Traditional Feminine Hygiene Products are Wasteful

Feminine hygiene products are something that every women uses but not many really like to deal with. But if you are striving to live a more Earth friendly life, then it is definitely something that needs to addressed since disposable menstrual products also contribute to the trash overflowing our landfills.

There are approximately 85 million women of menstrual age in North America alone. In her lifetime, the average women toss away 200-300 pounds of sanitary napkins, tampons, and associated waste in the trash can. This adds up to about 20 billion feminine hygiene products finding their way into landfills, sewer systems, and waterways.

In addition to the money spent on menstrual products, there is a number of potential health risks associated with disposable feminine hygiene products. A little over half of the cases of Toxic Shock Syndrome occur in women using tampons. The cotton used to make them are often treated with pesticides and bleached with chlorine to give them their medicinal white color.

According to the CDC, about 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and another 40,000 suffer from uterine cancer. You have to wonder how many of those cases are the result of using toxic menstrual products that leach harmful chemicals into the body.

Green Feminine Hygiene Products Do Exist

Alternative menstrual products do exist, thankfully. An environmentally friendly choice is the DivaCup. This reusable menstrual cup offers several advantages over traditional disposable feminine hygiene products.

* It can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time. In comparison, tampons and pads can only be used for up to 4-8 hours.

* It is made from high quality silicone that contains no dyes or additives. Women who have allergies to latex can use this product.

* It is cost effective. The average woman will spend about $100-$200 a year for feminine hygiene products. The DivaCup costs less than $40 and can be reused for a least a year.

* Each woman that uses the DivaCup will be preventing up to 300 pounds of menstrual product waste from entering the trash cycle.
The DivaCup is easy to use and care for and is designed specifically for active women. This menstrual product is the only one approved for use in Canada by Health Canada and is also approved for use in the USA by the FDA. It is the only menstrual cup to hold an ISO manufacturing certificate.

If you have been looking for a natural and healthy way to manage your menstrual cycle try the DivaCup. You’ll never go back to disposable feminine products again.

* DivaCup.com does not sell them on their website. Visit your preferred retailer to get your DivaCup today.

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Check out my other articles on how to be green besides buying eco-friendly feminine hygiene products.

Tips for Going Green Don’t Have to Be Complicated

Every day, I am reminded that going green is a journey of discovery. Just when I think I have a handle on things, I read an article or talk to a fellow environmentalist and get more valuable tips for going green. A few days ago, I was speaking to a friend about recycling and they brought up an unusual topic: Toothbrushes.

Like most people, I never really gave a lot of thought to the tools I used to keep my teeth in good shape. Until that day, I didn’t even realize that the caps to toothpaste tubes were recyclable (you can turn them into a participating Aveda salon). But after speaking to my friend and doing some research on the internet, I learned that you can turn a very wasteful necessity (50 million pounds of toothbrushes are dumped in landfills every year) to one that is healthier for the environment.

So for this week’s tips for going green, I’m going show you a few ways you can make your toothbrush a little more eco-friendly.

Tips for Going Green – Change Your Toothbrush

Replaceable Head Toothbrushes

A unique product for sure but the replaceable head toothbrush is, perhaps, the easiest way to make your dental hygiene easier on the planet. When the toothbrush needs to be replaced, instead of throwing away the whole toothbrush, you just switch the head for a new one. Considering the cost of a brand new toothbrush these days, this product can also help you trim a few dollars off the household budget since replacement heads usually come in multiples of four. That’s like getting 4 toothbrushes for the price of one.

Toothbrush Subscriptions

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I probably keep my toothbrushes longer than I should. This is a habit I hope to change because worn out toothbrushes accumulate bacteria that can contribute to illness. Additionally, they become less effective over time and worn out bristles can actually damage gums.

One solution to this is to sign up for a toothbrush subscription. This probably one of the most unusual tips for going green that you have probably heard of but there is a company out there that will send you a fresh toothbrush every few months. In exchange, you send them your old toothbrush that is then recycled into other products such as picnic tables and boardwalks.

Green Toothbrushes

Most toothbrushes on the market are made from plastic which, while recyclable, is not exactly biodegradable. A company called Radius produces an all natural toothbrush made from a plant based cellulose culled from trees in sustainable forests. These unique, ergonomic toothbrushes are designed to be comfortable to hold as well as gentler on teeth and gums. They last a lot longer than regular toothbrushes (from 9-18 months) and you can send them back to the company for recycling when you are done with them.

As an alternative, you can also purchase toothbrushes that have been made from recycled materials. For example, Recycline sells toothbrushes with handles that has been made from recycled yogurt cups. Once you are finished with the toothbrush, you can either put it in your recycle bin or send it back to the company to be reused as raw materials for other non-hygiene products.

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(photo credit: Photos8)

For more tips for going green, read other articles I’ve written about being Earth friendly.

Natural Sunscreen is Important for Good Health

It is interesting how the times change. Not even a century ago, it was considered a faux pas to have tanned skin. People associated tanned skin with laborers and used natural sunscreen methods to avoid the effects of the sun at all costs. Around the mid-nineteenth century things changed and having a tan indicated you were rich enough to have the time to lie around all day.

These days, however, we better understand the dangers of getting too much sun especially in light of the environmental damage that has been done to the planet. It is more important than ever that you protect yourself while outside and wear sunscreen. Unfortunately, this is where things start getting a little complicated. Not all sunscreens are alike. In fact, there is a very real difference between regular sunblock and all natural sunscreen.

The Difference Between Regular and Natural Sunscreen

Many of the sunscreens available on store shelves actually contain toxic ingredients that can instigate health problems. For example, parabens, which is found in a number of cosmetics, have been flagged as endocrine disruptors that can cause reproductive and developmental problems. In addition to the potential personal health problems these products can cause, the toxins contained in store shelf sunscreen finds its way into waterways and have contributed to hormonal disruptions in fish and other sea animals.

The answer, of course, is to switch to natural sunscreen products. But this is not a silver bullet by any means. Even all-natural sunscreen products contain some toxins although the instance of them is severely reduced. A good way to find the best natural sunscreen for you and your little ones is to visit the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.

This database lists almost all of the sunblocks on the market and rates them according to their toxicity and possible side effects. Among some of the best include Karen’s Botanicals and Kabana Skin Care Green Screen Organic Sunscreen.

Besides making good use of natural sunscreen, here are few tips for protecting yourself when you go out in the sun:

* Wear sun protective clothes such as hats and long sleeves that block the harmful rays of the sun. Companies, such as Solar Eclipse and Solartex, actually make clothing using fabrics that screen out harmful UV rays.

* Avoid being out in the sun during peak hours when the radiation is at its worst. Generally between 10am and 2pm you’ll want to stay indoors if you can.

* Use natural methods to handle sunburns such as using aloe vera gel to calm burned skin.

* Keep skin healthy by drinking lots of water and eating red, green, and yellow vegetable. Healthy skin can recover from damage a lot better than skin starving for nutrients.

Do you have a green business?

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(photo credit: Photos 8)

There are many things you can do to help yourself and the environment. To maximize your green living, read other articles on the site about living greener including using natural sunscreen.

Organic Pest Control for the Garden

One of the healthiest things you can do for your family, and your wallet, is to grow your own food. Not only does this give you some control over the quality of the food you eat, an edible garden will help lower your overall food bill. After all, a small packet of seeds generally costs only a dollar or two and will produce more than enough food for your family, your neighbors and anyone else who will take a basket of goodies from you. That is, if you use organic pest control methods to prevent the bugs and animals from destroying your crops.

One of the major drawbacks to owning a fruit or vegetable garden is that it can quickly be overrun by insects and animals wanting to snack on the fruits of your labor. It can be tempting to want to use pesticides or other harsh, but effective, chemicals to manage them. However, not only does that harm the environment but pesticide residue will end up on your vegetables and eventually your plate. The side effects from ingesting these chemicals are unpleasant so it is just better to stick with organic pest control to keep your garden bug free.

Tips for Garden Organic Pest Control

Prevention

The best offense is a good defense. Here are a few organic methods for pest control that will stop a problem before it becomes one.

Educate Yourself – This is key to winning the war on bugs. Take the time to research bugs and plant diseases so you can recognize both and use the appropriate organic pest control option to deal with it.

Assemble a Bug Army – Some bugs are actually beneficial to have in the garden because they eat the bugs you don’t want. For example, Lady Bugs eat aphids, mites, and whiteflies. Therefore a form of natural pest control would be to attract these beneficial bugs by adding plants that attract them to your garden. You can also purchase eggs through mail order or local garden centers.

Clear Out Habitats – Before planting your garden, go through and remove weeds and debris which tend to provide breeding grounds for unwanted pests.

Maintain Healthy Soil – Keeping the soil healthy and rich will produce plants with strong immune systems capable of resisting disease and repelling pests. Use a good all-natural fertilizer and mulch.

Use All Natural Pest Control Products – Some bugs are repelled by certain odors. Therefore creating or purchasing all natural sprays can repel or kill bugs. For example, a basic oil and water spray will kill most soft bodied pests. Strong smelling odors and spices repel most bugs, so a mixture of water and hot pepper juice is a good concoction to have on hand.

Dealing With Infestations

If you find holes in your plants or your garden seems to be dying for no reason, then there is a good chance you have an infestation. Inspect plants to determine what kind of bugs you have and then use the appropriate organic pest control method to deal with them.

Ants – Some species of ants are beneficial but most will undermine your garden if they get out of control. The problem with controlling an ant problem is that they adapt somewhat quickly to whatever methods you use. This means you may have to use a mix of organic pest control methods to rid yourself of an ant problem. One method is to combine a little bit of Borax with a sweet substance, like sugar, and sprinkle it around ant trails. Ants will take the poisoned mix back to their home for the other ants to eat. Eventually, they will die off.

Slugs – You will actually have to inspect your garden at dusk or after rainy weather to source out slugs. If you find they are terrorizing your garden, then they must go. A humane way would be to use an old spoon to scoop them into a container and release them far away from your garden. Crushing egg shells and sprinkling it around the garden provides a physical barrier for them. Salt is a natural pest control product for them because it kills them.

Aphids – Make a rhubarb spray by pouring boiling hot water over rhubarb leaves and letting them soak for 3-4 days. Strain and then pour mixture into a bottle. Add a few drops of detergent and enough water to make it look like a weak tea. Spray over infested plants every 10 days until the infestation is gone.

Using organic pest control methods is a human and environmentally-friendly way to keep your garden healthy and bug free.

Do you have a green business or products you are trying to promote. Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

For more tips on organic pest control and other going green advice, visit my archives.

Control Bugs Humanely with Organic Pest Control

When you are new to going green, it can be challenging coming up with Earth-friendly solutions to major problems. This is especially true when it comes to finding organic pest control methods that effectively get rid of household pests.

In the past, dealing with pests like ants, roaches, spiders, et al generally entailed using toxic chemicals to kill them or prevent them from entering the home. However, these chemicals are just as dangerous to humans as they are to the bugs they were created to eliminate. Luckily, there are a number of organic pest control methods you can use to keep your home pest free.

Organic Pest Control Tips

Cockroaches

These are some of the most hated and persistent pests in the world. They have several defense mechanisms that make them difficult to eradicate once they get into the home. Even toxic chemicals lose their effectiveness over time because the roaches develop immunity to them. Try these organic methods for pest control to manage a cockroach infestation.

- One organic pest control method is to use strong smelling soaps to repel the roaches. Pour a capfull of peppermint soap into a quart of water and either spray on the roach directly or in areas they frequent. They will be repelled by the scent and die if they come in direct contact with the soap.

- Use roach traps aka Roach Motels. While probably providing way more interaction with roaches you may want, roach traps is both a humane and organic home pest control method. You can purchase them from a store as well as make your own at home. Staple tacky flypaper to a piece of cardboard and use a piece of bread as bait. Another option is to leave a little bit of soda in a bottle and put the bottle in a place where they frequent. The shape of the bottle will prevent them from escaping and you can screw the cap on the bottle and throw it out.

Spiders

Most spiders that enter the home are not dangerous. Some can even be an ally in your pest control efforts because they eat other insects, namely flies. However, if you can’t stand the creepiness of having them around or you live in an area where spiders are dangerous, here are a few organic home pest control methods you can use to keep them out.

- Clean up any cobwebs you see. This will prevent the spider from making a permanent home in your house and cause them to seek residency elsewhere. Additionally, try to keep your home as clutter free as possible so spiders don’t have anywhere to hide out.

- Like roach traps, catching spiders and releasing them outdoors is the most humane organic pest control but requires a certain amount of fortitude. It also requires that you can accurately tell the harmless spiders from the dangerous ones to ensure you won’t get hurt in the process.

- Use organic pest control to get rid of other bugs. As mentioned before, spiders prey on other bugs. If you don’t provide an active food source for them, they will go away.

- Keep garbage containers away from the house. Spiders tend to hang out around them to catch prey that is attracted to the smell of the trash.

Mice

Mice are pretty bold little buggers. Generally, they try to keep to hidden but if they are hungry enough, they will come out into the open looking for food. Unlike spiders, you can’t just live with a mouse because they will contaminate food sources, leave droppings everywhere, and spread disease. Here are few green pest control methods to get rid of them.

- The best way to handle mice is to prevent them from even entering the home. Inspect your house for possible entry points and patch them up. This works well for preventing an infestation of other critters too.

- Planting Peppermint around the foundation of the house will deter mice from entering as they are naturally repelled by the smell. Moth balls are another repellant that works on snakes as well.

- Humane mouse traps exist that allows you to catch the mouse and release it outside of your home. Be sure you let it go at least a mile away from your home so it doesn’t find its way back inside.

- If you have a really bad mouse infestation or would rather just send the mouse to rodent heaven, there are several natural concoctions you can make that will poison the mouse. Cornmeal or shaved chocolate mixed with dry cement: When the mouse eats this mixture and then drinks water, the dry cement will kill them. Mashed Potato Buds and Water: Put small bowls of each in close proximity to each other. The mouse will eat the potatoes. When they drink the water, the bloating will kill them.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

(photo credit: Steve Rhode)

For more articles on going green and organic pest control, check out my article archives.

Not All Personal Care Products are the Same

Personal care products are supposed to make us beautiful and help keep us in good health. After all, manufacturers are constantly touting the benefits of using their products 24/7. This shampoo will give you soft manageable hair. That face cream will erase 10 years worth of wrinkles. Your favorite body wash will make your skin sparkle which will attract the eye of every manly man within a 50 mile radius.

But underneath these sometimes impossible to believe claims lay a hidden cost that the manufacturers and marketers don’t want you to know about. The true cost of the everyday personal care products you enjoy go far beyond what is listed on their price tag. In actuality, you are taking years off your life every time you wash your hair, brush your teeth, or put on hand lotion purchased from mainstream beauty companies. The truth that they are trying desperately to hide is that many of the products on the shelves contain dangerous chemicals that are toxic to your body.

Ingredients in Personal Care Products

For example, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate are surfactants found in just about every cleaning product you can think of from dish soap to shampoo. Its job is to break down the surface tension of water which helps to create lather as well as break down oils. This common product has been implicated in aggravating and maybe even causing some diseases like cancer. In high enough doses, it can cause mutations at the genetic level in both animals and humans.

Even something as innocuous sounding as mineral oil (otherwise known as baby oil) has been shown to clog pores as though the skin was covered in plastic and actually cause premature aging. These are just a few examples of personal care products that cause less than beautiful damage to the skin and body.

One claim that manufacturers and marketers try to use to confuse the issue is that their products are topical agents that are not ingested by the body. This is actually not true. You may not be able to see them with the naked eye (well maybe on your face) but your body is covered in pores. This is how your skin breathes and gets rid of some wastes. Anything that is put on the skin is eventually absorbed by the body and makes its way to your bloodstream where the dangerous toxins can cause damage to cells and internal organs.

What to Do About Personal Care Products

The solution is to go green and switch to personal care products that are made from natural ingredients. For example, olive oil provides the same skin softening and moisture retaining benefits as mineral oil but nurtures the skin and body with needed vitamins and antioxidants to stay healthy.

The nice thing about switching to natural products is that a lot of times, if you are short on cash, you can make your own beauty products at home using items from your refrigerator and pantry. So not only will you be nurturing a healthier body you will also be helping the environment by cutting down on packaging waste.

If you are an eco-entrepreneur and are interested in building a green business helping other people live green, save green and earn green, download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

For additional reading:

Common Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products

Visit my archives for more information on green personal care products and being eco-friendly.

Going Green Tips for the Family

Going green is a lot more fun when you’ve got the whole family on board. In the beginning, it can be tempting to want to make a lot of changes all at once but if you want the change to last it is better to take things nice and slow. Here are five going green tips to help your family ease into the idea of being more eco-friendly and save you money in the process.

5 More Going Green Tips

1. Turn the Electricity Off – In addition to turning the lights off whenever you leave a room, you should also get into the habit of unplugging electronics, such as cell phones and laptops, from the socket whenever they’ve finished charging. Electronics and some appliances will continue to draw electricity even when they are not turned on. So do your electric bill a favor using this going green tips and unplug it.

2. Take Military Showers – To cut back on you water consumption try to cut down on the length of time you are in the shower. The average person takes a 15 minute shower. At an average of 8 gallons per minute that equals 120 gallons of water. Even trimming off 5 minutes of shower time means a 30% reduction in water usage.

3. Reduce Meat Consumption – Raising livestock requires a good amount of resources and it is estimated that 80% of agriculture related greenhouse gasses can be attributed to waste produced by the animals. In fact, cutting out one pound of meat saves sixteen pounds of grain, 2000 gallons of water and one gallon of gasoline. But you don’t have to switch to a vegan diet. Even cutting meat out of 1-2 meals a week (about a 10% reduction) can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Clothes Do a Double Take – Get into the habit of wearing clothes twice before throwing them into the washing machine. Unless you are especially active or prone to food related accidents, chances are you do not dirty your clothes up enough to warrant a trip the hamper. Save money on your laundry as well as wear and tear on clothes by getting twice the wear out of them before washing.

5. Go to the Library – This going green tip will help you reduce the clutter in your house, keep more money in your pocket and is kind to environment. Instead going to the bookstore and purchasing books, magazines and movies, check them out from the library. Honestly, how many times do you reread a book or watch the same movie? Most libraries will have all the latest titles so you can stay current and be green at the same time.

Once your family has gotten used to these going green tips then you can move on to more challenging changes such as carpooling and switching to a completely organic lifestyle. One way to show them that going green is good is by starting a home based business with an eco-conscious company committed to saving the environment. Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools.

Click here for more going green tips.

Going Green Tips for a Healthier Life

In the short time I’ve been living green, I’ve found that it really is a lifestyle choice. So if you are going to pick up the ball, you might as well run with it as far as you can. In this article, I’m going to pass along a few going green tips for making your home more environmentally friendly. Some of these tips are simple and cheap and some are a little more complicated and expensive. But in the long run not only will you create a healthier living environment for yourself and your family, you’ll also save money in the process.

5 Going Green Tips

1. Insulate Walls – It is estimated that an average sized home loses up to 50% of its heat energy through the walls and the attic. Installing insulation in these areas can dramatically reduce your energy bill as well as cut down on the noise pollution in your own home.

2. Cold Water is Your Friend – 90% of the energy used in washing clothes in warm or hot water goes towards the actual heating of the water. The average family washes 392 load of laundry per year. Using the cold water setting saves the equivalent of 162 pounds of CO2 emissions and takes an equally sizeable chunk out of your electric bill.

3. Install a Solar Powered Water Heater – If your water heater is due for replacement, consider installing a solar powered water heater instead of the traditional electric or gas heater. Using energy from the sun to heat your water can save you up to $220 per year on your utility bills. Additionally, installing solar products on your home increases its value and homeowners who do are eligible for a tax credit from the government until 2016.

4. Use Organic Cleaning Supplies – Many of the cleaning supplies on the market, although effective, use chemicals that are toxic to both humans and the environment. Switch to organic cleaning products or, better yet, make your own at home. There are many websites on the internet offering cleaning recipes using nothing more than vinegar, lemon and baking soda to create cleaning products that are just as effective as their toxic counterparts and a lot more human and Earth-friendly.

5. Rainwater is Your Friend – One unique going green tip to help cut your water bill is to collect and use rainwater. Rainwater tanks can be purchased from home improvement stores or created using simple DIY instructions found on the web. Water from rain can be used for something as basic as watering a garden or be outfitted to the home for use in toilets, washing machines, to wash the car and even for drinking if filtered properly.

These going green tips are just a few of the ways you make your home a little more eco-friendly. Another way you can go green is by starting a home based business with an eco-conscious company that helps you earn green as you go green.

Download my free social media checklist (sign up in sidebar) for a daily to do list of all the things you need to do to increase your following. For personalized help, contact me for a free consultation on the best way to market your business online including using Twitter and other internet business tools. For more going green tips, read the articles in my archives.