Deirdre Imus: Essential Green Advice Combats Toxic Threats
by Tom Citrano
This month’s Natural Hero, Deirdre Imus.
A best-selling author, philanthropist, children’s health advocate, the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center and the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.
Deirdre Imus’ three volume series of books, Green This (published by Simon & Schuster) are a practical guide to successfully navigating through a toxic world. Volume One, Greening Your Cleaning, is packed with simple environmentally friendly cleaning tips that are safer and more cost effective than traditional (and more toxic) cleaning methods.
Volume Two, Growing Up Green, is an essential parent-friendly guide to raising healthy children in an increasingly toxic world. Volume Three, The Essential Green You, is a guide to detoxifying your lifestyle and your body, from the inside out. All of Deirdre Imus’ profits from the books will benefit the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center developed the highly regarded Greening the Cleaning Program, the goal being the elimination of all cleaning agents containing hazardous ingredients and replacing them with environmentally responsible products with little or no toxicity.
Hundreds of healthcare facilities, government agencies, businesses and schools have implemented this program with not only positive environmental impact but also financial savings up to 75% of their previously budgeted cleaning costs. Greening the Cleaning also launched a retail and institutional line of cleaning products that offer environmentally responsible products. All profits from the Greening the Cleaning Products go to support the research and education projects to identify, control and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer at the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center and the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer.
The Imus Cattle Ranch is an authentic four thousand acre working cattle ranch in northern New Mexico that provides the iconic experience of the American cowboy to children suffering from cancer and various blood diseases, as well as to children who have lost a sibling to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center has made great strides in raising awareness among lawmakers about the dangers of cleaning chemicals to indoor air quality. This awareness has helped usher in Green Cleaning Executive Orders from governors in three states: New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Is it possible in these economically-challenged times to live healthy and green in New York City?
Absolutely. The economy is the over-riding thing now and people are making lots of changes for the better, and that’s the positive side. Unfortunately, also because of the economy, people are resorting to some old toxic habits. You see the businesses that are doing well in this economy… I can’t believe McDonalds is doing better than ever. That’s the negative side. That’s why it’s so important to educate people, so that in not wanting to spend more money, we don’t resort to those old toxic habits. I find that people who consciously want to live healthier are more willing to try different things or to go off auto-pilot with their choices.
What are the biggest challenges to living healthy and green in NYC?
I believe that in many ways the city has stepped up. We’re adopting much healthier practices. Our biggest challenge right now is getting pesticides and toxic cleaning products out of the schools. This should not be an option at schools. There’s a level of negligence when schools are allowed to use toxic chemicals to clean or control pests or to serve food that potentially makes a child sick. That’s negligence on the part of the school or the state where it takes place. Parents have to take an active interest. Start paying attention to what your children are eating in school. Our children spend up to 80% of their time in school, their diet is largely comprised of what they eat there.
How do we start making better food choices?
Here’s what works for me. Don’t just make a shopping list (although that’s important). Plan a menu for the week. Figure out what meals the family will be around for, whether it’s five dinners, or three dinners and two lunches, whatever. Write out the menus for what meals you will eat together. You will save money because you won’t buy stuff you’re not going to use. You also can prioritize, or recognize, the foods you are missing, like vegetables. It might seem like you’re eating enough of a certain food group, but when you write down what you’re planning to serve for the week, you will see the lack of variety or frequency in your selections. Prioritize whole foods, organics and uncontaminated food. Target the foods that are most heavily sprayed with pesticides. Immediately put those foods on your organics list. Eat more leafy, green vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes. If you choose to eat meat, fish or dairy you must buy 100% organic and grass-fed or you will be eating contaminated products. And eat it sparingly. Research is proving time and time again that a plant-based diet is the healthiest choice.
Is there a way to prioritize the path to
healthier living?
Do one thing at a time. Cleaning products are a no-brainer. Make sure you are using non-toxic cleaning products. Buy products that are non-toxic, that don’t pollute our waters or bodies, and don’t cause our children or pets any harm. And you can get them at the same price. You also must use integrated pest control. Get rid of all toxicity. There are other ways. So many of the products that people keep under their sinks have been linked to cancer, neurological-based toxicity and development problems in children, asthma and respiratory problems.
How can we help our pets live healthier lives?
Pets are just as vulnerable as children, if not more so. So many of them are small, less than 20 – 30 pounds. Because they are close to the ground, children and pets are absorbing low-lying gasses (like chlorine) in much higher concentrations. It’s at their mouth level. We see so many dogs now with tumors and cancers that we never used to see. The shampoos and flea products are highly toxic. There’s no reason in today’s day and age to use those products. There are some really good products that are natural and non-toxic that clean your pets and repel ticks and fleas. You’d be surprised what you can find when you look for it. And make sure your pet groomer is using non-toxic products.
What about health care reform?
We don’t have a health-care system in this country. We have a disease-care system. We wait until our bodies are in a state of disease and that’s when we go to see a doctor. The doctor then labels the disease and puts the patient on medication. We need to examine how we approach health. We need to know more about root cause and prevention. Very little money goes into the study of root cause and prevention. And too many of those studies are currently funded by pharmaceutical companies. Prevention is the best health-care. That should be a larger focus of our health-care program.
What should be the biggest focus in improving health in this country?
Focus on children’s health. It all starts with the safety of our children. If our mission is to protect the children, really protect them… We will ultimately be protecting everyone. We wouldn’t see chronic illnesses in the numbers and prevalence we see them today. A big part of it is education. And you have to take action in your community. We also need legislation on local, state and federal levels to protect us and improve our health.
For more information about Deirdre Imus and her advocacy work visit dienviro.com. Her books are available from Simon & Schuster, wherever books are sold.
Do you have a Natural Hero in your life?
Nominate your Natural Hero for a possible appearance in these pages at heroes@nugreencity.com. Each month, Natural Awakenings NYC will celebrate New Yorkers who help make this city, and the world, a better place.
Popularity: 10% [?]
