Friday, July 17, 2026

Are you breathing this in?

If you've been outside in the last few days, you already know.

The sky has that color. The air smells like something burning 500 miles away. Because it is.

More than 115 million Americans are under unhealthy air right now. Over 800 wildfires are burning in Canada, and the smoke is sitting over the Midwest, the Northeast, and the Mid-Atlantic. Minneapolis ranked as the second-worst air of any major city on the planet.

So you do what everyone says to do. Close the windows. Stay inside. Wait it out.

Here's what nobody tells you about that.

Closing the windows isn’t enough.

Researchers tracked indoor and outdoor air in more than 1,400 buildings during smoke season. On smoke days, people sealed up, and half as much outside air got in.

Indoor particle levels still nearly tripled.

These were people doing everything right. Windows shut, doors closed, staying in. The air inside got three times worse anyway, because smoke particles are small enough to come through every gap a house has. Around door frames. Through the HVAC. You can't seal a house against something that small.

The particles are the problem

Wildfire smoke particles are about 30 times thinner than a human hair. That's what PM2.5 means, and it's why it's in every alert you've seen recently.

Particles that small don't stop in your nose or throat. They go deep into your lungs, and the smallest ones cross into your bloodstream. That's the link to asthma attacks and heart problems during smoke events.

This isn't a bad-smell problem.

What actually reduces it

Filtration. That's the intervention that shows up in the research over and over. The same studies that found tripled indoor particles also found that filtration cuts them substantially.

That's why I run the Intellipure H1000 in my house. Not just for times like these, but all the time.

The H1000 uses dual H13 HEPA filters with Honeycomb VOC backing to capture over 99.9% of airborne particles, including ultrafine particles and unwanted odors. It covers up to 2,200 square feet in 30 minutes, runs quietly enough that I forget it's on, and the filters only need changing once a year.

Right now you can save 10% with code FOODBABE10.

Get 10% off Intellipure here →

The smoke clears and people move on. Then it comes back in three weeks and everyone starts over.

My Intellipure runs year-round. Smoke season is just when I notice it's working.

Xo,
Vani

P.S. If you have kids, someone pregnant, or anyone with asthma or heart issues in your house, this is the week to deal with it. Those are the groups every health department flags first, and they're the ones sitting inside breathing the air that got in.

P.P.S. At Food Babe, we only promote products we love to use. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Keep doing this...because it's working

I have been exposing the Big Food industry for over a decade... and I still remember what it felt like when people told me I was crazy for saying they would eventually have to answer for what they were doing to us.

Well, I need to tell you something.

THE NUMBERS ARE IN.

Processed food is dying a slow death and BIG FOOD is crumbling.

There's a massive shift happening.

Look how much processed food companies have LOST in value in the last 22 months:

Campbell's: DOWN 54.9% (Goldfish, Pepperidge Farm)
Conagra: DOWN 54.2% (Chef Boyardee, Slim Jim)
General Mills: DOWN 47.6% (Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Totino's, Pillsbury)
Kraft Heinz: DOWN 29.6% (Oscar Mayer, Jell-O)
Lamb Weston: DOWN 25.8% (Frozen fries at McDonald's)
PepsiCo: DOWN 17.6% (Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Quaker)
Mondelez: DOWN 15.5% (Oreo, Ritz, Chips Ahoy)
Hershey: DOWN 10.4% (Reese's, Kit Kat, Twizzlers)

People are actively shifting away from ultraprocessed foods. Real food sales are outpacing ultra-processed sales by 7%!

This is what happens when millions of us stop blindly buying what they're selling us and start reading ingredient labels instead. We have the power in our own hands. When you refuse to buy an ultra-processed product, you are voting with your dollar and sending a strong message.

Ultra-processed foods are killing people every day. This is why we need to keep sharing the truth with everyone we know.

Every time you talk to a friend about this, every time you post something instead of scrolling past it, every time you choose real food over a meal with dozens of questionable additives... you are part of the reason these numbers look like this.

Keep sharing, voting with your dollars, and spreading the truth! 

The more people who find out that Big Food is poisoning them, the better chance we have to save our friends and family.

Xo,

Vani

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Monday, July 13, 2026

I don't travel without these

I travel constantly. Speaking events, filming, meetings, family trips. Some months, I feel like I live out of a suitcase.

And as I have gotten older, I have noticed that my skin has taken a beating from the stress and crazy schedule.  

Then I learned what travel actually does to your skin.

A plane cabin is dry. Humidity on most flights sits below 20% and can drop into the single digits. Indoors we're used to 30 to 50%. That dry air pulls moisture off your skin, so you land tight, rough, and irritated.

Flights aren't the only offender. Summer travel piles on more:

  • Hours of AC in cars and hotel rooms
  • More time in the sun
  • Salt water and chlorine
  • Wrecked sleep (pillow too big, bed too hard...lol)

Then there's one most people never think about. UVA passes through car windows. That's why US drivers show more sun damage on the left side of the face, the side by the window. 

So I stopped leaving my good skincare at home because the bottles were too big.

I keep the Mini Bundle from Herbal Face Food in my bag. Travel-size, TSA-friendly, the same concentrated plant-based formulas I use at home. No synthetic fragrances, parabens, petroleum fillers, or artificial preservatives. Travel stresses my skin enough without adding more for it to process.

Traveling with the Mini Bundle is just the icing on the cake. I don’t use a lot of beauty products at home, and the ones I do use are simple. Herbal Face Food is different -- 100% plant-powered with 25 therapeutic botanicals that actually work to improve your skin instead of just covering up problems. 

Their cream, ‘The Cure,’ serum, and eye cream are some of my favorites.

Because they are never heated or processed and packed with antioxidants that heal your skin.

Instead of sulfates, parabens, and artificial preservatives, you’ll find:

  • Turmeric -- boosts collagen, reduces inflammation
  • Green Tea -- protects against UV damage
  • Aloe -- hydrates and promotes healing
  • Frankincense -- regenerates skin cells
  • Rosehip Oil -- reduces signs of aging
  • Shea butter – Deeply nourishing without clogging pores
  • Frankincense – Supports skin regeneration and reduces the appearance of fine lines
  • Calendula – Soothes irritation and promotes healing
  • Powered by a natural SPF 50+, which is so hard to find in a face cream

For a very limited time, the Food Babe community saves 50% sitewide. Today through midnight on Tuesday, July 14.

Use code Foodbabe50 to save 50% on Herbal Face Food →

Clean travel routine, first time trying HFF, or restocking what you already love. Today's the day.

Your skincare standards shouldn't disappear just because you're living out of a suitcase.

Xo,
Vani

P.S. Two things that help most. Put your skincare on before you board or before a long drive, not after. And keep a broad-spectrum SPF in the car. The left side of your face is taking more sun than you think.

P.P.S. At Food Babe, we only promote products we love to use. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn commission.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Dirty sodas have a dirty secret (don't drink before reading)

I've noticed that “dirty sodas” seem to be popping up at every fast food restaurant lately. Have you noticed that too?

Well, let me tell you... they're hiding a dirty secret.

Crumbl's dirty sodas recently went viral after it was leaked that they contain an absolutely astronomical amount of sugar... up to 186 grams in a single drink! 

That's insane. So I had to look deeper. Besides the sugar, what else was lurking in their dirty sodas?

My team contacted Crumbl because their ingredients had vanished from their website. That was suspicious. They published all ingredients online in the past, and I've shared exactly what nasty stuff is found in their cookies.

I was blindsided by the way they responded…

Crumbl has officially scrubbed their ingredient lists from their website. Here's exactly what they told us when we asked what's in their dirty sodas:

"We've removed the full ingredient lists as they contain proprietary information." 

Proprietary is a fancy word for secret.

But I’m not buying that…

Almost every major fast food chain, like McDonald's, Subway, Starbucks, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A, have their full ingredient lists published on their websites for everyone to see, and have for years.

People deserve to know what they're eating and drinking. 

There is no logical reason for a restaurant to refuse to disclose ingredients... unless they're hiding something.

Crumbl doesn't want you to know, and that is a major red flag.

The U.S. government doesn't require restaurants to disclose full ingredient information, only allergen info. So chains like Crumbl are given a free pass to hide their ultra-processed ingredients from you and leave you completely in the dark. How are we supposed to take control of our health if we don't even know what we're eating?

Here’s what we do know…

They're taking a soda like Dr. Pepper, full of high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, and artificial flavors, and making it 10 times worse with stacked syrups, creams, and mystery ingredients.

Don't do this to your body.

You can make a clean version at home that actually tastes amazing and gives you 20 grams of organic protein with no refined sugar.

Truvani Strawberry Cream Clean Dirty Soda

  • 1 scoop Truvani Strawberry Protein
  • 1 cup Mountain Valley Sparkling Water
  • ¼ cup organic strawberry juice
  • 2 tbsp organic coconut cream or coconut milk
  • ¼ cup fresh strawberries
  • 1 cup spring water ice cubes
  • ½ tsp organic vanilla extract (optional)

Directions:

  1. Froth or whisk 1 scoop Truvani Strawberry Protein with ½ tsp organic vanilla extract and a splash of sparkling water until smooth.
  2. Fill a glass with 1 cup spring water ice cubes and ¼ cup fresh strawberries.
  3. Pour 1 cup sparkling water and ¼ cup organic strawberry juice over the ice.
  4. Spoon 2 tbsp coconut cream on top.
  5. Slowly pour the protein mixture over the cream layer and enjoy!

You could do this with any organic juice like pineapple, watermelon, orange, or raspberry and Truvani Vanilla Protein. Delicious!

Don't let Crumbl get away with hiding their ingredients. Share this on Instagram and Facebook with anyone still buying their dirty tricks.

Xo,

Vani

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Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Don’t buy this type of fish

I've spent years telling you to read labels, ask questions, and never assume "natural" means clean.

When it comes to fish and seafood, this is especially important because there is so much that the label doesn’t tell you. 

For example…

Some varieties of fish and seafood are high in mercury. You want to avoid this because mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that accumulates in the brain. It’s especially damaging to children and pregnant women. 

(Fish with known high levels of mercury include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico). 

But that is not all you need to look for…

I typically would tell you to avoid most fish and seafood found in grocery stores…

Most fish is raised in farms that use a lot of GMO corn, soy, and antibiotics. Salmon are fed food coloring pellets to make them turn bright pink and left to grow in toxic pools with high levels of chemical pesticides. These pesticides and chemicals can wind up on your plate. 

So when I went looking for seafood I could actually trust, I didn't expect the answer to be a farm.

It's how I found Seatopia.

Seatopia works with a small group of farms doing the opposite of all of that. Low-density pens. No antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs. Feed built on micro-algae oils instead of junk.

They control the feed, test the water, and measure what's inside before it ships.

Done this way, farmed can be cleaner than you think. Because they control how the fish are raised, they can prove what's in them.

Then they do the part almost no one in seafood does: they lab test it.

Every farm partner gets screened. Here's what the testing confirms:

  • Mercury ≤0.1 ppm, well below the FDA limit and lower than most wild seafood
  • Zero detectable microplastics, verified by a third-party lab
  • High omega-3s (DHA + EPA), the fats your brain and heart actually need
  • No antibiotics, no hormones, no GMOs

They're the only seafood company I've found that tests every product this way. Not a spot check on the boat it came from, the actual fish you're eating.

The branzino, smoked trout, and salmon are what we keep coming back to. When you order something like this at a restaurant, you're paying a premium for it. Now I make it at home for a fraction of the cost, and it tastes better than most restaurant versions I've had.

The Food Babe community saves $20 OFF your first order with code FOODBABE at checkout.

Shop Seatopia here →

I'll never tell you to stop asking questions about your food. This is me answering one of the biggest ones I get.

Xo,
Vani

P.S. When you order, Seatopia sets up a one-on-one call with a chef so you know exactly how to cook what you get. If branzino has ever intimidated you, that part alone is worth it.

P.P.S. At Food Babe, we only promote products we love and use ourselves. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission.

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Saturday, July 4, 2026

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Wednesday, July 1, 2026

One DQ Blizzard isn't going to kill you

Have you ever been shamed for not taking your kids to Dairy Queen?

I get it all the time... 

"It's just a treat, relax." 

"One Blizzard isn't going to kill you."

But here's the thing. It's not about never having fun. It's about knowing the truth about what's actually in your food so you can make an informed choice.

And that's exactly why you need to read this email.

There's an ingredient BANNED in Europe due to serious safety concerns hiding in thousands of American food products right now.

The worst part…

It’s not always labeled explicitly on an ingredient list so you may not even know it's in there. 

This very controversial chemical is called Titanium Dioxide, and it often hides under "color added" or "artificial color" on ingredient lists.

It’s an artificial whitening agent added to make food appear brighter and more appealing.

European scientists found it “no longer safe to eat” based on their review of hundreds of scientific studies showing that it has genotoxic effects. 

This means it has the ability to damage DNA, potentially leading to cancer.

To protect their citizens, Europe banned it back in 2022. 

So the next time someone tells you you're overreacting for skipping the DQ drive-thru... show them this:

We contacted DQ about their cult-favorite S'mores Blizzard… and they admitted that it actually contains titanium dioxide - hidden under the term “artificial color”.

And you might think you'd only find this in fast food and “treats”... but it could be hiding in some of the "healthy" products in your fridge right now too.

Food corporations sometimes add titanium dioxide to cottage cheese and other dairy products just to make them look brighter and whiter. 

We contacted Knudsen directly about their Fat Free Cottage Cheese and they confirmed it — hiding right there under "Artificial Color" on the ingredient list.

And companies also don’t need to tell you HOW MUCH titanium dioxide is in their products. 

New tests from Consumer Reports found that a single serving of Hostess Donettes contains 760 times more titanium dioxide than all other products they tested combined. 

Yes: 760 times! 

It’s outrageous that food corporations know the truth about titanium dioxide, but still keep using this ingredient. 

Several states have proposed bills to ban this chemical from school food and the FDA has added it to their list of substances to review, but it will take time.

In the meantime, the best way to get companies to remove ingredients linked to cancer is to STOP buying products that contain them.

Titanium dioxide is banned from certified organic food, so if you're already choosing organic, you're automatically avoiding it. Win win! 

Check every ingredient list for titanium dioxide, artificial color, or color added – and please share this information with someone you know who needs to see it.

Xo,
Vani

 

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