Hey there!

Juan is angry that we are all consuming toxic chemicals every day, without our consent. From microplastics, to pesticides, to Forever Chemicals. He is thinking about researching and creating content about how to live a chemical-free life. Please let us know if this is something you might be interested in. This week, he will talk about Forever Chemicals.

Michael is happy that Lina got her European Visa accepted finally (third time’s a charm). And is preparing for hopefully his last exams ever, on Thursday.

HEALTH

These toxic chemicals are everywhere — even in your body. And they won’t ever go away

Nothing lasts forever. Except forever chemicals that are in the blood of 99% of all humans and are linked to causing cancer, birth defects, destroying your endocrine and hormonal system, and many more health issues.

So what are these chemicals? They go under the name PFAS and were invented in the 1940s for their non-stick properties. The product that popularized it was Teflon, used in many modern non-stick frying pans. They are also found in many products we use today like waterproof clothing, the inside of your Starbucks coffee cup, furniture, toilet paper, makeup, dental floss, and the wrapping paper used for foods in most fast-food restaurants. They are everywhere.

These chemicals are super convenient for us and would be great if they stayed inside our products, but they don’t. These chemicals can travel in dust particles and have found themselves in the soil and water all around the world. From the rain in the Himalayas to the blood of polar bears, forever chemicals are found.

And once they are inside you, they tend to build up. According to a study in the USA, 6 million Americans have forever chemicals in their drinking water above the “safe” limit set by the Environmental Protection Agency. This might be an underestimate, as they are planning to lower this threshold.

Europe is no exception. The current factories for these chemicals are located in Antwerp Belgium (under the 3M company), and outside Rotterdam in the Netherlands (under Dupont company). For the past few. decades, they have been releasing these chemicals into the air and soil. The entire area surrounding the factory is contaminated and scientists fear it will keep dispersing more and more into Europe.

These chemicals are so bad for you that, many of the employees at these factories experienced miscarriages, deformed childbirth, cancer, and other deadly issues.

There is a significant problem that occurs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Mothers transfer a significant amount of PFAS from their bodies to their newborn babies, which raises serious concerns. Consequently, children experience some of the highest levels of exposure. Due to their still-developing organs, children are particularly susceptible to contamination. Some scientists liken this situation to a ticking time bomb for future generations.

You might find products that have on them “PFAS free” (forever chemicals). But this is always a lie because they simply replaced the chemicals with the closest similar chemical that is not legally called a “PFAS” chemical.

Here is an interactive map of all areas contaminated with forever chemicals in the USA:

Here is an interactive map of Europe’s contamination:

It is everywhere in the world and probably impossible to avoid, but there are some lifestyle changes we can do to reduce our exposure to these chemicals.

How to protect yourself from Forever chemicals:

1. 🧑‍🍳 Kitchen:

   • Replace non-stick Teflon pans with high-quality steel or cast iron pans.

   • Check if other kitchen products use non-stick chemicals, such as rice cookers, air fryers, grills, etc.

   • Replace plastic sponges with organic alternatives such as coconut-based scrubs and vegetable scrub brushes.

2. 🍔 Food

   • Avoid eating outside, especially in fast-food places. They are a leading cause of PFAS exposure.

   • Never eat microwavable food, such as popcorn or ready-made meals. The lining inside is made of PFAS.

3. 💧 Water:

   • Around 45% of tap water in the USA is contaminated with PFAS. Check the map above if you live there.

   • If you can’t afford to buy water from glass bottles (like most of us), you can get a water distiller. Anything that can’t be turned into vapor, like microplastics and PFAS, will be filtered out.

4. 🪥 Hygiene:

   • Get bamboo-made toilet paper. Bamboo, unlike trees, grows very fast and is very sustainable.

   • Most sunscreen contains waterproof chemicals that are terrible for you. They also contain a long list of chemicals you should avoid. Many people recommend UltrsaSun spf50 as it does not contain these chemicals.

   • Replace your dental floss with Silk dental floss.

   • Many brands of makeup use PFAS so please check often which ones are.

5. 👖Clothing and furniture

   • Avoid stain-resistant fabrics and waterproof clothes and shoes.

If you want to learn more, here is a short 10-minute video of Mark Ruffalo (aka. the Hulk) discussing this issue for his film Dark Waters. A film that exposes the destruction of the communities affected by these companies:

“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about answers.” - Thomas Pynchon, "Gravity's Rainbow”

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— Juan

MONEY

Do You Actually Want to Be Rich?

This week, I'm trying something different. I'll share some highlights from what I've read and listened to recently, along with a few thoughts. If any of these sound interesting, definitely check out the sources!

Andrew Wilkinson's Wealth Journey

I recently listened to Andrew Wilkinson's interview on the "My First Million" podcast. He talked about how he became a billionaire and his book "Never Enough." I got curious and started listening to his podcast, where he interviews other rich folks about how they made their money and their thoughts on it.

The main theme is: "How much money is enough?" The goalpost keeps moving: first, it's a million dollars, then ten million, and so on. Even billionaires feel it's never enough.

The Billionaire Conundrum

This made me think about some chats I've had with friends, especially those with strong left-leaning views. Many of them believe all billionaires are evil. While I agree their extravagant spending could sometimes be better directed, I think their philanthropy often outshines what governments might achieve with tax revenue. Plus, their wealth can fuel innovative companies.

That said, I'm not against the idea of a Global Wealth Tax, if it were possible. What are your thoughts? Feel free to discuss in the comments!

Book Highlight: "How to Get Rich"

On a related note, I just finished "How to Get Rich" by Felix Dennis. Despite what the name of the book is, the author talks about how he went about making his hundreds of millions, and then proceeds to argue that "getting rich" is a terrible goal, and you should probably actually avoid it. Beyond a certain point, wealth can do more harm than good. At this point in your life. What would be your “number”, that if you hit that amount, you would stop trying to make more money?

Insights from the Founding Fathers

Switching gears, I've been diving into the lives of the US Founding Fathers through the podcast series How to Take Over the World. Here are some key takeaways:

George Washington
- Live with Integrity: Lead by example
- Practice Humility: Know when to step aside
- Build and Maintain Strong Relationships

Alexander Hamilton
- Hone Your Communication Skills
- Advocate Passionately for What You Believe In
- Form Strategic Alliances

Benjamin Franklin
- Focus on What Interests You
- Create Groups for Mutual Improvement (like the Junto)
- Accept and Learn from Failures

These leaders emphasized community-based improvement, something we aim for in our accountability groups. We're always looking to improve these groups, so if you have ideas, let us know!

"You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with."

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— Michael

TAKING ACTION

Sign up to our Accountability Clubs

Want a community to keep you accountable? Willing to put your money where your mouth is? 😂

How it works:
💸 Everyone makes the same deposit at the beginning of the month.
✅ Every day you succeed, you get paid back a small amount from your deposit PLUS the money from others who failed that day.
❌ Every day you fail, your money for that day goes to people who succeed.
🗓️ It is 5 times a week. Month-to-month contract. You can join or leave at the beginning of each month.

July Clubs you can join:
🏋️ Exercise 5 times a week.
⏰ Wake up early during weekdays.
📵 Digital minimalism during weekdays.
📝 Signup to join for July

Highlights from Exercise Club: