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.
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.

Visit MyGreenMall and enter “DivaCup” into the search engine to order this and other great green products quickly and easily online.

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

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2. Tips for Going Green – Save the Earth with Your Toothbrush

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.

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.

Click here to purchase eco-friendly toothbrushes

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.

For your convenience, you can purchase eco-friendly toothbrushes from My Green Mall. Doing something as simple as changing what kind of toothbrush you use can have tremendous impact on the environment. Even my small family of four can reduce our dental hygiene waste from 12 toothbrushes per year to about 4. Multiply that over a lifetime of, let’s say, 75 years and that’s 600 toothbrushes that have been kept out of a landfill. As going green tips go, this is probably the simplest and easiest thing you can do to help save the Earth.

For more going green tips, read other articles I’ve written about being Earth friendly. If you want to take the next step and build a green business that lets you make money while saving the planet take an online tour of a profitable eco-friendly e-commerce business or contact me directly.

(photo credit: Photos8)

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These things worry me as an adult, so I know they are particularly scary to children who are old enough to understand but are too young to put things in proper perspective. This is especially worrisome if kids are watching the news or listening to adults who watch the news. As we all know mainstream media tends to emphasize the negative as well as blow things out of proportion because that’s what gets them the ratings.

As parents raising green kids, we want them to learn how to be good conservators of the Earth. At the same time, we want them to be kids and not worry about such serious issues until they are older. To offset the influence of the world around them, here are a few tips for talking to your kids about the environment.

Discuss Values

Possibly the single best thing you can do to teach a kid about the environment is to talk them about the family’s values regarding it. Values help kids understand what is right and wrong as well as provide them with a tool they can use to make decisions. For example, talking to kids about the value of recycling will help them to choose to recycle whenever they can.

Remember, instilling values is just as much about what you do as what you say. Kids actually learn more by observing your actions than they do by listening to your words. Therefore, you want to make sure you are always living the values you are trying to teach your children.

Focus On What They Can Do

Part of the issue with kids hearing about environmental problems is that it leaves them with the same questions we have as adults: What can I do about it? And, like adults, if kids are not able to answer this question they may feel helpless and eventually hopeless.

To prevent this, take every opportunity to tie their green activities to helping the bigger issue. If they are concerned about pollution, talk them about how reusing clothes or containers prevents unnecessary waste and cuts down on pollution. This will help them feel like they are making a difference with each positive action they take.

Listen to Their Concerns

Kids have very active imaginations and can come up with some pretty wild scenarios based on tiny tidbits they overheard or observed. Their classmate Billy didn’t put his soda can into the recycle bin. As a result, the ice at the North Pole is going to melt overnight and the polar bears and penguins are going to be homeless. Not to mention the fact that Santa Claus won’t have any place to build his toys so Christmas is going to suck this year. Yeah.

It can be tempting to laugh something like that off as the product of an overactive imagination. However, to your child, their imaginings are very real. Listen to their concerns and then do your best to reassure them that one soda can is not going to be the death of the polar bears, penguins or Christmas forever.

Talking to kids about the environment can be a challenge. What are some things you have done to teach your kids about global warming or other green issues?

I’ve also found that letting my kids help in my green business helps teach them the eco-friendly values I want them to have. For information on building a green business of your own, visit my 24 hour Business Tour or contact me directly.

(photo credit: photos8)

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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.

Get rid of garden pests using organic pest control methods.

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. You will find a number of natural pest control products at my green shopping mall. Head on over and save big. To learn how you can earn 4-30% cash back on all your online purchases, contact me.

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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.

Cockroaches

No need to call an expensive exterminator. Use these organic pest control methods to keep your home pest free.

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.

- 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.

- 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.

You can find a number of organic pest control products at my green shopping mall. In addition to that you can earn 4-30% cash back on everything you buy. Ask me how.

(photo credit: Steve Rhode)

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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.

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.

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.

In the next article, we are going to talk about some things you can do to begin switching over to natural personal care products. In the meantime, visit My Green Mall to find green beauty products made from organic ingredients that truly cares for your body as much as you do.

If you are an eco-entrepreneur and are interested in building a green business helping other people live green, save green and earn green, contact me to set up a free consultation where I will show you exactly what I do to earn steady income each month living green.

For additional reading:

Common Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products

(photo credit: Thorius)

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“New Super Secret Technique that Melts Fat Away!”

“Lose All The Weight You Want Without Dieting Or Exercise!”

We’ve all heard these outrageous weight loss claims. Marketers and manufacturers peddling the modern day version of snake oil use hype and exaggeration to get you to purchase their so called “natural” weight loss supplements.

If the claims aren’t outright bogus then their “Super Secret Techniques” requires you to radically change your eating habits, consume dangerous chemicals, or do something as drastic as remove part of your stomach. I don’t know about you but destroying my body in order to lose a few pounds doesn’t sound like healthy weight loss to me. All natural weight loss is a process that supports your overall health in addition to helping you lose excess pounds quickly and safely.

The green revolution has caused a number of industries to develop organic, natural products that are healthier for both you and the environment and the weight loss industry is no exception. An awesome new natural weight loss solution has been released to the market that has people trimming the fat without the aid of harsh chemicals, crazy diets or harmful surgery. It’s called Herbaleane and this all natural weight loss supplement uses a combination of wholesome ingredients that suppress the appetite, stimulate metabolism, and increase energy. Not only will you drop the pounds but you’ll feel great doing it.

Available exclusively at My Store, Herbaleane is a two part system. The first part consists of two 32 oz bottles of Vital Fruits, an antioxidant drink created with 20 fruits and packed with trans-Resveratrol, that you drink at breakfast and dinner. The second part is a 120 ct bottle of Herbaleane, a thermogenic supplement designed to help you burn more calories, regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion and circulation that you take mid-morning and mid-afternoon before meals. Combined, these two all natural weight loss supplements will help strengthen your immune system and give your weight loss efforts a powerful kick that will get you leaner, faster.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s is what other people have to say about Herbaleane:

I’ve been using Herbaleane myself and have started trimming those last few stubborn pounds that just wouldn’t come off no matter what I did. It only took a couple days to really notice a big decrease in my appetite & increased energy. My husband and I went for dinner recently and came home with most of the food. We were amazed & very excited to finally find a product that works.

Now, Herbaleane is not a miracle drug. I’m not promising that you’ll lose a 100 pounds in a hundred days or that you’ll go to bed one night and miraculously wake up with the body you had in high school. What I am saying is that the all natural weight loss supplement Herbaleane can give your existing diet and exercise regimen a power boost so you can get to the finish line faster while promoting good health so you can enjoy your new body.

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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. To learn how to earn green while going green visit RockYourBusinessOnline.com.

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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. For more information about this life changing opportunity visit RockYourBusinessOnline.com.

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