturated and re-insert. Want to know more? Check out Gladrags: http://www.gladrags.com/p-35-jade-and-pearl-menstrual-sea-sponges.aspx

Reusable Cups: another green & reusable alternative to Tampons. Same idea; pop inside and empty 2-4 times a day. This is my next trial, as, I have to admit, I was a little weary about the whole idea. However, women who use them, swear by them! So what have I got to lose, except the well-being of our planet? ~_^ The silicone-based Diva-Cup is probably the most popular. Just be weary of some drugstore posers (like Instead), which looks like a reusable cup but you throw it out after one use....what's the point??

Check out:

Luna Pads: http://lunapads.com/

Natracare: http://www.natracare.com/

And remember, Ladies, have a Happy Period ~_^ ....ok, well at least have a green, healthy period.

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