House Republicans Pass Trump’s 2025 Budget Bill, a Devastating Blow to Those in Need!

While we all slept last night, the House of Representatives passed Trump’s 2025 Budget Bill, which if it passes in the Senate, it will throw 15 million people off of Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps), taking health care and food out of the mouth of babes! This entire bill is bad! This bill make it easier for anyone to buy a gun silencer, bans States from regulating Artificial Intelligence, and bans non-profits who provide family planning & reproductive health from getting any federal funds. Our government is going backwards! The whole design is set to benefit Trump and his billionaire friends, while hurting ordinary Americans. This bill is now headed for the Senate, and we all must do everything we can to stop it!

Call your Senators NOW!! #202-224-3121

Arsenic in Rice Remains a Big Problem Despite Best Practices

I have been talking about this topic for years, but it is now gaining some public awareness.

Women’s Voice for the Earth recently conducted a first of its kind analysis of heavy metal content in different rice brands and put out a report that contains some shocking findings. The report states that 100% of the samples contained arsenic, and more than 1 in 4 of the rice samples exceeded acceptable FDA levels. Compared to other grains, rice has a higher capacity to absorb arsenic—especially inorganic arsenic, the more toxic form.

Despite it being widely known for decades that many varieties of rice, specifically brown rice, contain levels of arsenic, it appears that any of the best practices implemented by rice producers have not been effectively implemented and/or are ineffective at solving this issue. Unhealthy levels of cadmium were also found in many of the rice brand samples. 

Fear not, there were also samples of other grains sent for testing that may provide some relief. Quinoa, farro, and barley samples were also sent and came back with 69% less heavy metal contamination. Consider switching to these alternative grain choices, or go for one of the lower-arsenic containing rice like California-grown rice, Thai jasmine rice, and Indian basmati rice.

Another alternative two-step method that can be used to significantly decrease the arsenic content. This method involves starting off by placing your rice in a mesh strainer or sieve and washing it with water and scrubbing the rice with your hands until the water runs clear through the strainer or sieve. The other step in this method involves cooking your rice like pasta: adding additional water to the pot and straining the rice from the water when it is ready. This method will lower exposure to heavy metals like arsenic. 

Read the Full Report WVE put out Here