E85: Greenwashing Alert: Why Recycled Plastics May Be Worse for Your Health
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Release Date: 04/10/2025
Practical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
After discovering her toxic chemical levels were 88% higher than the average American, DailyMail Deputy Health Editor Alexa Lardieri took a bold step: she joined Ruan Living’s pioneering and transformative 40-Day Home Detox program to reduce her everyday exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA, BPS, phthalates, and benzene. In this follow-up to episodes 86–89, Alexa returns to share her before-and-after Million Marker urine test results—and the data is powerful. Her bisphenol levels dropped from 88% to zero, and other chemicals linked to hormone disruption and cancer also...
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Practical Nontoxic Living™ Raindrop | Ultimate Home Detox™ Unpacked What are the safest fabrics for your clothes, bedding, and home furnishings? In this follow-up to Episode 105, “Toxic Textiles,” Sophia prioritizes the certifications and most nontoxic fibers and materials to look for when shopping for clothing, linens (like bath towels, bed sheets, and kitchen cloths), and home decor — including rugs, carpets, curtains, and upholstered furniture. Episode 105 shares an enriching detox deep dive. But if you want high-impact takeaways from the detox deep dive within 6 minutes, episode...
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Your clothing, curtains, and couch might be exposing you to toxic chemicals—and you probably have no idea. In this eye-opening episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, Sophia Ruan Gushée speaks with Patty Grossman, co-founder of Two Sisters Ecotextiles, to reveal what’s hiding in the fabrics you use every day—and how to choose safer alternatives for a healthier home. 💥 Here’s a shocking fact: Experts say that —many of which can leach into your air and onto your skin. From natural vs. synthetic fibers to the importance of certifications like GOTS and Oeko-Tex, this episode gives you...
info_outlinePractical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Could your favorite treat support healthier skin, hair, joints, and mood? In this mini-episode, Sophia shares how homemade collagen marshmallows—made with grass-fed gelatin, rose powder, and butterfly pea flower—can nourish your body from the inside out. Learn about the cleanest collagen powder brands, key ingredients to avoid, and the surprising science-backed benefits of rose and butterfly pea flower. Plus, get the full collagen marshmallow recipe and tips at . ABOUT PRACTICAL NONTOXIC LIVING™ RAINDROPS These simple—brief and raw—are drops of practical wisdom from Sophia's life....
info_outlinePractical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
Struggling with stress, overwhelm, or feeling out of sync in your space? You might be overdue for a different kind of detox—one that starts with your home, habits, and the unconscious choices shaping your well-being. In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, host Sophia Ruan Gushée is joined by her colleague and niece, Elizabeth McCormick, to unpack insights from the 40-Day Home Detox masterclass with Heather Lilleston, a clinical psychologist and seasoned yoga teacher. Together, they explore how small shifts in your daily routine, environment, and mindset can help you feel more...
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What does “home” really mean—and how can we feel at home wherever we are? In this excerpt from Ruan Living's 40-Day Home Detox program, Sophia Ruan Gushée is joined by Heather Lilleston, yoga teacher since 2003 and doctorate in clinical psychology, to explore how our sense of home goes far beyond our real estate. Together, they unravel hidden toxins in our lives—not just in products, but in assumptions, habits, and mindset. Explore how unconscious choices shape our wellness, the power of connection to nature, and why cultivating a healthy sense of home—physically and...
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Can what you eat really improve your chances of getting pregnant—or your overall health? In this episode of Practical Nontoxic Living, Sophia Ruan Gushée and her niece and colleague, , reflect on the powerful insights from Dr. Robert Kiltz’s masterclass in Ruan Living’s 40-Day Home Detox. Dr. Kiltz, a leading fertility doctor and founder of CNY Fertility, champions a high-fat, high-protein, low-carb diet to reduce inflammation and optimize fertility. Sophia and Elizabeth share their biggest takeaways from his holistic approach and discuss how his unconventional dietary recommendations...
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Can inflammation be the hidden root of fertility challenges—and many chronic diseases? In this eye-opening conversation, Sophia Ruan Gushée welcomes Dr. Robert Kiltz, founder of CNY Fertility and pioneer of a holistic approach to reproductive health. Together, they explore how reducing inflammation, adopting an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, and rethinking diet and environment can optimize fertility, fecundity, and IVF outcomes. Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or with assisted reproductive technology, Dr. Kiltz’s perspective offers empowering insights rooted in decades of...
info_outlinePractical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, Sophia Ruan Gushée is joined by her colleague and niece to reflect on Sophia’s masterclass interview with reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Paul Magarelli (featured in Part 2). Together, they unpack the most compelling insights from Dr. Magarelli about how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—found in everyday products like shampoos, perfumes, deodorants, and even conventionally grown produce—are silently impacting fertility. Topics include: What exactly are EDCs, and why should we care? The shocking decline in global fertility—over...
info_outlinePractical Nontoxic Living™ with Sophia Ruan Gushée
This episode features an excerpt from Ruan Living’s 40-Day Home Detox masterclass with renowned reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Paul Magarelli. He explains how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)—found in plastics, personal care products, pesticides, and air pollution—are contributing to declining sperm counts, hormone imbalances, miscarriages, and lower embryo viability. With over 1,000 known EDCs in our daily environments, Dr. Magarelli shares clinical insights into how these invisible toxicants are silently impacting fertility, IVF outcomes, and long-term child development....
info_outlineRecycled Plastic: The 'Eco-Friendly' Choice That’s Harming Your Health.
You’ve been told that choosing recycled plastic is better for the environment—but is it safe for your health? 🚨 Studies show that recycled plastics can contain even more toxic chemicals than virgin plastic, including BPA, phthalates, and hormone disruptors that compromise your endocrine system, fertility, reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes, and overall well-being.
In this episode, we uncover:
✅ The shocking truth about toxins in recycled plastics
✅ How “eco-friendly” plastic may be worse for your health
✅ Where these hidden toxins show up in your everyday life
✅ Smart swaps for safer, truly sustainable materials
If you’re passionate about detoxing your home and body and making informed choices about the products you use, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧
👉 Hit play now and share with a friend who needs to hear this!
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Show Notes
Read podcast script: Recycled Plastic: The “Eco-Friendly” Choice That’s Harming Your Health
🔎 Resources Mentioned:
Select links to scientific studies on toxins in recycled plastic:
- "Safety of recycled plastics and textiles: Review on the detection, identification and safety assessment of contaminants" (Chemosphere, 2023)
- "Forever Toxic: The science on health threats from plastic recycling" (Greenpeace, 2023)
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A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures for a deep dive into toxicity from your household items and daily routines.
- 40-Day Home Detox to eliminate six basic Household Repeat Offenders, including plastics.
💡 Take the Next Step:
🚫 Ready to ditch hidden toxins?
📩 Let’s Connect!
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Instagram: @ruanliving
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Website & Blog: ruanliving.com
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Join My Newsletter: Get exclusive tips for detoxing your home & body: Ruan Living newsletter — look out for it from [email protected].
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