HEALTH AND SAFETY
1. YOU SHOULD GROW YOUR OWN COFFEE
If you are concerned about manufactured chemicals in coffee DO NOT buy coffees labeled as Organic. Sorry to say a recent study by The Clean Label Project found “Roundup” in every “organic coffee” sample they tested. You are thinking, “They didn’t test MY coffee.” Well, maybe. They only tested 57 different coffee products and found that glyphosate by-product levels in ALL of them were higher than in regular coffee samples. How much higher? Average was 5%.
The point is that if you switched to “Organic” coffee in order to avoid manufactured pesticides you are not getting what you paid for. Many had high levels of heavy metals, pesticides, phthalates (plasticizers), and acrylamide as well. I have several friends who have medical issues and must buy “organic.”
Let us be honest about coffee, and why not! Coffee products, in general, are one of the safest food groups TO BEGIN WITH. So, there is NO NEED (emphasis needed) to pay extra for “Organic.” Then, when the research finds that chemical levels are HIGHER in “Organic” than in normal coffee, the reason for spending the extra totally disappears. This study suggests you are chemically safer using normal coffee.
Using those little plastic cups to brew individual cups, that raises an even bigger issue. Why are you insisting on microplastics in your morning brew? Hot water and the acidic nature of coffee can leach chemicals from those plastic cups. There is a less expensive way, by the way. You can use RE-USABLE metal cups and fill them yourself. It lowers the cost of your morning wake-up, too.
Now, if you want to eliminate ALL manufactured chemicals from your coffee (as long as you don’t drink decaf) it is possible to grow your own coffee at home. In fact, you can grow your own tea (yaupon holly) the same way. Here are a couple starter articles about growing coffee:
How to Grow Your Own Coffee: A Complete Guide to Cultivating Flavorful Beans at Home
Growing Your Own Coffee Plants: A Beginner’s Guide
Takeaway … This is one place where “Organic” may actually be more risky for you than non-organic.
2. MOTORCYCLES
I like them. I used to ride and I had a cycle endorsement on my license for years. I rode with a helmet on.
One of my brothers had a car pull out in front of him and he met the highway in his leathers and helmet. He got quite a bit of “road rash,” but he had no head injuries or broken bones. The helmet and leathers did more than save his life. His leathers were ruined and the asphalt ground his helmet down to nothing in one area. That would have been his muscles and skull, instead of bruises and a little skin.
Laws for helmets differ from state to state, some have no requirement at all. Other states require younger riders to wear them. Still others require every rider to wear them. No matter where you ride a helmet is worthwhile. Did I mention that a piece of gravel falling off of a truck or a bird can injure you bad if you don’t have the protection of a helmet? Either of those can crack a car windshield.
That being said, motorcycles are the most dangerous form of transportation; risk of death by accident is 29X greater per mile than riding in a car (not 29% greater, but 2,900% greater). If risk of flying was as high no one would fly. Flying is way safer per mile than driving a car. The news under-reports on motorcycle deaths because they are so common. Motorcycle deaths account for 15% of all vehicle deaths. 20% of motorcycles are owned by women.
To reduce risk of death and injury on a motorcycle:
Drive slower and more safely than you would if driving a car.
Never perform “stunts.”
Wear a certified helmet.
Wear quality eye protection (not ordinary sunglasses).
Wear leathers, boots, and gloves.
Never drive when tired or when under the influence.
Avoid construction zones.
Always have your lights on.
Pay attention to weather forecasts.
Plan the trip.
To eliminate risk of death or injury on a motorcycle:
Don’t ride.
Takeaway …. Riding a motorcycle carries extra risk. Riders should own a life insurance policy to protect his or her family from financial loss. Also, sign up for a quality health insurance plan. Accidents happen. That’s reality.
Copyright 2025 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]
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