Tampons are a big part of the monthly female lexicon. American women spend about $2 billion on them annually and will use about 11,000 during their lifetimes. But they are a product that few people regularly discuss.

That dynamic needs to change: Tampons, which come into contact with some of the most sensitive tissue in a woman’s body, aren’t as straightforward as they seem.

Tampons are typically made from a variety of materials including conventional cotton, rayon or a blend of both fibers. Conventional cotton is one of the “dirtiest” crops in the modern world. According to the USDA, in 2003 U.S. cotton farmers applied an eye-popping 55 million pounds of pesticides to their fields. And global cotton production also uses high levels of pesticides.

Many of these agricultural toxins are classified as “extremely or highly hazardous” by the World Health Organization. In addition to polluting groundwater and soil, seven of the 15 most commonly-used cotton pesticides have been identified as possible human carcinogens by the EPA. (Others are known to damage the nervous system and are suspected of disrupting the body’s hormonal system.)

When we buy tampons made with conventional cotton, we contribute to these kinds of environmental pollution.

Rayon also needs further scrutiny. The wood pulp that forms a base material for most rayon is typically treated with chlorine-based bleach. This manufacturing process results in the creation of chlorinated toxins, which can accumulate in the environment over time.

Conventional tampons can also contain any number of other ingredients that women might not want to be intimate with. These include absorbency enhancers, synthetic deodorants and artificial fragrances. Add it all up and the term “feminine protection” becomes a bit of a misnomer.

An alternative is to use organic cotton tampons made from pure natural cotton that hasn’t been grown in a soup of pesticides. They don’t contain rayon or synthetic additives, and most have been manufactured using a chlorine-free process that doesn’t create chlorinated toxins. When you buy organic cotton tampons and pads, you make a statement that you want to make the world a safer, healthier place for you, your family and generations to come.

Follow Mara Fleishman, a Team Member and mom of two, around the store to find out her favorite picks for celebrating being a mom Mother’s Day and every day. Then, share with all the moms reading this blog your tips on celebrating yourself and motherhood!

Post a comment to let us know your product recommendations. You’ll be entered for a chance to win a $100 Whole Foods Market gift card and a FEED 100 bag, one of Mara’s top picks. Please post your comments by midnight Wednesday, May 6. The winner will be selected by our panel of Team Member moms and posted in this blog on May 8.

Stop by participating Whole Foods Market stores for more great product picks from Team Member moms. Just look for signage throughout the store.

Did you know that growing cotton uses more pesticides than any other cash crop? Most parents understand the importance of organic food for babies, yet there are also compelling reasons to consider organic cotton bedding and clothing. Get smart facts and more from Lynda Fassa, author, expert on raising kids naturally and founder of Green Babies organic clothing.

What would be your plan for the ultimate green prom at your high school? Answer that question in a video, three minutes or less, and you just may win an incredible green prom prize package from Teens Turning Green, including a trip to New York, an eco prom dress, and eco makeup, skin and haircare products.

Check out their video about the contest:

ENTRY RULES: Anyone who enters must be going to a prom (High School Juniors/Seniors). Fill out entry form at http://www.teensturninggreen.org/events/project-green-prom.html.

Submit video to info@teensturninggreen.org.

All entries are due by the 30th of March. Winner would travel to New York in early April for the Press Conference.

Ok, so this blog is actually a confession…Well a couple of confessions!

First off, a bit about Whole Foods Market that people may not know…We work REALLY hard!!! I think sometimes people think we are a bunch of crazy hippies that sell natural & organic food and in between hang out in the back room and eat tofu while sipping herbal tea. Well, actually we ask a lot of our team members at all levels of the company and because most of us are so passionate about what we do it is not uncommon for us to be working 50, 60, 70 hour weeks! In fact, I am writing this blog on a Sunday evening at 8:00pm actually as it was the only time I had to sneak it in to the normal workflow. So all of that work and long hours definitely creates the need for an occasional boost every now and then which leads to confession # 2…

I must admit I really love energy shots and quick fix products that give you a nice KICK, when you are about out of gas. And frankly, I have to tell you that caffeine, especially from natural sources has been a good friend to me lately as we all plug away on those long hours!

So, if you are like me and many of our team members then you will be as stoked as I was to try the new Guayaki Organic Energy Shot (GOES). It is the first ever certified USDA Organic energy shot and it is full of wonderful herbs and of course Yerba Mate so that it gives you a smooth burst of energy without a crash. We all have seen those energy shots at the convenience store that are full of artificial colors, preservatives and sweeteners and other junk that you wouldn’t give to an enemy let alone put in your body. Well, now you can get a super clean, super powerful shot when you check out at Whole Foods Market. By the way, they taste GREAT too, so good that Bevnet recently gave the GOES shots a 5 star rating on their site which is a big honor. Check them out when you need a lift!

For some men and women, natural libido is not as strong as it could be. Fortunately, nature has provided help! Beyond medicinal plants that support a healthy libido, there are other natural options. Nutritionist Malia Curran, MS, MPH shares the secrets about nutrients, additional supplements and body care elements that may help.

Libido is part of a healthy human life and just like any other wellness topic, it deserves attention. Chris Kilham, known in the industry as the Medicine Hunter, is an expert on medicinal plants used historically around the world to support healthy libido in men and women. Join us to hear about his top picks for medicinal plants with centuries of use.