Susan Mitchell, Ph.D.

We are in the midst of the holidays and everything from our clothing to our home is decked out to look as festive as possible. But in our seasonal bliss, are we creating a potentially harmful home for our pets? Did you know there are many foods, plants and other items directly tied to the season that could put your dog or cat at risk? I had the opportunity to talk to veterinarian Dr. Steven Hansen on my weekly podcast this week. Dr. Hansen is a board-certified toxicologist with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Poison Control Center. He encourages all pet owners to be on alert about these hidden dangers. Read more…

Greg sent me an email with some questions about peanut butter. He wants to know if the oil in peanut butter is the same as fat and if so, should he consume low fat peanut butter? I’m glad you asked these questions Greg as there are many nut butters on the grocery shelves and it can be confusing. Let’s start with your first question about the oil in peanut butter. Yes, oil is the same as fat. It’s a form of fat. Fat has many faces or looks. Think about the oil in salad dressing or a bottle of canola oil or any oil. These oils are fat. Butter, shortening, margarine….these are all fat. Even the marbling around the outside of a steak or the skin on a chicken, these are fat. The oil in peanuts and peanut butter is a form of fat. Read more…

A friend who has been dealing with breast cancer asked me if drinking out of hard plastic bottles like the ones that hikers use could potentially put her at risk for more cancer due the chemical bisphenol-A. You may know it as BPA which has a #7 on the bottom of containers for recycling purposes. Many reusable water bottles, some baby bottles, and clear plastic storage containers are made with polycarbonate plastic containing BPA. The lining of most canned food, pizza boxes, water pipes, cell phones, shower curtains, CDs and some dental sealants contain BPA. There is even a small amount of BPA in house dust and the air but the biggest part of your exposure comes from food and liquids. Read more…