Let’s talk feminine products! (Yes, this post is for men + women... everyone needs to be educated on this!)

You may be mindful of the food you eat and the products you put on your skin, but have you thought about what you put inside your body? This is honestly something I never thought of until about a year ago when I first read about organic tampons. It never occurred to me that feminine products and other reproductive health products would be something I needed to worry about containing chemicals and pesticides.

Did you know the vagina is one of the most absorbent parts of the body? The tissue that makes up the vaginal walls is actually more permeable than the skin and offers direct access to the circulatory system.

Feminine Care Products

Conventional tampons and pads are made of cotton and rayon. Cotton is a genetically modified crop (GMO). Almost all GMOs are designed to tolerate pesticides which means farmers douse GMO crops with pesticides to kill everything but the plant itself. Read this to learn more about the issues with GMOs.

Conventional cotton is sprayed with around nine different pesticides, five of which are known cancer-causing chemicals. These chemicals are bad for our health and they also negatively affect the surrounding ground, water sources, and the air we breathe. Glyphosate is an active ingredient in the weed killer Round Up. In 2015, Researchers found glyphosate in 85% of feminine hygiene products. In the same year, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans.

Within the last year, two different individuals won court cases cases against Monsanto claiming glyphosate was a major factor in causing their non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Google "Monsanto cover up" to learn about how they manipulated studies and covered up the toxicity of their products.

Another toxin called dioxin has been found in trace amounts on tampons. Dioxin is a byproduct of the creation of rayon (they bleach wood pulp that is turned into synthetic fibers). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says dioxin is “highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones.” The FDA claims that these trace exposures from tampons pose no threat to human health. It’s estimated the average woman uses 11,000-13,000 tampons in a lifetime. I personally think this many exposures to dioxin, along with harmful pesticides and other chemicals, is concerning.

Another issue with conventional feminine products – the FDA has no mandate to include ingredients in the labeling of feminine care products. This means the companies that make these products are not required to list the ingredients on the packaging. Many tampons include added fragrances, additives, and synthetic fibers that are irritating to the body. You won’t find these ingredients listed on your conventional box of tampons so you don’t know exactly what is in them.

Replace your conventional feminine products with %100 organic, unbleached tampons, pads and liners.

There are so many amazing feminine care companies (created by women!) that promote the use of safer products and also give back to women who don’t have access to reproductive healthcare and education. These companies also list the ingredients in their products. Look for companies that are proud to show you what is in the products they sell! These are my favorite brands. You can find them in stores or set up monthly subscriptions to have products shipped to your door.

Lola

Cora

Sustain

If you want to be more environmentally friendly and save money, you can learn how to use a period cup. I haven’t been brave enough to try it – it has a bit of a learning curve – but I’ve heard from fellow NTPs and many others that they love it! To learn more about the period cup, read this guide from Lee From America.

Reproductive Health Products

Condoms and lubricants also contain harmful and carcinogenic chemicals that are not listed on the packaging.

Most condoms contain fragrances, odor masking agents, artificial flavors, and spermicides. Lubricants contain irritating chemicals like propylene glycol, paraben preservatives, fragrance, and polyethylene glycol. Some brands have even been found to contain a class of carcinogenic chemicals called nitrosamines.

"Fragrance" is a general term that companies use on packaging labels in beauty and personal care products. Companies are not required to disclose the mixture of chemicals they use to create "fragrance" or "parfum" so you have no idea what is actually in the product. There are around 1,000 chemicals that could be used under this one ingredient. Many of these chemicals have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system, according to the Environmental Working Group(EWG).

These two companies have safe condoms and lubricant that I personally use and trust:

Sustain

Good Clean Love

*Disclaimer - if a conventional condom is all you have on hand, use it. I'm not recommending you never use them if that's all that is available to you.

Reducing your contact with toxins and irritating chemicals will help support your body's natural ability to detoxify. While we can't always avoid the chemicals and pollutants in our air, water, and soil, you can limit your toxic load by choosing safer products that protect your reproductive health and the environment!

Today I’m sharing my tips to help you save money, your health AND the environment at the same time.

Saving the Environment

Screen-Shot-2019-04-22-at-9.14.09-AM.png

Let’s start with plastic…

The discovery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and knowing that plastic is breaking down into harmful microplastics in our oceans and rivers has been fueling a massive wake up call about our use of plastic, especially single-use sources (think plastic baggies, straws, produce bags, coffee cups, six pack rings, plastic water bottles…).

I’m sure you’ve seen photos of turtles getting caught in six pack rings or plastic rings lodging in the beaks of birds. If not, I’ve shared them here because this is the harsh reality of what our plastic consumption is doing to our ecosystem.

Screen-Shot-2019-04-22-at-9.23.06-AM.png

Our water is contaminated with toxins that are leeching from plastic (along with chemicals, pesticides, chlorine, and pharmaceuticals). The fish we eat are consuming the toxins released by plastic floating in the ocean - then we consume them, further adding to our toxic load that our body needs to detoxify. Animals are getting trapped in nets, six pack rings, plastic bags and becoming deformed and often dying as a result.

Using less plastic and single-use items when you’re away from home cuts down on waste and is also cost efficient. Protect the environment by using these products as often as you can. It’s not about perfection, but your intention to reduce how much plastic and single-use items you use.

Safer Single-Use Options

Reusable produce bags

Reusable straws

Reusable utensils

Healthy Human- water bottle

Klean Kanteen- water bottle

Envirogen- reusable storage bags

Stasher - reusable storage bags

Green house gas emission is another hot topic that scientists around the world agree is a massive issue. Factory + industrial farming is a major contributor to the rising rates of green house gasses. I'm specifically talking about CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) and GMO production.

““Indirectly, factory farms contribute to climate disruption by their impact on deforestation and draining of wetlands, and because of the nitrous oxide emissions from huge amounts of pesticides used to grow the genetically engineered corn and soy fed to animals raised in CAFOs. Nitrous oxide pollution is even worse than methane—200 times more damaging per ton than CO2. And just as animal waste leaches antibiotics and hormones into ground and water, pesticides and fertilizers also eventually find their way into our waterways, further damaging the environment” ”

— EcoWatch

Organic + locally grown produce, pasture raised chicken and eggs, and grass-fed meats are safer for environment and have more nutrition than conventionally grown produce (pesticides!) or farm factory animals (antibiotics, hormones, unnatural diets).

Yes, this style of raising animals actually helps the environment. Do your research. Polyface Farms is a great place to start!

Use your money as a form of voting. Buying from your local organic farmer is more cost effective and environmentally friendly than buying conventional produce that traveled weeks from across the world from a chain supermarket. You can also purchase sustainably raised meats from Corner Post Meats.

Use these guides to find local + organic produce and sustainably raised animal products in your area:

Go organic as often as you can. Follow the Dirty Dozen list (showed below) created by the Environmental Working Group and always make sure you buy these products organic if you can't afford all organic as these are the most heavily sprayed crops.

Speaking of toxins, conventional cleaning products are filled with them. Ever walk down the cleaning aisle in the grocery store and get a whiff of all of those chemicals? Dishwasher liquid, cleaning sprays, toilet bowl cleaner, wipes, laundry detergent, aerosol sprays, Windex, etc.

Where do these chemicals go when we're done using them?

In the environment. In the water, air, and soil. These chemicals are also detrimental to our health. Switch to cleaning products that aren’t filled with toxic chemicals.

Non-toxic Cleaning Products:

Branch Basics - use this code to get $10 off all products

One bottle of concentrate is used to create multiple cleaning products (different ratios of water and concentrate) and you keep the original cleaning bottles and only buy new bottles of concentrate. So cool!

**This is my absolute favorite natural cleaning product company. I actually use this in my home and it's so powerful but safe for you and the environment. Just a disclaimer, if you use the code, I get $10 through their referral program (you can join too!). I wouldn't recommend a product I don't love and use myself.

Seventh Generation

ECOS

Saving Your Health

I've briefly talked about the impact of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides on our health above. Here I'm going to talk more specifically about plastic and why we should switch to other materials from an overall health perspective.

Did you know that researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood?

There is so much research coming out about the negative effects of chemicals like Bisphenol-A (BPA), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), parabens, and phthalates on the endocrine system. These chemicals are found in beauty products, plastic, certain cooking materials, cleaning products, and pretty much anything that is manufactured with toxic materials. They're literally everywhere and they are known endocrine disruptors.

The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood. This system keeps our body in homeostasis. It’s heavily involved in reproduction and energy levels, so it needs to be functioning properly for our body to achieve overall health.

Endocrine disruptors are naturally occurring compounds man-made substances that may mimic or interfere with the function of hormones in the body. These chemicals mimic naturally occurring hormones and can block natural hormones from binding to the hormone receptor within the cell.

We know that when you heat up leftovers in a plastic container, chemicals transfer from the plastic into your food. The same thing happens when you consume plastic water bottles, especially if the bottle has been exposed to heat and sunlight – like the water bottle sitting in your car.

Avoid plastic at all costs when it comes to your food and beverages, especially when heat is involved. Think the lids on your hot coffee + tea, heating up leftovers in plastic containers, and cooking with plastic utensils. Also avoid storing or buying any acidic food items in plastic, the acid will erode the plastic. Things like vinegar and lemon juice should always be bought/stored in glass containers.

Cooking + Food Storage:

Pyrex- glass food storage

Pyrex - glass baking dish

If You Care- baking, storage, cleaning products

Bees Wrap- plastic wrap alternative

PlanetBox- stainless steel lunch box

GreenLunch- stainless steel bento box

Glass mason jars

Wooden cooking utensils

Silicone cooking utensils

Saving You Money

Invest in a high quality water filter so you don't have to rely on plastic water bottles (also saving your health + environment). My favorite is the Berkey filter. It costs $230-$450 initially, depending on the size you pick, but each filter lasts about 2 years depending on how often you use it! Think about how often you replace a Brita filter... Read my post on water to learn more about filtering options and the importance of hydration.

You can make your own nut milk, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut at home. It's cheaper and it cuts down on plastic use.

Most grocery stores offer a small discount for people who bring their own reusable bags for their items and some coffee chains offer discounts if you bring your own reusable container.

Reusing glass jars and bottles saves you from having to buy brand new storage containers.

[Shoutout to Little Amps Coffee Roaster in Harrisburg - you can get iced drinks to go in your own mason jar for $1!]

Buying reusable products and repurposing items will cut down on how often you need to buy single-use items.

Turn used candles into succulent pots or bathroom storage containers
Turn straws into necklace holders - saves the tangled mess when traveling!
Take jars to a grocery store that has a bulk section. All you need to do is get them to weigh the jars before you put anything in and they’ll subtract the jar weight at check out
Use old condiment jars as food storage containers

Screen-Shot-2019-04-22-at-11.03.51-AM.png

Screen-Shot-2019-04-22-at-11.05.26-AM-1242800213-1555945571912.png

Other Ways You Can Help

Recycle everything you use

Do NOT throw your plastic bottles in the trash. Seriously, it doesn’t take much energy to find a recycling bin. Do your part. Donate items that are still usable instead of throwing them in the trash.

Prioritize reducing instead of relying just on recycling

Unfortunately, not everything you put in a recycling bin gets recycled. It's better to reduce the amount you purchase in the first place so we don't have to worry about whether or not it gets recycled.

Buy in bulk

This cuts down on plastic packaging and as mentioned before, you can use your own containers in stores to cut down on plastic use. You can order organic products in bulk online from these companies:

Mountain Rose Herbs

Frontier

Support companies that are protecting the environment

Package Free Shop — waste free shopping

Four Athletics — athletic clothing

Seed Phytonutrients — personal care products

Weleda — personal care products

Pela — eco-friendly phone cases

Corner Post Meats — grass-fed meats

Where to Start

My advice is to start small.

Start with the products you use every single day (plastic storage containers, water bottles, straws, plastic utensils) and go from there. You don't have to make all of these changes at once and it's not about perfection. Do the best you can!

Our environment is precious and we rely on it for so many life sustaining gifts. Let's do what we can to ensure our future generations have the best life possible.