Sophia Ruan Gushee is a Hamptons mom of three who, upon leaving a career in commercial real estate to spend more time with her children, began a journey to build the healthiest and safest environment possible for her family. This mission to become a truly conscious consumer led her into five years of research on the many toxins we are exposed to and the possible effects of these substances on our lives. Her book, A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures, was conceived as a reference manual that offers a science-based overview of the toxins that surround us — information that should be readily available to everyone.

She presents the book now as a guide for individuals and families to become more informed about our toxic environment, and she gives easy tips to reduce our toxic exposure and improve our health and wellbeing, as well as that of the planet. Sophia earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and a Master in Business Administration from Columbia University. She is also a certified yoga teacher, living in New York City with her family. This is her first book.

Sophia and her healthy family at home in Sagaponack.

Of the chemicals that have been introduced into commercial use since World War II, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been able to regulate only less than 1%. These chemicals appear not only in food and outdoor pollutants, but they also pervade our indoor air, household dust, and everyday household products. While public awareness of the potential harm of certain products has grown, information on these chemical substances is difficult to find and hard to understand.

Sophia thought she knew how to be healthy. Only after she became a mother did she start to discover an overlooked contributing factor to health: toxic exposures—artificially created toxic chemicals and naturally occurring toxins that now exist at unnaturally high levels in our environment. Sophia spent five years studying the most practical approaches to reducing her family’s exposures.

In A to Z of D-Toxing: The Ultimate Guide to Reducing Our Toxic Exposures, Sophia shares what she learned about the role of toxic exposures on our health. Created to be the only reference book that a head of household needs, it includes hundreds of tips, as well as ten simple ideas to focus your efforts. This is an invaluable resource for the conscious consumer that will lay the groundwork for leading a healthy life. Try one of her healthy recipes at home today, below:

SOPHIA GUSHEE FAMILY RECIPES

LUNCH: Colorful, Tasty Pasta

• Dice 10 peeled garlic cloves, sauté  in olive oil.
• Cook pasta of your choice.

Grate Pecorino, grind black pepper, and chop parsley or other gardens herbs.  Toss all together, along with salt. (Toss in nutritional yeast for added nutrients and flavor, if desired.) For those who like spicy: toss a separate batch with crushed dried chili flakes or freshly diced habanero or jalapeño peppers from the garden.

DESSERT: Banana, Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Freeze overly ripe bananas ahead of time. When ready to make dessert, peel frozen bananas under warm water. Place peeled bananas in Vitamix blender. Add a scoop of peanut butter and a milk of your choice (almond, coconut, oat, or dairy). Blend. Scoop into serving bowls and let sit in freezer for a few minutes.  Shortly before serving, grate dark chocolate on top. Delicious!