Pat Thomas

Tested, assessed and treated as patients rather than mothers-to-be, it's no wonder women are afraid of giving birth naturally, says Pat Thomas as International Women's Day arrives

Flea powder probably isn't something you think often about. But with some frighteningly toxic ingredients you should: they can be deadly for you and your pets

Christmas dinner means only one thing for millions of us: turkey. But the intensively reared and genetically manipulated birds that most will consume this holiday season leave a nasty taste in the mouth

It's the condiment of choice for a million fast-food outlets and a staple sauce in homes around the world, but there's more to tomato ketchup than meets the eye, says Pat Thomas

Spices don't simply add flavour to your food - they also aid digestion, protect against bacteria and prevent a range of illnesses

How to make your food your medicine and medicine your food, starting with six common herbs you can use in your recipes and everyday cooking

In the run up to the British general election, Pat Thomas says the various party manifestos are starved of sound policies on food security and sustainability

Keeping your baby's bottom soft and dry shouldn't mean exposing it to a potentially harmful and environmentally costly substance

Is it healthy? Is it organic? Is it fairly traded? How far has it travelled? At times, making informed choices can feel like a full-time job. Here is a pocket guide to buying food from the new book Stuffed

Faced with an itchy young head full of nits, it's all too easy to reach for a bottle of potent chemicals. But is smothering your child's hair in pesticides really the best solution?

For whatever reason you choose to chew it, this plastic, potentially toxic mish-mash of ingredients is bad for the environment and bad for us

It may look pretty, but the unmistakable odour of nail polish betrays a cocktail of toxic ingredients

If you don't know what's gone into making your drink, stick to organic beer and wine this Christmas, says Pat Thomas

The season of flu (and fear of swine flu) is upon us. But before you reach for this sticky pink cocktail dished out by doctors and parents as a cure-all for children, think again...

The powerful antibacterial nanosilver can now be found in everything from air fresheners and food packaging to babies' bottles and bandages. But has anyone looked at the risks?

Marketed as the ultimate quick food fix, 240 Pot Noodles are eaten every minute in Britain. But what exactly is in the 'slag of all snacks'? Pat Thomas on fats, salt and flavour enhancers

It's the popular, over-the-counter diet drug that's now been linked to liver damage. But popping a 'weight loss' pill is not going to solve the obesity crisis - especially with health concerns like these - says Pat Thomas

What's the real price of your bouquet? Pat Thomas dishes the dirt on cut flower production in less-industrialised countries

A new book by WWF 'Meeting Environmental Challenges: The Role of Human Identity' makes the case for a new kind of campaigning that sees the person behind the behaviour. Pat Thomas is impressed

Is orange juice as healthy and natural as it claims to be? Can it ever be 'eco'? Pat Thomas reports

You may think that by avoiding the near-extinct bluefin you're off the hook and can tuck into other types of tuna. Think again, says Pat Thomas

Sustainability consultant Dr David Strong tells Pat Thomas why the way we think about sustainable building needs to be demolished and rebuilt

I know, I know. Every time you think you've gone your greenest, some killjoy comes along and raises the bar a little higher. Apologies in advance.

A little bit of natural seasoning won’t kill you, it’s what gets added – or taken away – that matters. Pat Thomas explains why refining and demonising salt is such a crude response