We all have been taught an important lesson to clean the intimate areas after urinating since we were 3 years old. Did you ever consider that why it is important to do so? Well! It is quite simple as when you do not clean properly after urinating, the urine drops are transferred on your underwear causing Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Another dilemma that hits you about cleaning is whether to wipe from back to front or vice versa. Here you have to be a little more conscious because wiping back to front can lead the bacteria from your rectum to the urethra on its way to the front. In this process, the bacteria enters in your body and will increase the risk of serious infections. Therefore, to keep the bacteria out of your body always wipe from front to back which has also been approved by the health specialists of University of California San Francisco (USFC).

Wipe or Dab: Which one is better?

You must always remember that you have to be gentle to the intimate areas while cleaning. Most of us wipe after urinating which often leads to rash, irritation and inflammation. Moreover, wiping is usually done with tissue which leaves lint on your vaginal area and can cause micro-cuts because of harshness, leading to discomfort. These cuts make it difficult for you to walk or sit properly. On the other hand, dabbing allows you to gently clean the private area without leaving any lint. The risk of getting micro-cuts and infections is relatively less when you choose dabbing because this way you only press the tissue paper against the vaginal area instead of moving it through harshly.

Sustainable Bathroom Tissue

Another major issue with cleaning the private area is that it requires tissue which is a single-use product. You might urinate 5 to 6 times daily which means a large amount of tissue goes to waste. These tissues are produced through wood pulp obtained from trees which result in deforestation. Trees are major source of oxygen and provides us a clean air to breathe in by absorbing carbon dioxide. Deforestation also results in climate change, pollution and loss of habitat. Therefore, to protect the environment from such harmful impacts, we should opt for sustainable products for our bathroom.

You can start making changes by simply switching your ordinary toilet paper to sustainable bamboo bathroom tissue which not only helps you conserve nature, but also to maintain the health of your intimate parts after urinating. As per Guinness World of Records, bamboo is the fastest growing plant, which increases its availability in the aspects of saving other trees to be used in production of toilet paper. Moreover, bamboo tissues are biodegradable which allows them to serve the environment by generating less waste.

WHOLEROLL is an eco-friendly brand that provides you with FSC- certified bamboo tissues that are lint free, smooth and highly absorbable. These tissues are double sided; one for deep cleaning and the other one for dabbing. Bamboo tissues are perfect for cleaning your sensitive vaginal area as bamboo is grown without the use of harmful chemicals and minimize the risk of allergies.

So, we should all take such micro steps to ensure a sustainable future all the while we maintain good health practices.

 Major Lockdowns due to COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in decreased carbon emissions but had a small impact on global concentrations. Due to relief in restriction of pandemic in 2021, carbon emissions are expected to increase. The world is already facing climate crisis and global warming and these continuous emission will worsen the situation. Thus, there is a need to make some meaningful changes in your lifestyle and minimize your environmental footprint in order to protect the environment. Below mentioned are some tips to go green in 2021. 

1. Opt for Reusable Water Bottles 

Using plastic water bottles is a common practice. These bottles are thrown into garbage after single use which mostly goes into oceans and landfills resulting in ocean and land pollution. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 27 million tons of plastic entered into landfills in 2018. Human health and marine life both are at stake due to such single use plastic waste. Thus, switching to reusable water bottles is an eco-friendly option. Reusable bottles are easy to use, long lasting and money savers as they aren’t frequently purchased. Moreover, they help you keep the single use waste out of oceans and landfills along with reducing your carbon footprint.

 2. Drive Less Walk More 

Energy consumption is one of the major cause of pollution as large amount of fossil fuels are burnt for its production. It takes plenty of fuel even when you go for a small ride. To cut your overall footprint, walking or cycling is a greener alternative for shorter rides. Try to minimize your travel and opt for carpooling and ridesharing if going to a similar place with your friends instead of using separate vehicle and single rides. Buying eco-friendly electric cars is another option to reduce your fuel usage along with keeping the environment clean and green.

 3. Choose Sustainable Fashion 

Over the past few decades, consumerism has increased especially when it comes to clothing. We all want to buy new dresses every time we visit a store online or offline. Mostly, people opt for fast fashion brands as they are low-priced and discard them after minimal use as they are not durable. These clothes usually end up in landfills or get burned causing harm to the environment. According to EPA, 11. 3 million tons of municipal solid waste textiles ended up in landfills in 2018. Thus, to ensure a sustainable future, you must consider what you are wearing and start buying from sustainable brands. Some brands offer organic clothing which not only preserves natural resources during production but is also easy to recycle and reuse. Although, buying eco-friendly clothing is a bit costly, it will help you save on other environmental costs. So, in 2021 purchase less and support environmental sustainability. 

4. Eat more of a Plant Based diet 

It takes less resources such as land and water in the production of plant based diet as compared to a meat based diet. Moreover, meat source food production releases a large amount of greenhouse gases which continuously deplete the environment. Thus, when you transform your diet to plant based one, you can eliminate the risk of global warming and climate change. In 2021, make a resolution to promote a greener environment by changing your lifestyle in terms of diet, travelling, buying sustainable clothes and reusable items.

 Switching to an eco-friendly lifestyle is not as easy as it seems. You have to put in extra effort to make things right which starts with minor transformations. Anyone can begin to alter habits in order to preserve the natural resources that go to waste because of unnecessary consumption, but it takes commitment. In our homes, generally the bathroom is the place where most of the waste is generated. Start with making sustainable changes in your bathroom that will not only create a positive environmental impact, but will also save you money. In order to reduce your bathroom waste and contribute to the common good, we have made you a list of sustainable tips to follow. 

1. Buy Eco-friendly Shower Heads and Avoid Using Bath Tubs

 Opt for water efficient shower heads for your bathroom. Traditional shower heads lead to loss of water even in a 5 minute shower. Eco-friendly shower heads reduces your water consumption by inserting air along with water to increase pressure. Moreover, minimize your shower time to make less use of water. Avoid using bath tubs as they take much more water relative to shower. According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), almost 70 gallons of water is needed in a full bath tub as compared to a five minute shower which takes about 10-25 gallons of water. In this way, you will minimize your individual environmental footprint. 

2. Replace Your Traditional Toilet

 Another way to reduce water wastage is by switching to low flow toilets with further dual flusher for better results. It flushes the waste with pressure using less water compared to the ordinary historical ones of the past. 

3. Install Motion Sensor Faucets 

Plenty of water goes to waste when we wash our hands or brush teeth as we often don’t realize the amount of water that keeps running unnecessarily. To avoid such situations, motion sensor faucets are the best option for bathroom sinks. These faucets sense your motion when you move your hands away from the faucet and stops water flow when not needed, thus a fixing motion sensor in your sinks allows you to save sufficient water. 

4. Buy Bathroom Products in Bulk 

Most bathroom products are packaged in single-use plastic bottles. These bottles usually enter into landfills after you discard them and release harmful emissions. To minimize such waste try to avoid small packaged products and buy your beauty and cleaning products in bulk. Bulk purchase is not just economical but also minimize plastic pollution.

 5. Make Your Own Bathroom Cleaning Products 

Utilize natural and safe ingredients such as lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar that are easily available at your home to create your own cleaning liquids. These are not just cost effective, but also reduce health risks as cleaning products that we buy from the market many times contain unsafe elements. Moreover, you will reduce your plastic waste by cutting back on un-ecofriendly cleaning products as you can make fresh products for single use while avoiding plastic containers in storage. 

6. Make your Shampoo at home

 You can easily make shampoo with natural ingredients that are typically available and found in your home. Homemade organic shampoo reduces the risk of harmful chemicals present in ordinary shampoos from getting also into the water supply through bathroom drains. Moreover, natural and nontoxic ingredients are harmless for your hair and can be customized as per your hair needs. You can store the shampoo in reusable containers to avoid plastic packaging making your bathroom clean and green.

While being at home, we don’t realize how many resources we are going to waste because of our carelessness. Wasting these resources such as water and energy cause harm not just to the environment but also to the economy at large. To ensure environmental sustainability, we have to start taking small steps towards a greener future. Practicing eco-friendly habits at home is the first step you can take in this regard. Here are some easy tips you can follow to go green at home.

1.     Use High Efficient Washing Machines

In order to reduce your water consumption, you can buy high efficient washing machines. According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a high efficient washing machine takes about 13 gallons less water per load as compared to regular ones. Moreover, you can use cold water for washing clothes which will reduce your energy consumption by 80% along with minimizing your carbon footprint. Though, it seems a bit costly to buy a high efficient washing machine but it will help you save money in the long run.

2.     Turn Off Your Taps and Lights

You can save plenty of water by just turning the water tap off when brushing your teeth, putting soap on your hands or while taking shower. Fix water pipe leaks as quickly as possible to avoid any wastage. In order to reduce energy usage, make most use of daylight and try to dry up your washed clothes in natural sunlight to avoid dryers. Moreover, switch off the lights when you leave the room empty and replace your traditional lights with LED bulbs for saving energy.

3.     Opt for Cloth instead of Paper

In order to reduce single use paper consumption, you can reuse your old clothes for cleaning purposes. Old clothes or cleaning towels are an economical and greener alternative to paper towels as they are durable, reliable and long-lasting. Along with saving you money, shifting to cloth towels will reduce your waste as you will not have to throw it in the dustbin after single use.

4.     Make Your Own Green Cleaning Products

Cleaning products that we often use at home contain toxic chemicals such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which have an adverse effect on health and the environment. To avoid these harmful effects, you can make your own products at home from natural and safe ingredients. You can use baking soda, lemon and vinegar to clean your kitchen and bathroom.

5.     Create your own Organic Garden

Another way of going green at home is planting your own garden. When you grow your own organic vegetables and fruits, you can avoid usage of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. In this way, you can eat healthy along with minimizing your overall environmental footprint.

Over time, global issues such as pollution and climate change will ever be increasing. To alleviate these issues, you have to shift to green living and make small changes starting from your home. Choosing a green lifestyle will allow you to preserve the environment along with minimizing health risks.

The growing enlightenment on the twin factors of rising carbon emissions and environmental degradation and their negative effects on the environment have led to more and more efforts dedicated towards seeking environmental-friendly manners of carrying out virtually all activities, ranging from production to waste disposal, and from to tourism to travel.

Several celebrities are eco-friendly advocates, and have sought to use their considerable influence to push for more environmental-friendly manners of doing things. Among them are Jessica Alba, whose site, the Honest Company offers natural body products and diapers and Reese Witherspoon’s lifestyle brand called Draper James.

Gwyneth Paltrow is a supporter of the burgeoning eco-friendly movement, majorly through her website and company, Goop. Beyond offering advice on eco-friendly manners of living, the company offers a wide range of products designed to promote eco-friendliness. Through Goop, which was founded in 2008, Paltrow demonstrates her affection for environmental preservation. Some of the products offered on Goop are:

Goop by Juice Beauty: This is a makeup and skincare line launched in partnership with Juice Beauty in 2016, influenced by the popularity of a Goop article in 2015 about beauty products without formaldehyde and endocrine disruptors. The brand's products are made from certified organic ingredients and are considered to be vegan.

Goop Label: Paltrow is known for using her platform to educate and spread the idea of sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Goop Label is a fashion line launched in September 2016. This fashion line uses more of natural dyes, and less polyester and other synthetic, plastic-made products known to contribute to water pollution and harm aquatic life. The company produces less synthetic fabrics like nylon and acrylic.

Goop Wellness: This branch of Goop focuses on selling gluten-free vitamins and other supplements. In addition, she endorses taking a keto diet on a constant basis. The high-fat, ultra-low-carb diet has gotten a boost by being endorsed by several famous faces.

GoopGenes All-In-One Nourishing Face Cream and Eye Cream: This facial cream is made with plant-based extracts and more natural oils with fewer chemicals.

In addition, the Goop bulletin and periodic newsletters on the site constantly shares information about recipes, fashion, detox, tourism and meditation techniques that resonate with environmental friendliness. A particular post in 2010 emphasized a “meat-free day” which was intended to cultivate love for the environment similar to love for oneself.

Furthermore, Wellness Summits are held by Goop. The first wellness summit took place in 2017, with 8 more taking place between its inception to date. The aim of these summits is to broaden enlightenment on environmental protection and increase usage of more natural beauty products.

A healthy diet will always better your chances in the fight against cancer.  What's included in your diet provides the driving force to defeat many diseases. Here's some foods that can lower your risk of getting cancer. 

Water and other liquids

Water may be used to quench thirst, but it also defends you against bladder cancer or infection. Water contains diluted concentrations which lower the risk of potential cancer-causing agents in the bladder. Furthermore, a consistent sipping of fluids causes you to urinate more often, which reduces toxic build up in the body. 

Green Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables contain cancer-fighting nutrients. These foods can help lower your risk of disease and will help to retain a healthy body weight. Adding extra pounds can boost the risk for various cancers, such as colon, esophagus, and kidney cancers. Consuming a daily diet of vegetables such as carrots, dark green, red, and orange vegetables is good for your health. 

Tea's Anticancer Potential

Although there is much debate but there is some proof that green tea is a powerful cancer fighter. Research shows that green tea has slowed or hindered the advancement of cancer in the colon, liver, breast, and prostate cells. It also had relative impact in lung tissue and skin cancer. Further studies postulated that drinking green tea regularly is linked with fewer risks of getting bladder, stomach, and pancreatic cancers. 

Folate-Rich Foods

Folate food such as asparagus and eggs is capable of fighting cancer. Other foods such as sunflower seeds, and vegetables like spinach or romaine lettuce also contain folate. The best way to get enough folate is by eating adequate fruits, vegetables, and enriched grain products. Pregnant women are advised to take supplements to get enough folic acid to help avoid certain birth defects in babies. 

Grapes

Grapes especially purple and red grapes are enriched in resveratrol which is a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Studies show that it prevents the kind of damage that can accelerate the cancer process in cells. You can get resveratrol when you eat grapes, drink organic grape juice or wine. 

Beans

Beans contain several potent phytochemicals that may defend the body's cells against trauma that can activate cancer. Research shows that these substances delay tumor growth and hinder tumors from secreting chemicals that damage close cells. 

The Cabbage Family

The cabbage family aka cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, choy, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. The substances in these vegetables may help protect your body against cancers like colon, breast, lung, and cervix. 

Berries

Strawberries and raspberries are enriched with a phytochemical called ellagic acid. This is a strong antioxidant that literally fights cancer in several ways at once, including shutting off certain cancer-causing elements and delaying the development of cancer cells. 

The powerful antioxidants in blueberries may possess broad importance in benefiting our health. Antioxidants may help fight cancer by freeing the body from radicals before they can cause any destruction to cells. In combination with oatmeal, cold cereal, yogurt and even with salad can boost your intake of these restorative berries. 

Tomatoes

The lycopene pigment that gives tomatoes their red color is helpful in fighting cancer. Researchers have linked eating tomatoes to lower the risk of different kinds of cancer like prostate cancer. Analysts also propose that refined tomato products such as juice, sauce, or paste boost cancer-fighting ability.