Paty's Petals and Potions

Aloka the Peace Dog is the widely recognized peace ambassador of Indian strays. Once a nameless stray living on the streets of India—specifically originating from Kolkata—he is now a global symbol of resilience and compassion. #alokathepeacedog #WalkForPeace #Buddhistmonks #ExploreTheWorld #worldpeace🌎 ✨🐾❤️ Aloka — once a stray in India, now walking side by side with the monks as they travel across the country spreading love, compassion, and unity. Wherever they go, Aloka brings smiles, serenity, and warmth. A faithful soul on a long, beautiful walk toward peace. 🕊️

Thank you everyone that came to my PPP Party! It was a lot of fun!

One more time formulating one of my favorites! Calendula body butter❤️

Plastic Everywhere

I've limited my use of plastic, especially around my food storage and medicine making — but not eliminated it by any means — for over fifty years. Has that helped? Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps I have reduced, ever so slightly, the amount of plastic trash that winds up in the ocean. But I'm not alone.

I am inexorably losing ground. Vinegar and vodka used to be sold in glass jars. Plastic bottles are now unavoidable. I rely on plastic bags for freezing winter greens, applesauce, and gifts of sunny citrus. Organic frozen fruit is always in plastic. Even if I use less, I seem to use more. I'm not alone.

When I was in the hospital five years ago, I was stuck with plastic tubes, drank from a plastic cup, laid on a bed with a plastic covering. I'm not alone.

When gifted with a towel made from recycled plastic, I called the manufacturer and inquired if washing and drying that towel might create tiny bits of plastic?
"Of course, they replied. Anything made of plastic sheds tiny bits in the laundry."
(And thence into my environment.) I enjoy the towel as a decoration, never to be used or washed. Never ever to be used in my kitchen. I may be alone here.

We are in this together.
Plastic is ubiquitous.
And it breaks down.
It doesn't break down as in composting and returning to the soil.
It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces.
Wee little bits known as microplastics.
I'm worried.
I'm not alone.

Here is what we know right now about microplastic loads in food. (Is this a repeat? Have I shared this before? It's worth repeating.)

from Super Age, April 2025, by Heather Hurlock, edited by Susun

"Microplastics—tiny plastic particles between 1 nanometer (nm) and 5 millimeters (mm) in size—have infiltrated our environment, including the food we consume daily.

"While research into their long-term health effects is ongoing, and there are no targets for "safe" amounts of microplastics in our bodies, a 2024 study in the New England Journal of Medicine(NEJM) linked the presence of microplastics in arterial plaque to a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events.

"Researchers have also connected micro- and nanoplastic exposure to inflammation, immune dysregulation, and metabolic disruptions.

"There are no established safety thresholds for microplastics in the body. But the absence of a limit doesn't mean the absence of risk.

"We've ranked common foods and beverages from the lowest to highest measured microplastic load per serving. But particle count isn't the whole story."

We can measure how much microplastic is in our food— but we don't know how much harm it might cause.

Less Plastic Doesn't Always Mean Less Risk

"In toxicology, it's common to see what's known as a U-shaped dose-response curve, meaning low doses of certain substances can have outsized effects (just like high doses), especially if they are endocrine disruptors or inflammation triggers Dr. Raffaele Marfella, the lead author of the NEJM study, told us: 'This concept is relevant when considering microplastic exposure, particularly regarding vascular inflammation and systemic immune responses. Our findings suggest that even low-level chronic exposure to micro- and nanoplastics—especially polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride—may increase cardiovascular risk.'

"Here are some of the most studied sources of microplastics in your food, along with better-for-you alternatives that can support your longevity and long-term health.

> ‍1. Sea Salt
Plastic Load: ~0.4–5.8 particles per teaspoon (5g)
"Sea salt has been found to contain microplastics due to the contamination of ocean waters. A 2023 study analyzing 13 European brands found levels ranging from 74 to 1,155 particles per kilogram, with traditionally harvested salts containing significantly fewer plastics. The most common type of plastic is polyethylene terephthalate, used to make plastic bottles. Sea salt can contribute meaningfully to overall exposure.
< Instead: Use mined rock salt or Himalayan pink salt." [Still, technically, sea salt, but from old ocean deposits predating plastic, so safer.]

> 2. Beer
Plastic Load: ~2–79 particles per liter
"Microplastics have been detected in various beer samples, likely introduced through contaminated water sources or during the brewing process. A study analyzing 24 German beer brands found microplastic fibers, fragments, and granular material in all samples, with counts ranging from 2 to 79 fibers per liter. A study in PLOS ONE found microplastic particles in all 12 beer brands tested across the U.S. and Canada
< Instead: Support local breweries with sustainable practices. Moderate beer consumption."

‍> 3. Bottled Water
Plastic Load: ~325–10,000 particles per liter
"Bottled waters contain a significant number of microplastic particles, likely originating from the packaging and bottling process. An average of 325 microplastic particles per liter, with some samples containing up to 10,000 particles per liter.
< Instead: Filtered tap water stored in stainless steel or glass containers. Never drink water from a plastic water bottle that has been in the sun." [Drink nourishing herbal infusion instead. Stop drinking water, especially bottled water. And check out item 7.]

> 4. Shellfish
Plastic Load: ~7.6–10.7 particles per gram (shrimp); ~1.4/g (oysters)
"Shellfish such as shrimp, mussels, clams, and oysters are filter feeders, so they accumulate microplastics from their environment.
< Instead: One study found that fish from Australia have lower microplastic loads.‍"[Fish are not filter feeders.]

> 5. Rice
Plastic Load: ~13 mg plastic per 100g of Instant Rice; ~3–4 mg plastic per 100g washed rice
"Rice may seem like a clean staple, but it can carry surprising levels of plastic. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET in 95% of store-bought rice samples. Contamination didn't differ much between paper and plastic packaging, and simply shaking the bag had no effect. However, washing rice reduced plastic content by up to 40%.
< Instant (pre-cooked) rice contains four times more plastic than uncooked rice >
averaging 13 milligrams per 100-gram serving. In comparison, standard rice averaged around 3–4 milligrams per serving, depending on whether it was rinsed.
< Instead: Choose bulk organic rice and rinse thoroughly. Skip instant rice."

> 6. Apples and Carrots
Plastic Load: ~44.6 million particles per apple; ~14.7 million particles per carrot (150g)
"Microplastics aren't just sticking to the surface of your produce—they are absorbed directly into plant tissues. A 2020 study published in Environmental Research found that apples and carrots had the highest concentrations, with median levels reaching 223,000 particles per gram in fruits and 97,800 per gram in vegetables (Oliveri Conti et al., 2020). The study noted that microplastics in produce were often under 10 micrometers in size, small enough to enter human tissues.
< Instead: Choose unpackaged produce. Shop from local sources. [Farmers' markets, farm stands, CSAs.] Focus on organic and seasonal produce."

> 7. Tea
Plastic Load: ~11.6 billion From 1 plastic tea bag.
"Plastic tea bags steeped in hot water release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles into the beverage. A single plastic teabag at brewing temperature releases approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into the cup.
< Instead: Use loose-leaf tea." [Grow your own aromatic herbs for teas. Use cloth teabags. Drink nourishing herbal infusions.]

I'm not alone.
You aren't alone.
We are in this together.

May I remember it is in beauty.
May I remember to breathe in a giveaway dance with the plants.
May my heart always beat as one with the earth's heartbeat .
I am surrounded by green blessings.
Gratitude
Joy

Amplificando la info de @volvamonosverdesoficial

Many of us have read with interest that turmeric has been associated with cases of liver toxicity. Turmeric has long been considered incredibly safe. Indeed, it is widely consumed in food in the form of curries. Turmeric and the yellow-pigmented compounds, known collectively as curcumin, have even been studied for treating acute liver disorders.

So, what is going on? The research suggests two possibilities if the products were made appropriately and contaminant-free. Safety has always been assumed for turmeric, as it is not well-absorbed from the GI tract. But because curcumin isn’t well-absorbed, companies started blending it with the black pepper alkaloid piperine or fatty lipids (also called phytosomes), delivered as nanoparticles, or all the above, to increase its absorption into the bloodstream. Only these highly bioavailable and concentrated forms of turmeric/curcumin have been associated with liver injury. Interestingly, new research suggests that it is unnecessary to enhance absorption because most of its beneficial effects are due to its impact on the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier function.

The second possibility is intriguing. Out of the 10 cases reported in the United States, seven involved people who carried the genetic allele known as HLA-B*35:01. In other words, 70% of the cases involved people with this gene, even though it is only present in 6-7% of the population. The HLA alleles help the immune system recognize our cells from foreign cells. It might be that in these individuals, the immune system sees this concentrated form of turmeric as something dangerous, like a bacteria or virus. This same genetic variant was found in people who experienced liver damage from concentrated green tea extracts and the herb Polygonum multiflorum. Most don’t know if they carry the allele, as the genetic test is not commonly done.

Bottom line, if you are concerned, avoid the concentrated extracts that contain black pepper extract, are attached to a phytosome (lipid), or are delivered as nanoparticles. However, given the millions of people taking turmeric supplements, the number of cases is incredibly small. For reference, acetaminophen toxicity is the most common cause of liver transplantation in the U.S. It is responsible for 56,000 emergency department visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths per year in the United States.

References:

Agrawal S, Khazaeni B. Acetaminophen Toxicity. [Updated 2023 Jun 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441917/

Halegoua-DeMarzio D, et al. Liver Injury Associated with Turmeric-A Growing Problem: Ten Cases from the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN]. Am J Med. 2023 Feb;136(2):200-206.

Hoofnagle JH, et al. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. HLA-B*35:01 and Green Tea-Induced Liver Injury. Hepatology. 2021 Jun;73(6):2484-2493.

Li C, Rao T, et al. HLA-B*35:01 Allele Is a Potential Biomarker for Predicting Polygonum multiflorum-Induced Liver Injury in Humans. Hepatology. 2019 Jul;70(1):346-357.

LiverTox. Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury at the National Library of Medicine. Turmeric. Updated June 1, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548561/

Scazzocchio B, et al. Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Curcumin: A New Key of Understanding for the Health Effects of Curcumin. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 19;12(9):2499.

Happy Father's Day!!
Feliz Dia del Padre!!

Follow @goinggreenmedia for more green projects💚 6 WOMEN-LED PROJECTS SAVING OUR PLANET 🌎 Share this video to support women-led green businesses! 🙌 6. @LivingSeaWalls 🌊 These 3D Printed living seawalls were developed by a team of Australian researchers. They are attached to existing sea defences to help marine life thrive! 5. @ToucanRescueRanch 🦜 This organisation, founded by Leslie Howle, is rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing animals back into their natural habitats in Costa Rica. They are also working tirelessly to educate locals and tourists about the importance of conservation. 4. Recycled Plastic Bricks @gjenge_makers 🧱 These recycled plastic bricks are reducing plastic pollution in Kenya. Nzambi Matee created these bricks that are stronger than concrete and are a lightweight and low-cost building material. 3. Biodegradable sanitary products 🩸@rafaellab_g These biodegradable sanitary products are made from banana harvest waste. Rafaella De Bona Gonçalves is tackling widespread period poverty for disadvantaged groups in Brazil. 2. Palm Oil Alternative @gopalmless 🌴 This is a truly sustainable alternative to palm oil, made using yeast! Palm oil production is destroying rainforests around the world. Shara Ticku and her team have developed a solution that can be grown in tanks and scaled without harming vital ecosystems. 1. @MukuruCleanStoves 🔥 Mukuru Clean Stoves repurpose locally sourced waste metal to manufacture safer and more efficient cookstoves for low-income families across Africa. Developed by Charlot Magayi, these stoves are helping to massively reduce household air pollution and save lives. #internationalwomensday #gogreen #ecodesign #goinggreen #nature #sustainability #eco #sustainable #earth #architecture #sustainabledesign #design #sustainablearchitecture

It's almost the weekend! Follow your heart!