Ladies, have you ever thought about greening your menstrual paraphernalia?

I think about what I put in and on my body all the time, as I am sure you do as well. But it took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I needed to change the products I use every month. To make the change, you will need to think outside of the box (the tampon box) and take a leap of faith! I did.

The cup is used in place of tampons or pads and those who use it swear by it. Have patience though; it will take you at least three months to get the hang of emptying it out.

Try The Keeper or the very popular Diva Cup.

If you simply can't do this, think about alternatives to tampons, the main reason being the cotton industry is the most pesticide-laden industry on the planet and we are sticking those suckers deep inside our bodies. This can't be a good thing. The alternative is to look for tampons that are made using organic cotton and ones that have no applicators. Natracare and Organyc are my picks.

Conventional pads are lined with polyethylene, wood pulp that is laced with chemicals, super absorbent polymer (SAP), synthetic latex and petrochemicals. Need I say more?

We can do better, ladies; think less waste and less exposure to toxins. Opt for certified organic cotton disposable pads (make sure there is a third party certification logo on the package). I really like Natracare, because not only are they organic cotton, they are also chlorine free. You can also try Azalea. If you are really brave, you can opt out of pads altogether by using reusable cloth pads. Don't laugh. They take some time to get used to, but the payoffs are big: no waste to landfill and no exposure to toxins. Lunapads are a great choice and they offer a wide variety of options from the "pads and panty liners intro kit" to the "deluxe heavy flow kit." Try the Lunapanties too.

If you are willing to part with tampons altogether, the Luna Sea Sponge Tampon might be for you. It's unbleached and highly absorbent. Sea sponges have been used since ancient times by women in coastal regions. The website reads: "A sea sponge absorbs menstrual blood like a tampon, but as the sponge is moist when inserted (using water), it will not dry out the vaginal canal and alter the pH of the vagina, like a tampon can."

I hope you give washable and re-useables a try!

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