Diva Guide: The safest way to use plastics

By Tania Reuben

Presuming – We’re trying to use less plastic in our daily lives.

Presuming – We’ve eliminated the plastics that are known to be a higher toxicity risk.

Use the following tips to minimize your family’s exposure to plastic toxins:

- Do not use plastics in the microwave – including cling wrap.

- Avoid using plastics with oily food – toxicity leaching increases with contact to oily foods.

- Avoid the dishwasher, especially with plastics that are used for food storage – heat and some detergents cause the plastic to break down. Increasing the leaching of possible toxins.

- Avoid using plastics for warm foods or beverages – leaching is increased with heat.

- Avoid cling wrap – use paper, wax paper or use the Diva Solutions: Paperless “Paper” Towel System. Many cling wraps contain harmful pvc’s that will leach into food.

- When serving food on plastic dishes – think young children – transfer the food for storage. Typically plastic dinnerware is not storage grade.

- Discard plastics that are scratched and worn.

- Don’t drink your water out of plastic bottles.

- Use extra precautions with all baby products – coming soon – plastics and your baby.

- Choose “green” or bio based plastics. You can now find bio based disposable dinnerware and cutlery (I’ve even seen them at Smart & Final)- as an added bonus these products are also compostable.

Finally – once again – use less plastic!

Check out the Diva Guide – Use Less Plastic in Your Home.

Welcome back to PND. It's good to see you again!Diva Guide: The safest way to use plastics

Antibacterial Products – Are they really a good idea?

When selecting products – antibacterial is better, right?

In fact there is great concern that their use may pose potential risks in the arena of antibiotic resistance.  So – if it’s not better than soap and water – choose products without the anti-bacterial.

“The finding was praised by physicians who have long expressed concerns that the use of antibacterial soaps and lotions by consumers may be doing more harm than good. For example, the American Medical Association’s Council on Scientific Affairs published a report in the August 2002 Archives of Dermatology that it was prudent to avoid these products since evidence on their efficacy was lacking and the issue of antibiotic resistance is so critical.”

For the full story from the AMA.

Another perspective.

And this discussion hasn’t even addressed the use of Tricolosan in antibacterial products.

There are some alternatives – when hand washing just can’t be done. Products like Clean Well, that are plant based natural formulations.

Antibacterial Products – Are they really a good idea?

Diva Guide: Understanding the Plastic Numbering System & Choosing Safely

By Tania Reuben

The first step towards safer plastics: Eliminate them wherever you can.

This is can be hard, so small changes, one step at a time. Check Out – Diva Guide: Use Less Plastic in Your Home.

Like it or not – plastics are a big part of our lives. How can we navigate their use in the safest manner possible.

Learn to “read” your plastics. Look on the plastic for the little triangle – inside that triange you will see a number.

Avoid plastics numbered: 3 & 6

Know your polycarbonates or number 7 plastics- when in doubt skip it:
The 7 category is the one that all the BPA fuss is about.

There are safe 7′s – they will be labeled “PLA” or “compostable”. In learning more about the number system I was surprised to find that my “tried and true”, nice quality rubbermaid containters are all 3′s – and therefore unsafe!

So now that you know how to pick your plastic – learn the safest way to use them. The manufacturing of plastics involves a variety of petroleum based chemicals. The primary concern with plastics is leaching of toxins into our food and beverages. This risk is increases with heat.

All of the above information does not mean that the number 1,2 & 4 plastics are completely safe. They are manufactured using petroleum products and limiting their use is likely a good idea… which brings us back to the beginning. Eliminate plastic wherever possible!

Diva Guide: Understanding the Plastic Numbering System & Choosing Safely

Starbucks – revamping food offerings. Eliminating HFCS from baked goods.

With the demand for healthier food options on the rise, Starbucks is changing 90% of their menu

Key points:

-They are eliminating HFCS in their baked goods.

-Preservatives removed wherever possible.

-Salads will be introduced.

Note – I’m guessing that all those yummy coffee syrups are full of HFCS – but couldn’t confirm on their website.

When you head out to try some new nibbles don’t forget to bring your own mug!

To read the full story…

Starbucks raises quality of food, not prices | MNN – Mother Nature Network.

Starbucks – revamping food offerings. Eliminating HFCS from baked goods.