Fighting Against Toxic Chemicals, Eating Organic, + Government Regulations | Ken Cook of the EWG

Realfoodology

Courtney Swan

Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 July 2024

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

EP. 206: In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Ken Cook, the president and cofounder of the Environmental Working Group, or EWG. You might know them for their Skin Deep database that helps you check the safety of household and skincare products, or their tap water database—both of which I've relied on for years. Ken and I explore how EWG is tackling the growing problem of toxins in our daily lives and discuss practical steps we can take to make safer choices. Plus, Ken shares some incredible actionable advice on how we can influence regulatory changes for the better. Don't miss this insightful conversation about safeguarding our health and making a difference! Topics Discussed 08:26 - EWG & healthcare professionals 10:45 - EWG’s databases 14:53 - Legal doesn’t equal safe 18:50 - The FDA & brominated vegetable oil 21:21 - It takes science 17 years to catch up 22:34 - Studying dangerous chemicals & industry pushback 25:34 - Centering people in the regulatory process 32:07 - Consumer impact and organic products 37:25 - The cultural impact of environmental health 38:38 - Products that you don’t know are having an effect on your health 42:11 - Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good 44:42 - Choosing safer options 50:05 - Regulation & lobbying 56:08 - Calling your representative 58:22 - Staying motivated and positive 01:02:20 - The people making change 01:05:51 - Ken’s health non-negotiables Check Out The Environmental Working Group Website Skin Deep Database Consumer Guides Tap Water Database Instagram Show Links: Dark Waters Film Sponsored By: Qualia Go to qualialife.com/realfoodology for up to $100 off and use code REALFOODOLOGY for an extra 15% off Timeline Go to timelinenutrition.com/REALFOODOLOGY and use code REALFOODOLOGY for 10% off Organifi Go to www.organifi.com/realfoodology and use code REALFOODOLOGY for 20% Off Seed Go to https://seed.com/realfoodology and get 25% your first month with code REALFOODOLOGY Paleovalley Save at 15% at paleovalley.com/realfoodology and use code REALFOODOLOGY Check Out Courtney: LEAVE US A VOICE MESSAGE Check Out My new FREE Grocery Guide! @realfoodology www.realfoodology.com My Immune Supplement by 2x4 Air Dr Air Purifier AquaTru Water Filter EWG Tap Water Database Produced By: Drake Peterson Edited By: Mike Frey

Transcript

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0:00.0	On today's episode of the Real Foodology podcast.
0:02.4	Yes, it's on the shelf.
0:03.9	That means it's legal.
0:05.7	It doesn't mean it's safe.
0:07.2	And that's true of air, water, things that aren't on a shelf but are in your life, fruits and vegetables, you name.
0:13.2	And that basic concept is hard, I think, for people.
0:16.4	But once you get it, you can't look away.
0:18.7	Take stock.
0:20.4	Open your mind to sources of information.
0:23.7	Find the ones that you can trust. And then take some action on your own. You can't wait for the
0:29.2	government to solve these problems.
0:32.6	Hello, friends. Welcome back to another episode of the Real Foodology Podcast. I am your host,
0:36.9	Courtney Swan. And today I have the honor of having Ken Cook on. He is the president and co-founder of the environmental working group, otherwise known as the EWG. You probably know about the EWG. They're the ones that have created Skin Deep, which is a program where you can go on their website, you plug in household items, cleaning products,
0:56.0	food, skin care, makeup, like you name it. They probably have the product in their Skin Deep
1:01.7	database and you can actually plug it in and then they rate it and tell you if it's toxic or
1:07.1	if it's a healthier product for you. It's an amazing database. I've been using it for years to
1:12.3	make sure that all the products that I'm using in my home and on my body and on my skin are healthy
1:16.9	and safe. They also have their tap water database where you can actually go in and plug in your zip
1:22.2	code and they will tell you all of the contaminants and the levels that they have found in your tap water.
1:29.3	I moved to Denver recently, and after I got off this episode with Ken, I was like,
1:33.6	you know what, I'm going to plug in my new zip code.
1:35.8	And I found that we have arsenic at 34 times the legal limit in our water.
	...

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