I feel good about myself when I make healthy, responsible choices ... but it's hard to feel proud when you stink. That's why summer is a tough time to get behind all-natural deodorants.

We all know that traditional antiperspirants contain potentially harmful chemicals: Sweat-stopping aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's Disease, and preservatives called parabens are associated with breast cancer (although no causal relationship has been determined in either case). We have lymph nodes under our arms and worry that these ingredients could be absorbed there, compromising our health for the sake of dry, fresh-smelling armpits.

Is it worth it?

When the temperature nudges 90 degrees and I'm doing anything more strenuous that leafing through a gossip mag, the unmistakable Scent of Minimal Exertion exudes from my underarms. I use Tom's of Maine deodorants because they're natural, they smell good and they're sold at Trader Joe's. But as a friend of mine jokes, "Tom's works great if you live in Antarctica. And are in a coma."

I'm sure there are folks who can get by with a quick swipe of Tom's roll-on or even the popular Crystal mineral stone. But I've had days when both those products let me down.

Are those my only options? Risking my health or embracing my b.o.? I'm not giving up yet. Everyone's body chemistry is different, so I've heard you have to try a few natural products before you find one that works for you. Here are some oft-touted products I intend to try:

• A friend of mine swears by the Kiss My Face Liquid Rock made of mineral salts and willow bark extract. It comes in lavender, patchouli, Summer Scent and Unscented.

• Burt's Bees Herbal Deodorant is a spray that claims to neutralize odor with sage, lemon and lavender essential oils.

• Miessence Roll-On Deodorants come in unscented, Ancient Spice and the popular Tahitian Breeze.

• Aubrey Organics makes a beloved roll-on called E Plus High C that people rave about.

• Lush sells a popular solid deodorant bar called Aromacreme made of odor-neutralizing powders, almond oil and shea butter.

• I've heard that a sprinkling of baking soda makes a great deodorant — and it's cheap! You can make a scented version by mixing equal parts baking soda and cornstarch, plus a few drops of essential oil. A warning, though: May not work well with your black sleeveless dress.

Navigating the world of green toothpaste is a little like trying to find a good handbag at a discount store - lots dodging of formidable land mines (aka ladies) who are determined to find that $50 Kate Spade, even if it means blowing up a few people along the way. So why bother? Well, because it's not considered a food, conventional toothpaste contains lots of potentially harmful stuff, including artificial colors, flavors and sweeters that are known to cause cancer in lab animals, like saccharine. Not to mention fluoride, which many natural health advocates insist is bad news. Since 1997, the FDA has required that all fluoride toothpastes carry warning labels. Don't believe me? Check out your tube. Mine reads "If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."

Read More »

I get it about recycling. How many times do you spend the week carefully separating plastic from your cardboard from your glass, only to bring it down to the containers and find your 90-year old neighbor has dumped a dried floral arrangement from 1976 right in the middle of the bin?

Read More »