Nutrition Unmasked

Fear vs. Facts: Modern Pesticides, Real Risk and How Families Stay Safe

Pesticides have changed—but only because science and regulation forced them to. In this episode, we explore how the creation of the EPA and modern regulatory frameworks reshaped pesticides into safer, more controlled tools—and why those protections are more important now than ever. We’ll break down how today’s pesticides are tested, regulated, and monitored, and why comparing them to chemicals from the past is scientifically misleading. But safer doesn’t mean perfect. Weakening regulations puts families, communities, and future generations at risk. We’ll discuss why stronger oversight—not less—is essential and what happens when profit and politics interfere with science. We’ll close with clear, science-based guidance on what families can do right now to protect themselves—without panic, guilt, or greenwashing—just facts, perspective, and practical choices. References: https://www.history.com/articles/dust-bowl [https://www.history.com/articles/dust-bowl]https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dustbowl-drought/#:~:text=The%20drought%20and%20misuse%20of%20land%20led,the%20land**%20led%20to%20the%20Dust%20Bowl [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dustbowl-drought/#:~:text=The%20drought%20and%20misuse%20of%20land%20led,the%20land**%20led%20to%20the%20Dust%20Bowl] https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dust-bowl-surviving-dust-bowl/ [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dust-bowl-surviving-dust-bowl/] https://werehistory.org/black-sunday-and-the-american-dust-bowl/#:~:text=The%20storm's%20impact%20included:%20*%20**Destruction**%20The,dirt%20across%20100%20million%20acres%20of%20land [https://werehistory.org/black-sunday-and-the-american-dust-bowl/#:~:text=The%20storm's%20impact%20included:%20*%20**Destruction**%20The,dirt%20across%20100%20million%20acres%20of%20land] https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides [https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides] https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/environmental-health/healthy-water-air-soil/lead-toxics-program/facts-about-arsenic#:~:text=Arsenic%20does%20not%20decompose%2C%20biodegrade,soil%20unless%20it%20is%20removed [https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/environmental-health/healthy-water-air-soil/lead-toxics-program/facts-about-arsenic#:~:text=Arsenic%20does%20not%20decompose%2C%20biodegrade,soil%20unless%20it%20is%20removed]. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/american-farmers-increase-insecticide-use [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/american-farmers-increase-insecticide-use] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9279132/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9279132/] https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32792.html#_Toc194633795 [https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32792.html#_Toc194633795] https://agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FarmersMarketToolkit.pdf [https://agriculture.sc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FarmersMarketToolkit.pdf] https://www.shelbytnhealth.com/DocumentCenter/View/3851/Farmers-Market-Packet Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520478/support] Thanks for tuning in to Nutrition Unmasked! I hope you enjoyed this episode and found it valuable. If you did, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you! Join the conversation! We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights. Follow us on social media [TikTok @lizajacobs01, Instagram @JP_ProductGuru, Facebook Liza Jacobs Pepple] and share your favorite moments from today’s episode! Stay connected for behind-the-scenes content, episode updates, and more engaging discussions. Until next time, keep exploring, stay curious, and remember, don't let quackery dictate your plate!

What Are Pesticides, Really? And How Did We Get Here?

When you hear the word pesticide, what comes to mind? Danger? Cancer? Corporate greed? Or maybe… nothing at all? In this first episode of a four-part series, we go back to the beginning—long before warning labels and viral headlines—to understand how pesticides actually came to be. We start with the earliest forms of pest control: simple, naturally occurring substances humans used to protect crops. Then we follow a pivotal (and unsettling) shift in history, when wartime chemistry gave rise to some of the most powerful pesticides the world has ever known—yes, including DDT and compounds born from chemical warfare research. Along the way, we’ll break down essential terminology you’ll need for the rest of the series: * What pesticides actually are (and the many types they include) * What they’re designed to do—and what they’re not * The difference between short-lived and persistent chemicals * Why “how long something sticks around” matters more than most people realize This episode isn’t about fear or blind trust—it’s about context. Because you can’t have an informed conversation about modern agriculture, food safety, or regenerative farming without understanding how we got here in the first place. Think of this as your foundation. The science, history, and language that will make everything else in this series finally click. References: https://www.history.com/articles/dust-bowl [https://www.history.com/articles/dust-bowl]https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dustbowl-drought/#:~:text=The%20drought%20and%20misuse%20of%20land%20led,the%20land**%20led%20to%20the%20Dust%20Bowl [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dustbowl-drought/#:~:text=The%20drought%20and%20misuse%20of%20land%20led,the%20land**%20led%20to%20the%20Dust%20Bowl]  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dust-bowl-surviving-dust-bowl/ [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dust-bowl-surviving-dust-bowl/] https://werehistory.org/black-sunday-and-the-american-dust-bowl/#:~:text=The%20storm's%20impact%20included:%20*%20**Destruction**%20The,dirt%20across%20100%20million%20acres%20of%20land [https://werehistory.org/black-sunday-and-the-american-dust-bowl/#:~:text=The%20storm's%20impact%20included:%20*%20**Destruction**%20The,dirt%20across%20100%20million%20acres%20of%20land] https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides [https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides] https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/environmental-health/healthy-water-air-soil/lead-toxics-program/facts-about-arsenic#:~:text=Arsenic%20does%20not%20decompose%2C%20biodegrade,soil%20unless%20it%20is%20removed [https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/environmental-health/healthy-water-air-soil/lead-toxics-program/facts-about-arsenic#:~:text=Arsenic%20does%20not%20decompose%2C%20biodegrade,soil%20unless%20it%20is%20removed]. https://www.ebsco.com/research-star [https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/american-farmers-increase-insecticide-use] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520478/support] Thanks for tuning in to Nutrition Unmasked! I hope you enjoyed this episode and found it valuable. If you did, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you! Join the conversation! We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights. Follow us on social media [TikTok @lizajacobs01, Instagram @JP_ProductGuru, Facebook Liza Jacobs Pepple] and share your favorite moments from today’s episode! Stay connected for behind-the-scenes content, episode updates, and more engaging discussions. Until next time, keep exploring, stay curious, and remember, don't let quackery dictate your plate!

Decoding the Label part 2: What's really inside your foods and supplements?

IMPORTANT LINK TO LABELS! https://www.savorthescience.com/blog [https://www.savorthescience.com/blog] In this episode, we roll up our sleeves and dive even deeper into the world of food and supplement labels—using a few “totally real, definitely not made-up” products I’ve created just for this breakdown. You’ll learn how a tiny bit of simple math (promise, it won’t hurt!) can reveal exactly how much of each ingredient is actually in your products… and how brands strategically design their labels to make you feel good about what you’re buying, even when the reality is a little less shiny. We’ll peel back the curtain on ingredient order, proprietary blends, clever wording, and why some labels look clean at first glance but tell a very different story underneath. By the end, you’ll be able to spot red flags, decode what’s really inside, and shop like a pro—no calculator anxiety required. References: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/consumers-misremember-products-scientifically-studied-claims#:~:text=Key%20takeaways%20*%20A%20new%20study%20finds,was%20roughly%20the%20same%20among%20both%20groups. [https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/consumers-misremember-products-scientifically-studied-claims#:~:text=Key%20takeaways%20*%20A%20new%20study%20finds,was%20roughly%20the%20same%20among%20both%20groups.] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6340779/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6340779/] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nutrition-facts-labels-often-ignored-whats-the-fix/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nutrition-facts-labels-often-ignored-whats-the-fix/] https://www.cdc.gov/folic-acid/data-research/mthfr/index.html [https://www.cdc.gov/folic-acid/data-research/mthfr/index.html] https://www.dietvsdisease.org/mthfr-folic-acid-folate/ [https://www.dietvsdisease.org/mthfr-folic-acid-folate/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520478/support] Thanks for tuning in to Nutrition Unmasked! I hope you enjoyed this episode and found it valuable. If you did, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you! Join the conversation! We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights. Follow us on social media [TikTok @lizajacobs01, Instagram @JP_ProductGuru, Facebook Liza Jacobs Pepple] and share your favorite moments from today’s episode! Stay connected for behind-the-scenes content, episode updates, and more engaging discussions. Until next time, keep exploring, stay curious, and remember, don't let quackery dictate your plate!

Decoding the Label part 1: What's really inside your foods and supplements?

IMPORTANT LINKS TO THE LABELS! https://www.savorthescience.com/blog [https://www.savorthescience.com/blog] Ever wonder what all those tiny words, numbers, and panels on your food and supplement labels actually mean? In this kickoff episode, we break down the basics of label reading so you can finally understand what’s required, what’s optional, and what each section is really telling you. We’ll explore how foods and supplements overlap, and where they’re worlds apart, so you can spot key differences that affect quality, safety, and transparency. Then we go beneath the surface to uncover the insights companies don’t make obvious, giving you the tools to make smarter, more confident choices for yourself and your family. If you’ve ever stood in an aisle squinting at a label, this episode is your new secret weapon. References: https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-food-labeling-and-critical-foods/standards-identity-food [https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-food-labeling-and-critical-foods/standards-identity-food] https://legal-resources.uslegalforms.com/f/food [https://legal-resources.uslegalforms.com/f/food] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344784271_Nutrition_Composition_of_Sacha_Inchi_Plukenetia_Volubilis_L [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344784271_Nutrition_Composition_of_Sacha_Inchi_Plukenetia_Volubilis_L] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9553689/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9553689/] https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/Food-Labeling-Guide-%28PDF%29.pdf [https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/Food-Labeling-Guide-%28PDF%29.pdf] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520478/support] Thanks for tuning in to Nutrition Unmasked! I hope you enjoyed this episode and found it valuable. If you did, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you! Join the conversation! We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights. Follow us on social media [TikTok @lizajacobs01, Instagram @JP_ProductGuru, Facebook Liza Jacobs Pepple] and share your favorite moments from today’s episode! Stay connected for behind-the-scenes content, episode updates, and more engaging discussions. Until next time, keep exploring, stay curious, and remember, don't let quackery dictate your plate!

Pure, Clean, Organic...or just marketing hype?

"Pure", "Clean", "Organic".  These words are designed to build consumer trust, but trust without proof can be dangerous.  In this episode we pull apart the marketing halo around these words and unmask why you shouldn't take them at face value.  If you are looking to protect your health, your wealth, and your values, it's time to look past the hype to see the reality.   References: https://www.bevnet.com/news/2015/lawsuits-target-pure-leafs-all-natural-claims/ [https://www.bevnet.com/news/2015/lawsuits-target-pure-leafs-all-natural-claims/] https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/pure-leaf-tea-class-action-says-brewed-in-usa-label-is-false/ [https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/pure-leaf-tea-class-action-says-brewed-in-usa-label-is-false/] https://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Article/2024/04/23/Q-A-Attorney-breaks-down-Clean-at-Sephora-ruling/ [https://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Article/2024/04/23/Q-A-Attorney-breaks-down-Clean-at-Sephora-ruling/] https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/cleaning-products/1-5m-settlement-reached-purex-natural-detergent-class-action/ [https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/cleaning-products/1-5m-settlement-reached-purex-natural-detergent-class-action/] https://www.classaction.org/blog/general-mills-sued-over-highsugar-cereals-bars#:~:text=The%20suit%20suggests%20that%20the,the%20Northern%20District%20of%20California [https://www.classaction.org/blog/general-mills-sued-over-highsugar-cereals-bars#:~:text=The%20suit%20suggests%20that%20the,the%20Northern%20District%20of%20California]. https://www.crresearch.com/blog/setting-the-record-straight-on-clean-labels/ [https://www.crresearch.com/blog/setting-the-record-straight-on-clean-labels/] https://cleanlabelproject.org/pesticide-free-award-methodology/ [https://cleanlabelproject.org/pesticide-free-award-methodology/] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/811559522 [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/811559522] https://www.wec.cpa/media-hub/non-profit-to-for-profit-some-organizations-are-making-the-switch [https://www.wec.cpa/media-hub/non-profit-to-for-profit-some-organizations-are-making-the-switch] https://www.ewg.org/areas-focus/toxic-chemicals/glyphosate#:~:text=After%20an%20initial%20set%20of,benchmark%20for%20glyphosate%20in%20oats [https://www.ewg.org/areas-focus/toxic-chemicals/glyphosate#:~:text=After%20an%20initial%20set%20of,benchmark%20for%20glyphosate%20in%20oats] https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification [https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5747577/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5747577/] https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/are-wild-blueberries-more-nutritious-than-farm-raised/ [https://archive.nytimes.com/well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/09/30/are-wild-blueberries-more-nutritious-than-farm-raised/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2520478/support] Thanks for tuning in to Nutrition Unmasked! I hope you enjoyed this episode and found it valuable. If you did, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. Your support helps us reach more listeners like you! Join the conversation! We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights. Follow us on social media [TikTok @lizajacobs01, Instagram @JP_ProductGuru, Facebook Liza Jacobs Pepple] and share your favorite moments from today’s episode! Stay connected for behind-the-scenes content, episode updates, and more engaging discussions. Until next time, keep exploring, stay curious, and remember, don't let quackery dictate your plate!