There’s been talk in recent news about the toxic chemicals in Nalgene hard plastic bottles and now it’s been confirmed…
They’re removing them from stores as we speak. Also in the news, Merck has been caught using it’s own employees to ghostwrite academic papers and trial documents that promoted the drugs to physicians. Yikes.
Please watch this show to see what I’m talking about…
UPDATE: If you want to replace your nalgene plastic bottles, stainless steel seems like the best option. Here’s a product by Klean Kanteen that is stainless steel and built like a mac truck. Click on the link here: Klean Kanteen Loop Top Water Bottle. I also like the idea of using a glass-lined thermos.
Also, I go through a great upper back workout that will help all you slouchers. (You know who you are)
Take a look…
Your question of the day: What are you doing for Earth Day?
Click here and scroll down to the bottom to share your thoughts!
Thanks to Andre for the blog post on slowing down. You can find that by clicking here. Thanks to Alicia for her insight as well!
Have an amazing weekend!
Live Awesome!
Kevin
7:51 pm on April 18th, 2008
BTW: Here are some links on the two news items today so you can make your own conclusions!
Nalgene from MSNBC:
http://tinyurl.com/6qe2d3
Merck/Vioxx Ghostwriting Issue:
http://tinyurl.com/4y7ay9
Enjoy!
Kev
9:06 pm on April 18th, 2008
Once again thank you!!
Hard or soft plastic water bottles are dangerous! Thanks for the quick update… I think Glass containers may be the quick alternative. I drink Kangen water from old glass bottles with a metal lock config on top… en ah… rubber “O” ring presses upon the top to close… en ha… its like a wine bottle with a reusable top attached to the neck top portion of the bottle to lock closed to keep the water fresh.
RE: Kangen Water
http://www.ABX21.com
Thank you
Edward Guardino,D.C.
PS thanks for bringing Dr. D into my scope!!!
9:31 pm on April 18th, 2008
Do you have any suggestions for safe water bottles to use on the go? Also, any suggestions for good water filtering?
Thanks!
10:29 pm on April 18th, 2008
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for the link to the TED talk on slowing down. I really enjoyed that, and also your video, as usual. We made Annmarie’s collard wraps for supper tonight…they were exceptional. Like Sarah, I am also interested in a good water filtration system. Any suggestions?
8:45 am on April 19th, 2008
Thanks, Kevin, for all the great information you bring to us every day. I love it!
The exercise look great. I have a question for you.. whenever I do exercise for the back I get very bad pains between my shoulder blades. it seems the better my posture, the worse my back feels. I’d really love to get rid of my turtle back and bad posture but the exercises make the pain almost intolerable. any suggestions?
Thanks again,
Esther
10:02 am on April 19th, 2008
Hey Esther, here’s what I’d suggest for you…
Watch this video and get a foam roll
http://tinyurl.com/2k9gu2
Bernadette and Sarah, I’m working on it
I’m putting together an interview series on how to get the best water and all the other cool things that water can do. It will be reading in a month or so… so hang on 
The best system is the one that works for your particular needs. I think there are a bunch of high priced items out there that may or may not do what some of the lower priced ones do.
And I’m ALWAYS a little skeptical about distributorships with products like these. (not that I haven’t done them before or won’t in the future…) I just think that this creates an “overhype” to sell which confuses people.
AND also… regarding the Merck ghostwriting issue as applied to this distributorship model… isn’t it possible that the results for these items could be skewed as well?
They’re the companies funding the study. So it’s hard to find third party evidence. I can’t stand the “I used goji berry juice and it cured my {insert any ailment here}” or the “I even tried it on my dog and his hair got thicker” as a sales tactic. (It’s OK if it’s true and control based… but in many cases it’s not. Bruce Lipton says that the placebo effect is a real and tangible effect.. quite possibly a cure itself!)
If you’re investing millions of dollars into something like a product, wouldn’t you want it do scientifically do what you need it to do?
So where does that leave the consumer who wants to trust?
It’s a sticky subject, probably for an upcoming show…
Kev
10:45 am on April 19th, 2008
Thank you Kevin. I’ll look forward to that.
5:00 pm on April 19th, 2008
excellent video…thanks for the information.
5:52 pm on April 19th, 2008
What will I do on Earth Day? I’ll be in church because it’s Holy Week! (The week before Easter in the Eastern Orthodox Church.) But we do pray for peace in the world and we’re an incredibly pro-environment Faith (so much so that we call the planet a “cosmic temple”!) so Earth Day figures in there somewhere, I guess.
5:57 pm on April 19th, 2008
I’ve done everything I can do! I diligently make sure I get NO junk mail! I make sure everyone knows the reason I want off their advertising is my Earth Day vow a few years ago!
I walk everywhere or take public transportation! I carry a big backpack and refuse bags at stores. I have used low-energy light bulbs since they became available and were far more expensive than they are now. I turn off lights and electricity.
I buy very little that can be thrown away. Raw foodies don’t buy food in boxes, cans, bags, etc, other than plastic bags for produce. I reuse them for my trash. Unfortunately we don’t have recycling in Santa Monica apt, but it’s something I’m discussing with our city council (who are trying to ban plastic bags in the city, but we need recycling too!) I don’t have funds nor space to compost. Sorry, there’s just so much one woman with limited funds can do!
BUT I do put out recyclable plastic and glass because the homeless collect them. I sometimes carry some things in my backpack when I go to the Santa Monica Co-Op cos they have recycling containers out front.
I rarely buy clothes. I don’t buy anything unless I absolutely have to!
Consume less and share more.
So I donate to local charities whatever I don’t need. I buy recycled paper for my printer, and rarely print anything unless I must.
I use earth-friendly soap for dishes (body, hair, teeth, etc) and as soon as I can afford it, for my clothes too.
I’d do more if I could afford to do more! I certainly don’t buy bottled water or juices or anything with disposable containers. I wash and use glass jars from almond butter or tahini.
I constantly ask myself: do I need this? Can I live without it?
AND I make sure EVERYONE at stores know why I carry my backpack. However, many local stores are selling reusable bags because the city is starting to pressure them to cut down on plastic bags.
I’m sure I do more, but no time to detail.
If you have been working on environmental issues as long as I have, there’s not a lot more I can do!
That’s all for now!
6:04 pm on April 19th, 2008
If ANYONE believes ONE word from the pharmaceutical or medical profession (AMA and such) or agribusiness (Monsanto and more), then they are fools!!
These “new” revelations are a way of life in the USA. No matter who is president, during the past 28 years (since Reagan and the supposed theory of getting government out of people’s lives, if that ain’t the biggest lie that people still believe, I don’t know what is!) have ensured that whether it’s oil, education, medical, science, whatever, industry/business and big international money bought Washington. Without laws that are enforced, this is our way of life.
Think I’m cynical? They just forced California Almond growers to pasteurize organic almonds, which have proven to be safe and effective! They can sell FOREIGN unpasteurized almonds, but not from CA.
Let’s do something about what these companies and the govt are doing to stop us from eating what we want to eat and how we want it grown!
Let’s do something about GMOs that are ruining crops and putting organic farmers out of business.
Darnit, I’m depressing myself.
6:27 pm on April 19th, 2008
Kevin, I totally disagree with you about the first-person testimonial re go ji berry juice or anything. Where’s the great body of scientific evidence that raw foods does what we say it does?
Only now Western science is starting to confirm what yogis have known for 5,000 years. Only now starting to accept it does more than science understands nor even acknowledges.
“Scientists” still argue Linus Pauling’s findings about Vitamin C (and other vitamins). They still think it’s all about oral intake, but IV (intervenous) intake of vitamins is a whole different thing than popping a pill. Didn’t he get a Nobel Prize or something? I read tons and tons of info about Pauling when he was alive, and he’s still being debated.
So why are we paying so much heed to “scientific research/evidence”??
It’s a slippery slope to rely on “scientific evidence/research” when we have seen time and time again most scientific evidence is funded by the very companies who would benefit most (although it’s not always revealed, but that’s the situation in most cases).
As to the statement wouldn’t you want something to work after spending millions of dollars? YES, but that cannot be predicted nor controlled 100% of the time.
We see too many companies desperate to get back their investment and make a profit and people die. They get away with it because they fake the research and the fines are less than their profits. And they are allowed to advertise on TV and magazines, and yes, hire inept employees to lie. So what else is new?
But even those with the best of intentions cannot guarantee perfect results. Have you studied science?
I do not mean this as an insult. But did you study it in school? What’s your take on scientific research? We can’t even agree on the perfect raw food diet or food combining!
Science is an imperfect realm. Too many vairables: there is never ever a totally controlled environment unless you use cloned mice (or other animals). I am not suggesting experiments on mice as a being 100% viable for human results, let alone the issue of animal experimentation as a valid under any circumstance.
But let’s get real, just how do they conduct experiments, research, and how do they analyze their results? And why should anyone believe anything, whether from an alternative, holistic POV or traditional medical POV?
I rather buy go chi juice from a friend, try it out, and see what happens. When I tell people I’ve lost and kept off over 60 pounds for 7 years being a raw foodist, that means more than any “scientific” research.
I’m almost 58, so we are talking about a half century of diets, speed, weird foods, all kinds of things. And I did NO exercise. I’ve lost and gained tons of weight, and I do mean tons prior to raw food, and the ONLY time I gain weight now is when I give into my cravings and eat cooked food.
Where’s the scientific evidence for that??
So who you gonna believe, some scientific research that says raw food doesn’t provide enough protein, yadda crap yadda or a 58 year woman who people think is barely 40 with the energy of a 25 year old who leads a very stressful, active life??
But I have issues re raw foods, gas, hunger, and boredom, time it takes to prep and eat, plus worse — stupid cravings.
So I’ve added yoga, which is making a huge difference.
And yes, I’m about to try some go chi juice a pal told me about. We both agreed not any one component is a the elixir of life.
You know you can’t be healthy eating crap and just exercising, or just being a raw foodie and not exercising. Maybe the only thing missing is the go chi juice, or the raw foods or yoga or meditation or the placebo effect. Who knows? It’s important to look at the holistic aspect, the big picture.
Maybe you are saying that, you can’t be cured just by drinking a juice. But who knows what else is going on? And yes, the mind does often affect the outcome.
And for that reason alone, it’s very problematic to conduct nor rely as much as we do scientific research. We can’t isolate what is the one thing that made the difference. Maybe it’s everything, the go chi juice, the mind, the this or that.
OK, I have work to do and nice salad to eat! And yoga downstairs in the afternoon sun, all before a pal is coming over with a gift for me. A slide scanner so I can scan more of my slides.
I forgot to say what I am doing for Earth Day! That is my next comment!
6:32 pm on April 19th, 2008
April 22, 2008, Earth Day: Amazon is shipping my first solo photo book (“Punk Pioneers, from Rizzoli/Universe)!
My two passions: the environment and my art, my famous punk rock photos, all on one day. Bless the Lord, I love it!
It’s getting great reviews and lots of emails from peeps who either go it in Germany (how did they get before USA??) or those anxiously awaiting it.
I’ll be doing yoga at Lululemon Athletica in Santa Monica. Forrest yoga, and it’s free!
And soon I’ll walk up the street from Lululemon and see MY book in Barnes and Noble (Borders doesn’t know if they will carry it).
Although my photos are the most published from LA in 1976-1980 and in tons of existing and some future books, this is my first and perhaps only solo print book.
From now on, eBooks!
For the rest of my life, Earth Day will also be the day my book hit the streets. “Punk Pioneers” set me free to get back into healing, and open a new door to see where my photos will lead me.
6:43 pm on April 19th, 2008
The comment about Easter reminded me this Sunday, April 20, which is a FULL MOON, is PASSOVER for 7 days.
We don’t have raw food seders, but I always loved the parsley the best when I was a kid, and of course I have it in my fridge!
Parsley dipped in salt water was to remind us of the bitterness of slavery when building the pyramids and more.
Plus charoset, a dish of walnuts, apples and honey (or other nuts, fruit and sweetener) to celebrate the sweetness of freedom (and the mortar used to hold the bricks together when building the pyramids).
The only raw foods on the menu (plus the wine, but I don’t think raw foodies drink booze).
Passover literally means the Angel of Death “passed over” the first born sons of all the families. Jews were instructed to put lamb’s blood on their doors to be excluded from the plague of death (that is why we put Mezuzahs on our doors).
When the Angel of Death killed the Pharaoh’s son, only then did he realize a God mightier than he, and he let the Jews leave Egypt. They left so quickly they couldn’t let their bread rise, so we eat unleavened bread, or matzoh (no raw food version, except I guess dehydrated crackers, but that’s no substitute for matzoh, butter and salt, yummy).
But Pharaoh still didn’t believe in the power of one single God, so he chased after the Jews. The Red Sea parted, and the Jews walked across, but the waves resumed when the Egyptian soldiers tried to catch them.
Happy Passover! Eat raw, celebrate the full moon, Easter, Earth Day, my book, what a week!!!
6:49 pm on April 19th, 2008
Jenny Lens!
Thanks so much for your comments
I appreciate greatly the time you spend here and the fact that you’re willing to call me out on my ideas and thoughts!
Kev
6:56 pm on April 19th, 2008
I guess I’m a little bitter about the sales calls I get every day that want me to sell goji juice or whatever other magic elixir on my site.
I agree that science is a slippery slope. I also think that we need baselines that can show improvement for 2 reasons.
(1) So where responsible when we inform others about what we’ve learned. Sometimes emotions get in the way with recommendations. I know they have for me. So we need a little more of a baseline that we can show improvement from… that’s why I recommend regular health testing… to show improvement on a basic level. Maybe those #’s aren’t entirely correct, but they can help.
(2) We need to come at the scientific based medical community with what they understand. They don’t understand intuitive eating or the plausibility of the placebo effect as a real healing event. So with that said, we need cold hard facts to convince the institution to consider using other options. Otherwise, they’ll rely on the ghostwritten studies that Merck puts out. Not a great option in my eyes.
(They also believe real, tangible physical results, but only if they see them over and over and over again… so facts are better.)
Thoughts?
Kev
9:58 pm on April 19th, 2008
Getting in here late, my internet service was down.
Wow! Lots to talk about in this segment… Plastic water bottles, earth day, slowing down, Merck/Vioxx, science, Kumbaya aerobics. I hope you didn’t seriously try my goofy suggestion! LOL
Great show! I love the exercises, love the news items and love the ending song!
Would love to engage in the great convo but I’ll make this short because my internet is still only intermittent. Happy Earth Day!
Thank you for the shout out!
6:40 am on April 20th, 2008
Hi Kevin
Relatively new to your show but loving it!
One point for me; I have never had to worry about weight or shape but now I am in my mid-40′s I’m feeling my fitness and stamina and energy levels are baaaad. I lack motivation and need support. I don’t know what simple but effective way to start improving my fitness is best – bearing in mind my lack of stamina and general fitness now.
I’m almost frightened of the way even a 100yd slow jog makes me feel.
Can you help with some realistic ideas?
P.s. I’m vegan and attempting to eat more raw too.
Thanks very much, Magda
10:26 am on April 20th, 2008
Magda,
I’d really watch Thursday’s episode again. It might help you systematically figure out what’s happening. I’d also see if you can get some sort of nutritional/blood testing to see if you can pin point a deficiency that may be causing the lack of energy!
Hope that helps
Kev
11:31 am on April 20th, 2008
Hey Kevin,
Great exercises buddy. For Earth Day I will get out in my relaxing back yard and do the exercises that you’ve just demonstrated and hang out with my family.
You advice to Esther about the foam rollers is excellent. Both my wife Angie and I lay down on them at least 2x per day.
Plus they are great to stretch out my tight IT band and hamstrings. GREAT product!
Keep up the great work. I look forward to learning more about the raw food lifestyle from you.
Scott Tousignant
http://www.ObliterateObesity.com
5:51 pm on April 20th, 2008
Hi Kevin and Annmarie
.
…….Dede
Ok – this ALWAYS blows me away at this time of year – - I ACTUALLY REMEMBER the very first Earth Day, April 1970!!:-). And what I remember are three high school seniors (one was my brother) standing silently in protest wearing full face gas masks in the school library for 15 minutes. In a 4 yr high school with only 100 students in 1970 – - THIS was pretty bold
My “protest” this year? – well – I will plant my “indoor garden” on Earth Day I think – - good kharma for a great crop!! And – maybe I’ll find a celebration going on here in St Louis.
Keep up the great show…..the “Little Green Men” song just makes me giggle every time I hear it
2:22 pm on April 21st, 2008
It’s not specific to this post, KG, but I saw Ben Stein’s new documentary this weekend. Interesting stuff. I think you’d enjoy it and it would make for great content.
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed
4:49 pm on April 22nd, 2008
Hi Kevin,
I can tell you what I’m doing for earth day now. I’m basking in the after glow of hearing on the news today that Ontario is banning the use of pesticides on its agricultural crops. Yeehaw!
I also ate completely raw today…pear/orange smoothie, zucchini spaghetti with marinara sauce, mixed green salad with raw thai dressing and zucchini lasagna for supper. I had a lot of marinara sauce!
Happy Earth Day!!
11:46 pm on April 23rd, 2008
Bottles with the # 7 in a triangle are being STUDIED. Several studies in fact.
There has not been an OFFICIAL recall, but people are being warned of the effects.
I would still be very concerned, as bottles are not the only issue.
To become better aware of recalls, there is no better source than http://www.totalrecallinfo.com
Take care.
4:40 pm on April 24th, 2008
Chris, yes that’s true, there has not been an official recall. But I would recommend stainless steel or a glass lined thermos.
Thanks for the great resource!
If you want a stainless steel bottle, you can go here: Oregon Mountain Company
To your health!
Kevin
7:43 pm on April 24th, 2008
Hi Kevin, I enjoy your articles very much although what’s up with the earth day mombo jumbo, are you not aware that global warming is a scam to tax and control us, if not I’ll be glad to send you the tons of material on the subject.
9:39 pm on April 30th, 2008
With new dangers lurking around every corner, it can be extremely difficult to know which changes can be most beneficial to our bodies. I have found an unbeatable filtration system through Enagic. I drink Kangen water—drinking from stainless steel or glass mason jars seems to work best. Conflicting, since originally I was buying the water in #7 polycarb gallon jugs, before investing in a home unit.
The beautiful thing about being human is the ability to educate ourselves, evolve to a higher state of awareness, and ultimately change the world, one change, and one person at a time.
Kevin, thanks so much for the Oregon Mtn site!
Love and blessings,
Jacquie B.
http://www.newlifewater.info
7:30 am on June 1st, 2008
kevin! i REALLY appreciate the health news, cause i never watch the news or anything, but i watch ur show ;] (yeah yeah, i kinow this is an old episode!) keep it up!
10:39 pm on May 7th, 2009
Thanks for the good article. Yes plastic can be dangerous for you and the environment. I saw that you mentioned stainless, which is a better choice, but in my opinion glass is better. It is completely non reactive, clear and water tastes great coming out of it. If you want to check out a great reusable glass water bottle, then go to http://livinglavidaverde.net/store.aspx . I think that you will be happy that you did. Either way thanks for the advice.