THE GREEN ZONE BLOG by LINDA MASON HUNTER
All about taking care of yourself, your family, and the planet, "The Green Zone" offers short, basic tips to incorporate into your daily life to make Earth a cleaner, more sustainable place.
In the Zone
"The Green Zone" airs four times daily at approximately. 2:50 a.m., 6:50 a.m., 4:50 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. central time. Listen every day for a new tip you can put to good use.
Study finds strong evidence linking cell phone radiation to cancer
June, 2025
A World Health Organization-backed study determined with a high level of certainty that there are links between cell phone radiation and two types of cancer in laboratory animals— malignant nerve tumors in the heart and gliomas (a type of brain cancer). This is a significant development because, as Dr. Devra Davis, founder of the Environmental Health Trust, points out, “Every agent that causes cancer in humans will produce it in laboratory animals when adequately tested.”
Results of the study prompted this swift response from the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields: “Given this high level of certainty, government policymakers worldwide should immediately move to revise their radiation exposure limits to protect public health and the environment.”
In the meantime, it’s wise to take simple precautions to reduce exposure.
· Keep the phone away from your head and body.
· Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times.
· Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or inside metal vehicles and elevators.
· Use airplane mode and turn antennas off when not in use.
· Children should only use cell phones for emergencies.
· Do not charge a cell phone or sleep with it near your bed.
· Use a corded landline at home.
· Minimize talk time on your cell phone.
· Connect your cell phone to the internet without radiation by using an ethernet cord.
Sources: “WHO-funded study finds RF-EMF exposure increases incidence of cancer,” Environmental Health Trust, May 19, 2025; https://ehtrust.org/who-funded-study-finds-rf-emf-exposure-increases-incidence-of-cancer/
https://ehtrust.org/10-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-the-cancer-risk-from-cell-phones/
Why I’m cooking with olive oil
By Linda Mason Hunter
June, 2025
Seed oils have been much in the news lately, ever since Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the current Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services, described them as “poison.” We’re talking about cooking oils that come from vegetable seeds, like corn, canola, cottonseed, sunflower, safflower, and grapeseed. Many wellness influencers and restaurant chains say they are transitioning away from seed oils in favor of animal fats, chiefly beef tallow and butter.
Wait, what? Are nutritionists now saying animal fat is good for you? I thought it was associated with high cholesterol, heart disease, and cancer. How can plant-based seed oils be worse?
Some studies link seed oils with body-wide inflammation, which accelerates all kinds of disease. At the end of the day, good health is all about reducing inflammation.
However, much of the concern centers on the fact that, due to their high linoleic acid content, seed oils have an over-abundance of omega-6 fatty acids, whereas a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 is best for health. There’s already an imbalance in the typical Western diet due to widely available seed oils used in fried fast foods and ultraprocessed foods, which comprise roughly 10% of the U.S. food supply.
So, should you cut out seed oil altogether? The answer depends on what you replace it with. Animal fats, like beef tallow and butter, are high in saturated fat which is bad for cardiovascular health. Best to switch to olive oil or avocado oil which contain omega-3 fatty acids, thus lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. Extra virgin olive oil has an added bonus: It’s minimally processed, thus retaining beneficial nutrients that get stripped away in the production of most other oils.
After reviewing the pros and cons, I’ve decided extra-virgin olive oil is the healthier choice. That is what I am doing, while also avoiding ultra-processed foods altogether.
Sources: “Replacing butter for some plant oils could significantly lower risk of mortality, new study finds,” by Julianna Bragg, CNN; March 6, 2025. https://www.aol.com/switching-butter-plant-based-oils-210052905.html
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says beef tallow is healthier than seed oils. Is he right?” by Kristen Rogers, CNN; March 26, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/25/health/beef-tallow-healthy-seed-oils-rfk-wellness
Seed oils, “The Checkup with Dr. Wen,” by Leona S. Wen, https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camprw/?trackId=5e80b256ae7e8a594862ffaa&s=8264ecd315a3609b52471a1&utm_campaign=wp_checkup&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&linknum=5&linktot=74
Green Zone Tips for February, 2026
As heard on KFMG FM, Des Moines’ award-winning terrestrial radio station, streaming at https://kfmg.org/resources
Limit your exposure to plastic food containers
We’ve known for a quite a while that heat makes plastic unstable. Microwaving food in plastic containers, for example, can release around two billion nanoplastics, or tiny pieces of plastic, into your food. Storing hot food in plastic can also increase the plastic breakdown. Scientists have found microplastics that have ended up in the human heart, brain, and even the placenta and in a baby’s first poop. That’s not healthy. A buildup of nanoplastics in the body can lead to chronic inflammation, which could increase the risk of colon and lung cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular disease.
Microplastics even leach into food from plastic containers stored in the refrigerator and freezer. Storage over a period of months can release millions of particles, though heat causes much higher release. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles and general wear and tear also stress plastics, leading to shedding.
But there are ways to limit your exposure. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers for safe, long-term food storage. Don’t microwave plastics or use a plastic water bottle. Most plastic containers are not microwave safe, even those that claim to be. Aluminum, cardboard and paper-based containers are typically plastic-free and safe to store food.
Sources: (1) “Microplastics could be leaching into your food if you make this one simple mistake,” by Joey Skladany;The Washington Post, October 7, 2025. https://www.cnet.com/home/microplastics-could-be-leaching-into-your-food-if-youre-making-this-simple-mistake/(2) “Keeping food safe when using plastic containers,” by Ghaida Batarseh Havern, Michigan State University Extension, August 29, 2022. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/keeping_food_safe_choosing_food_storage_containers
(3) “I’m a microplastics researcher. Here’s how I limit the plastic in my life,” by Tracey Woodruff; The Washington Post, July 23, 2025. file:///Users/LMH/Desktop/As%20a%20microplastics%20researcher,%20here’s%20how%20I%20avoid%20exposure%20to%20plastics%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.html
Take a second look at synthetic chemicals in your food
Two new peer-reviewed studies are drawing attention to an ongoing problem in our food system: Once food chemicals are approved, there’s little follow-up about how they affect our health over time. The research examines the relationship between consumption of certain food preservatives and health outcomes. While the studies do not prove cause and effect, they raise important questions regulators haven’t answered. Take a look at these key findings:
--Increased health risks: Higher consumption of some preservatives was associated with elevated risks of specific types of cancer and Type 2 diabetes.
--Broad scope of additives: The research examined over 50 preservatives—including several allowed in the U.S. under the “generally recognized as safe” process, which permits reliance on outdated or industry-submitted data.
--Call for regulatory review: The studies’ authors concluded that current regulations don’t reflect modern science and called for updated safety reviews to better protect consumers.
Once food chemicals are approved, the FDA rarely reviews their safety—even as new evidence emerges. But that’s not how a public health system should work. We all deserve a food system that looks out for us.
Source: “Should the FDA regularly review chemicals after they’re approved?” The Environmental Working Group, ewg.org.
How to avoid toxic chemicals in your everyday life
Source: The Washington Post, “7 small swaps to live with fewer toxic chemicals,” by Amudalat Ajasa; updated October 26, 2025.
Avoiding hazardous chemicals can be a challenge. Here are seven strategies for keeping yourself safe.
1. Consider filtering your water. Whether the concern is lead pipes or “forever chemicals” from industrial pollution, the easiest way to protect yourself against water contaminants is to filter your water. Most Americans get their drinking water from public water systems, but using some type of filtration at the tap is always good. Don’t rely on bottled water, which often contains contaminants such as microplastics.
2. Replace plastic containers with glass. Although microplastics can be difficult to avoid entirely, there is one easy solution that can reduce your consumption: Keep plastic away from heat. Try to avoid putting hot food or liquid in plastic containers or using plastics in the microwave. Also, keep a stash of reusable bags for the grocery store to minimize use of plastic shopping bags. They can end up in the ocean and eventually degrade into microplastics.
3. Limit seafood consumption. Studies have found that microplastics increasingly contaminate seafood, creating a direct exposure route for people. Experts recommend limiting consumption of larger, more predatory fish like tuna and swordfish, because heavy metals tend to accumulate in their tissues.
4. Minimize fragrances at home. Air fresheners, candles, plug-ins, oils and scented cleaning supplies are all used to mask odor, not get rid of it. Air fresheners can emit more than 100 synthetic chemicals, including formaldehyde, benzene and other volatile organic compounds which can cause allergic reactions, respiratory complications and headaches. Avoid heavily fragranced cleaning products and personal care products. Alternatives to heavily scented cleaners and personal care items include diluted solutions using white vinegar or Castile soap.
5. Use a mask and an air filter. Air quality has a huge impact on our health. Smoke, smog and air pollutants like car exhaust carry soot and other tiny particles that can harm the heart and lungs. I have an air purifier on each of the three floors of my house, but you don’t have to go to that extreme. Open windows if indoor air quality is bad. Wearing an N95 mask can catch fine particles and reduce exposure risks if indoor air quality is truly horrible.
6. Replace your nonstick pans. Many use “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, linked to serious health problems. Experts say wear and tear and overheating pans can encourage the release of chemicals into food. Replace them with cast iron or stainless steel.
7. Do your best. Stay informed and do your best. Ultimately, we need a change in government policies to protect us from hazardous products. In the meantime, do your best.
Source: “7 small swaps to live with fewer toxic chemicals,” by Amudalat Ajasa; The Washington Post; updated October 26, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2025/10/24/how-4-environmental-experts-avoid-toxic-chemicals-their-everyday-lives/
Green Zone Tips for January, 2026
If you live in Iowa, run don’t walk to your nearest water filter dealer and get your household a reverse osmosis filter for your drinking water.
Nitrate pollution is surging again in rivers that provide drinking water to Des Moines and surrounding communities. Since the first of this year, both the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers have registered several days of high levels of nitrate, according to monitoring by the US Geological Survey.
In the Raccoon River, sensors have registered at 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter of water nearly every day since Dec. 29th. In the Des Moines river, levels at 10 milligrams per liter or more have been registered on most days since January 6th. Ten milligrams per liter is the limit set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Water with nitrates above that level is considered unhealthy. Above that level water must be treated to lower the nitrates to get below ten. Des Moines Water Works has special (and very expensive) equipment to do that. It costs $16,000 per day, and it’s been operating almost every day since the first of the year.
Nitrates come from fertilizer and manure which flows into the rivers from nearby farms, especially mega-farms and livestock feedlots (also called CAFOs). Unlike many other states, Iowa has no rules which limit or prohibit manure or fertilizer from seeping into rivers. There have been some voluntary efforts, but the problem continues to grow.
The only way you can protect yourself is to install a reverse osmosis water filter for your kitchen tap. Reverse osmosis is the only type of filter that cleans out nitrates. Countertop units are available from Menards starting at $250. Undersink filters are more expensive, starting at around $900, but they are more reliable and easier to maintain. The reverse osmosis undercounter system I had installed in my son’s condo came from Iowa Soft Water in Des Moines, but other companies have them, too.
In my old farmhouse we’ve had a whole house water filtration system installed in the basement for the past 20 years. Included are two reverse osmosis filters that are checked and maintained annually by Iowa Soft Water, the company that installed in the system.
How to dispose of plastic
Have you ever gotten to the end of, say, a jar of peanut butter and wondered if it should go in the trash or recycling? Is it worth rinsing out? And where will it actually end up? Those are questions I’ve been wrestling with these days.
Fortunately, I found answers on the NPR radio show “Science Friday,” where Alexander Clapp, journalist and author of Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash,” offered the best argument for rational disposal.
Don’t think that recycling plastic is the answer. Recycling doesn’t work, and never will, he says. It’s not efficient. Each of the thousands of different kinds of plastic must be sorted according to composition and characteristics, making it impossible to sort the trillions of pieces of plastic into separate types of processing.
Secondly: Recycling is expensive. It’s always cheaper to produce new plastic than to attempt to resurrect old plastic.
Third: Recycling plastic is often dangerous. You can’t incinerate it without introducing a toxic mess of particulates into our soil, air, and water, eventually ending up in our food, causing tiny microplastics to accumulate in our bodies.
And last, but certainly not least, plastic is made from fossil fuels, the major cause of climate change.
So, what’s the best way to dispose of plastic? The answer is easy. Don’t Buy It In the First Place! But that’s virtually impossible in 21st century America. The next best answer? Throw it in the trash. Yes, you heard me. Landfills these days are lined, preventing most toxins and pollutants from escaping into the soil. Until a better, more sustainable solution appears, throwing used plastic in the trash is the best solution we’ve got.
Source: “Where does plastic and other trash go after we throw it away?”; Science Friday, NPR, Feb. 28, 2025. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/waste-wars-book-garbage-plastic-recycling/
Blueberries are wonderful for health and well-being
A while ago I saw a comment on Facebook that I believe is wrong and must be righted. The comment was that all antioxidants cause cancer, especially blueberries. Not so. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants, which gives them powerful protection against aging, heart disease, cancer, and brain decline by fighting oxidative stress. Wild blueberries contain even higher levels of antioxidants.
There are concerns that antioxidants from supplements may have some risks associated with them, risks that antioxidants from foods don’t have. Especially the really high dose supplements. I’ve always thought it comes back to the Whole Foods theory, better to eat the whole food then take isolated nutrients. Also, during chemo and radiation treatment for cancer, patients are advised against eating blueberries because antioxidants can interfere with the treatment which relies on oxidative stress to kill cancer cells.
Blueberries are one of the best foods for anti-angiogenesis, meaning preventing cancer from forming its own vessels. In this era of high inflammation and skyrocketing cancer diagnoses, eating blueberries often is an excellent idea. Best to buy them organic.
Source: Conversation with Linda Gilbert, President and founder of Health Focus, Inc.; https://fearn.pair.com/rstevens/symposium98/Gilbert.html.
Eat seed oils sparingly, if at all
Some studies link seed oils with body-wide inflammation, which accelerates all kinds of disease. At the end of the day, good health is all about reducing inflammation.
However, much of the concern centers on the fact that, due to their high linoleic acid content, seed oils have an over-abundance of omega-6 fatty acids, whereas a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 is best for health. There’s already an imbalance in the typical Western diet due to widely available seed oils used in fried fast foods and ultraprocessed foods, which comprise roughly 10% of the U.S. food supply.
So, should you cut out seed oil altogether? The answer depends on what you replace it with. Animal fats, like beef tallow and butter, are high in saturated fat which is bad for cardiovascular health. Best to switch to olive oil or avocado oil which contain omega-3 fatty acids, thus lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. Extra virgin olive oil has an added bonus: It’s minimally processed, thus retaining beneficial nutrients that get stripped away in the production of most other oils.
After reviewing the pros and cons, I’ve decided extra-virgin olive oil is the healthier choice. That is what I am doing, while also avoiding ultra-processed foods altogether, most of the time.
Source: Conversation with Linda Gilbert, President and founder of Health Focus, Inc.; https://fearn.pair.com/rstevens/symposium98/Gilbert.html.
What’s Eating Iowa?
Water. Big Ag. Art Cullen (Iowa’s Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist) at his best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xqa0B9r7Y8
